Page:Czechoslovak stories.pdf/55

 fidelity to detail. Then, too, a class of writers arose who consistently surrendered themselves to “temperament” refusing to recognize any law of utilitarianism, or technical form. The middle-of-the-road writers followed the spirit of Neruda’s teaching and renounced the policy of the pure æstheticians.

In the new period were the following writers: František Herites, character delineator in his “Z mého Herbáře” (From My Herbarium) and “Tajemství Strýce Josefa" (Uncle Joseph’s Secret).

Jakub Arbes wrote stories of mysterious or misanthropic, fantastic characters, but endowed them with his own world views. His best stories are “Ďábel na Skřipci” (The Devil on the Rack), “Ethiopská Lilie” (The Ethiopian Lily), “Newtonův Mozek” (Newton’s Brain) “Svatý Xavier” (Saint Xavier).

Sofie Podlipská, a sister of the famous Karolina Světlá, was likewise active though her work was mainly in juvenile and feministic literature.

Alois Vojtěch Šmilovský, another realist, has painted some small town, moralist, and old world types which he has blended into rather attractive romantic settings. His “Nebesa” (Heavens) has been translated. Other very good short stories are in the extensive collections published between 1871 and 1896.

Jan Herben often in humorous vein yet with a world of sympathy delineates Slovák peasant life. Karel V. Rais, poet and popular short story writer, depicts the conditions of life among the mountaineers and