THE EARLY WORK OF NORMAN DOUGLAS

By Edward D. McDonald

HE literary career of Norman Douglas is fewer than six hundred were sold in England Ta most curious one. Since 1917 this and the United States. The publishers' writer has become widely known as the records show that close to nine hundred sets author of "South Wind". But in spite of of sheets were pulped, and that the author's the unremitting popularity of this brilliant total royalties out of this edition amounted to and diverting novel Mr. Douglas, after ten less than sixty dollars. "Siren Land" was years, is still very largely a one-book man. published at six shillings. Today dealers in Relatively few have read his "Old Calabria" rare books quite casually ask fifty dollars for or "Alone". Even fewer are acquainted a copy of the first edition. These little with "Fountains in the Sand" or "Siren ironies of authorship! In any case, such was Land", which is surely one of the most re­ the material success of Norman Douglas' markable "first books" in modern English first book. literature. It was published in 1911, at "Siren Land" had, however, a distinct which time Norman Douglas was forty-three succ&s d'estime. That is to say, the reviewers years old. He was, therefore, forty-nine were immensely pleased with it. Uniformly when he brought out "South Wind"—by these gentlemen approved the book, finding it no means the work of a sophisticated young novel and fresh, yet withal, solid. They man, which,so many readers of this novel, spoke of its terse, vigorous, but pure style — with naive but excusable ignorance, persist in, altogether quite within the best traditions of believing it to be. English prose. They caught the rare flavor The quality of "Siren Land" was recog­ of its incidental comment, so familiar to every nized by Joseph Conrad and Edward Garnett, reader of Norman Douglas. They praised both of whom were instrumental in finding a the learning disclosed in the book because publisher for the book — but only after a this learning, though surprisingly diverse, long search, in which, as Mr. Douglas has was at once exact and humane. In "Siren recently said, the manuscript "was hawked Land" the critics recognized — as indeed about for more than a year without success". they should have done — the wit, the irony, Actually, this is putting the matter very and the urbanity of a realistic and disciphned moderately; for it is evident from certain .of mind. To many of the reviewers the name Conrad's letters to Mr. Douglas that Norman Douglas meant next to nothing — "Siren Land", at least in a first form, was in at most, a few articles in The English Review. manuscript and in Conrad's hands as early as They wondered what in the way of a writing 1905, exactly six years before its publication. career lay behind his brilliant first book. A few months after "Siren Land" had at All of which makes an interesting story, a long last become a book Conrad wrote to story that has never been told with satis­ Mr. Douglas concerning it, this time to say factory completeness even to this day. that Cunninghame Graham, full of admira­ Norman Douglas' first appearance in print tion for the book, had exacted from him a occurred in February, 1886. He was then promise to read it; Conrad added: "I said I eighteen. D. H. Lawrence, in whose "dis­ would, at once, for the (about) fourteenth covery" Mr. Douglas was later to have a time". part, was at that time less than a year old. The first edition of "Siren Land", which Aldous Huxley, whose literary labors are more than sufiiced the English-reading pub­ sometimes inexplicably linked with those of lic for twelve years, was not large: fifteen the author of "South Wind", was born in hundred copies. Of this number certainly 1894, in which year Norman Douglas, at the 42

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED THE EARLY WORK OF NORMAN DOUGLAS 43 age of twenty-six, was serving Queen Vic­ extract therefrom a volume of solid zoological toria as Third Secretary at Her Majesty's memories in preference to these travel-pages embassy at St. Petersburg. that register nothing but the cross-currents As has been said, Norman Douglas first of a mind which tries to see things as they appeared in print in February, 1886. In are". that month and year The Zoologist, A For two and a half years, that is between Monthly Journal of Natural Science, printed December, 1886, and July, 1889, Mr. Doug­ a note on the "Variation of Plumage in the las published nothing, even though his inter­ Corvidae". The writer reported that he est in zoological matters did not slacken, as had lately observed two carrion crows with we learn from certain specific references to unusual coloring: the first bird having had these years in his later writings. In July, "a white tip to each wing", while in the case 1889, there appeared in Der Zoologische of the second "only one wing was tipped Garten, as by G. H. Douglass, an article in with white". The note concluded with a German entitled "Der Moorfrosch, Rana general statement regarding the coloring of arvaUs, bei Karlsruhe". This contribution crows to this effect: "So far as I can ascer­ was in reahty by G. N. Douglass, the second tain, albinous or particoloured specimens of initial being a misprint. Again a period of this bird are of less frequent occurrence than silence. However, in January, 1891, was those of the jackdaw or rook". This short pubUshed the first section of Mr. Douglas' contribution was by one G. N. Douglass, the most ambitious zoological treatise. It was manner (together with G. Norman Douglass) entitled "On the Herpetology of the Grand in which Norman Douglas for ten years was Duchy of Baden", and ran through nine accustomed to sign his work. About 1895 issues of The Zoologist, appearing at various the initial G and the final s, by a process of times between January, 1891, and June, simplification, went into the discard. Such 1892. Printed later as a separate pamphlet, was the first contribution of the author of in which shape it is now rarely seen, this "South Wind" to literature. study occupied sixty-four closely printed "Variation of Plumage in the Corvidae" pages. "Herpetology" was followed on was followed, late in 1886, by two more December 12,1892, by the pubUcation in the Douglas contributions to The Zoologist. In Zoologischer Anzeiger of Mr. Douglas' second November came a note on the "Variation of monograph in German under the title "Zur Colour in the European Squirrels", and in Fauna Santorins ". Finally, after an interim December appeared a somewhat extended of more than three years, came the last of discussion of the "Present Distribution of Mr. Douglas' strictly zoological writings. the Beaver in Europe", the latter being, In February, 1895, he published, again in doubtless, one of the results of that absorb­ The Zoologist, a translation out of the Nor­ ing and persistent interest in beavers which is wegian called "The Beaver in Norway". so amusingly recorded in "Alone", in the And in November and December of the same chapter devoted to Soriano, where, also, is to year Mr. Douglas contributed to Natural be found an account of Mr. Douglas' youth­ Science the most intrinsically interesting of ful enthusiasm for natural science in every his scientific monographs under the general form — an enthusiasm which he is, ap­ heading "On the Darwinian Hypothesis of parently, periodically tempted to recapture. Sexual Selection". In "Alone", for example, contemplating the With a single exception, the above com­ World War and its horrors, he feels "disposed pletes the story of Norman Douglas' first ten to forget mankind and take rambles as of years of writing for publication. But for yore; minded to shoulder a gun and chmb reasons other than those of mere complete­ trees and collect birds, and begin, of course, a ness mention must be made of a curious tract new series of field notes. Those old jottings in the form of a Government document were conscientiously done and registered known as a "Report on the Pumice Stone sundry things of import to the naturalist; Industry of the Lipari Islands", and which were they accessible, I should be tempted to was "presented to both Houses of Parliament

PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED 44 THE BOOKMAN by Command of Her Majesty, Augiist, thereby be induced to study more fully its 1895". This detailed expos6 of a British bird-life. "Herpetology" was written for a owned and operated foreign industry was the similar purpose: to stimulate an interest in work of Norman Douglas, his name appear­ the reptilian life of the same state. In the ing in it only in the letter of transmittal last of his zoological monographs, "On the which called the report, with its catalogue of Darwinian Hypothesis of Sexual Selection", facts and abuses, to the attention of the Mr. Douglas tackled what he called "this Marquis of Sahsbury. much-vexed question" with an assurance How Norman Douglas got into this gallery that was lacking in the earlier treatises. He is not precisely known, but the following was evidently beginning to find his way account can in part be substantiated. Re­ about in scientific speculation. Nevertheless, lieved for a time from his diplomatic duties taken as a whole, these youthful writings in Russia, he chances, as has ever been his bespeak the enthusiastic neophyte rather custom, just chances to be sojourning in the than the regularly ordained priest of Lipari Islands, a volcanic group north of science. Sicily, and, as it happens, the seat of a As a critic Norman Douglas has indulged British pumice-stone industry. Now, all is himself in the luxury of one strong prejudice: grist that comes to Norman Douglas' mill — he has for long preferred the writings of even pumice-stone. Obviously, one must Ouida to those of Henry James. In so recent know about that — at least Mr. Douglas a book as "Alone" he pays Ouida the most must. Before long he knows more than he generous of his numerous compliments. In should. A report of this surreptitiously the course of this lengthy encomium Mr. acquired knowledge is soon on its way to Douglas takes occasion to refer to his earliest London. Shortly Parliament has the Lipari public tribute to the late Louise de la Ram6e. pumice-stone industry by the ear. And, as His confession is in part as follows: "I Mr. Douglas has recently said, although the dedicated to her a book of short stories; they trade in London was greatly annoyed by his were published, thank God, under a pseudo­ revelations, the report resulted in fairer nym, and eight copies were sold". Which prices, better working conditions, improved brings us at once to the first book in which transportation facilities, and so on. But Norman Douglas had his hand — a very enough. Whatever interest this Lipari epi­ strange book bearing very properly, one is sode may have for the socially minded, it is forced to admit, the title "Unprofessional given here merely to show one reach of a f Tales", published at Mr. Douglas' expense curious mind. in London, 1901, under the pseudonym Between 1896 and 1900 Mr. Douglas was Normyx. This volume of short stories and unproductive. In 1901 came his first at­ shorter sketches, with a poem or two, con­ tempts at creative writing. However, before tains Mr. Douglas' first pubhshed attempts passing on to these early ventures into fiction at fiction, together with what appears to be something should perhaps be said about the his first, and last, attempt at poetry. motives that led to the publication of the "Unprofessional Tales" is, indeed, a very zoological monographs mentioned above. queer book. On account of its present Examining these studies in an effort to get at scarcity very few will ever know how queer it their origins, one notices in their author a really is. Unfortunately, too, it turned out certain diffidence — a becoming modesty in yesterday, as it were, to be not solely the so youthful a contributor to science. At the work of Norman Douglas, but a collabora­ outset of "Zur Fauna Santorins" Mr. Doug­ tion. Concerning the contents of this book, las said that this island, so peculiar in its Mr. Douglas has recently made the following physical characteristics, belonged in zo­ comment: "Only one of the stories, and the ological matters to even the most humble little Anacreontic, are entirely by myself". investigator. "Avifauna of Baden" was Despite this disclaimer one is not in the least undertaken, we are told, in the hope that tempted to dismiss "Unprofessional Tales" other citizens of the Grand Duchy might as imimportant in a competent study of

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Norman Douglas' progress as a writer. they make up a large volume of three hun­ Quite the reverse. dred and thirty-eight pages. Besides the The "unprofessional tales" which make titles already mentioned, the monographs, in up the volume by that name are, without the order of their publications, are as follows: exception, badly constructed and poorly "Fabio Giordano's Relation of Capri", executed in detail. They are obviously im­ "The Lost Literature of Capri", "Tiberius", mature and derivative apprentice work. It "Saracens and Corsairs in Capri", "The may be said that Mr. Douglas from the first Life of the Venerable Suor Serafina di Dio", knew all this — hence the apologetic title and "Some Antiquarian Notes", "Disiecta Mem­ the pseudonymity. That may very well bra", and "Index". All of these mono­ have been the case. Nevertheless, when graphs were written before 1907, but the last these stories were published in 1901 he must two were not printed until 1915. somehow have believed himself incapable of Norman Douglas' preoccupation with markedly improving his own or those of his Capri is, of course, known to every informed collaborator. But not so always. Years reader of "South Wind". If, however, one later, whenever Mr. Douglas thought of wishes to get some direct sense of his "fateful revamping any of these same early tales for industry" in investigating every minute and this or that magazine, he set about the work obscure phase of that island's history, then of revision with admirable results. One one must turn to the "Materials for a example must suffice. Description of Capri". Nor do these "gen­ Probably the most structurally inept story tlemanly but unprofitable studies", as their in "Unprofessional Tales" is one called "A author has called them, tell the whole story. Mystery". This very story, beautifully They were only the beginning. Mr. Doug­ remade, appeared (under the title "Queer!") las' researches on Capri terminated in 1906, in Vanity Fair so recently as January, 1925, but before then he had already gathered at which time Norman Douglas, along with material for many other dissertations. The Mr. George Moore, was spoken of as one of curious will find reference to all this in ' the few great English stylists now writing — "Disiecta Membra", where Mr. Douglas which, when the mood is on him, is precisely asserts that at one point in his career he saw what he is. Since at one time or another Mr. no reason why he "should not browse a life­ Douglas has revised and republished all of time among such literature as might be the stories in which he first had a hand, other expected to deal with the island, producing examples like the above could be given. every now and then some fresh monograph But enough has been said: "Unprofessional illustrative of its historical or other curiosi­ Tales" marks the first stage in Norman ties". Fate decreed otherwise, and finally Douglas' progress from mediocrity to emi­ in 1907 when he was thirty-nine years old his nence as a creative writer. career as amateur scholar and writer came to Between the appearance of "Unprofes­ an end. For twenty-one years Norman Doug­ sional Tales", September, 1901, and January, las had played this congenial r6le, publishing 1904, Mr. Douglas published nothing. In during that time, according to his whims and February of the latter year appeared a with no thought of financial remuneration, privately-printed treatise called "The Blue the scientific and other writings already Grotto and Its Literature". This was fol­ referred to. What may be called his lowed almost immediately by a kindred study professional literary career lay ahead. entitled "The Forestal Conditions of Capri". Since "Siren Land" was published early These two monographs, each limited to a in 1911, only the first three years (1908 to hundred copies and now excessively scarce, 1910 inclusive) of this new career fall within were the first of a series of archaeological the limits of this paper. Curiously enough, treatises to which Mr. Douglas later gave the Norman Douglas' debut as a professional general name "Materials for a Description of writer was made in the Atlantic Monthly, Capri". Published in eight parts, there are November, 1908, with an article entitled in all ten separate studies. Taken together, "Another Source for Paradise Lost". In

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December Munsey's Cavalier published a 1911, a portion of the material which was story called "An Unnatural Feud", which soon to find its way into "Siren Land", or Mr. Douglas hashed up for American con­ later "Old Calabria", where it was, as has sumption from the ill-fated "Unprofessional been said, to fill a small but discriminating Tales". So much for 1908. The two years group of readers with pleasure and with which remain to this chronicle saw Douglas wonder. contributions in two famous English period­ Thus, after more than twenty years spent icals — The Cornhill Magazine and The in the composition of gentlemanly, scholarly English Review, a journal which Mr. Douglas treatises and in one abortive attempt at was later to serve variously, but more espe­ creative writing, Norman Douglas' career as cially as a brilliant but anonymous reviewer. a professional writer got brilliantly under To these magazines was contributed, before way.

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OUR BOW THE PHILOSOPHICAL ^VER since John Farrar explained the EGG PEDDLER gear shift, instructed us in the use of the SUPPOSE there is no one to refute the gadgets, and handed over the wheel of this claim that may be made for John Dewey machine to us, we have been asked with that he is the most considerable figure in disconcerting frequency, "Just what are philosophy that America has produced your poUcies going to be on THE BOOKMAN? " since William James. Not many people, If people would only leave out that word, perhaps, know that he also raises chickens just, we would not be so profoundly stumped and sells eggs on a rather large scale. It is for an answer. It is somewhat like asking a even told of him that he once had visions of bride as she leaves the altar, "Just how many becoming a big butter and egg man, and children do you plan to have, when, and of called in his daughter, Evelyn, who is a what sex?" famous advertising copy-writer for the Irrelevantly there has always popped into J. Walter Thompson agency, to look over a our mind some such unspoken answer as: fine scheme he had worked out to put over "A kindly Providence will take care of Dewey eggs in a big way. Miss Dewey, it that", or "Our policy on THE BOOKMAN will seems, examined the advertising matter her be to forbid the use of the word, bivalve, father had written and gently suggested whether succulent or otherwise, and the that it sounded like a chapter out of "Human words mot juste, manqu§, sans doute, par Nature and Conduct" and that Professor exemple, or distinctive anywhere in the Dewey would do well to give up the idea of magazine"; or "Our policy will be to have quantity production in eggs and sell poultry no essays entitled, 'On the Decline of products only as a side line to philosophy. Conversation', 'Travels in Many Lands', Nevertheless he has given some scientific 'Among My Books', 'Hours in My Library', thought to the habits and conduct of hens; 'The Art of Charlie Chaplin', or 'The and he has been raising good chickens and Morals of the Younger Generation', and no selling absolutely, strictly guaranteed fresh essays on Hawthorne, Whitman, Poe, Ham­ eggs at a fair profit and has developed quite let, Dickens, Jane Austen, Henry James or a number of regular customers. Orders are Henry Ford, unless the essays are absolute solicited and deUveries made. knock-outs"; or "Our policy will be never Not long ago the man who takes the to run a ' Christmas Story' unless it is of the orders and deUvers the eggs was ill and kind that might just as well run in the June Professor Dewey took an order over the issue"; or "Our policy will be to get out a phone from a lady and delivered the eggs in magazine that will entice subscribers and person. He rang the front door-bell and a draw advertising"; or "Our policy will be to maid appeared and asked him what he avoid a policy". wanted. He replied that he was Mr. Dewey But, come to think of it, all of these, and that he had brought the eggs the mistress especially the last, aren't such bad policies of the house had ordered. The mistress after all. upstairs heard his reply and called down to We hope, above all, to produce an inter­ the maid: esting magazine, and if we do that we shall "If that is the man with the eggs, tell him achieve the loftier purpose of furthering the to go around to the back door." cause of good literature in America. Hearing this. Professor Dewey backed 47

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