The Dominion. SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1916. A GREAT NOVELIST AND THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2711, 4 March 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1916. A GREAT NOVELIST AND THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

By the death of Henry James, who who renounced his American citizenship in July last, in order to become a naturalised British subject, Britain and her Allies have lost a firm friend, who, never doubted the justness of their cause. As Britishers we cannot help regretting that this distinguished American-born man of letters did not live Ion" enough to witness the triumph of the side he so whole-heartedly espoused. Henry James was born in the United States in 1843. He removed to England in 1869, and England then became his real home. He won a place in the literary world among the' great masters of modern fiction. In portrayal of character and analytical description of th</ workings of th'e, human mind he had few equals. The suggestion of the Dean of Westminster thai; his funeral service should be held in tho historic Abbey is an indication of the high estimation in which ho was held among British folk, but in accordance with the desire of his family the service took place in Chelsea Parish Church. Henry James was an ardent admirer of both Britain and France, and when the war broke out his full sympathy and moral support ■ was given to the Allies. The New York Times stated that his renunciation of American citizenship was meant to be a mark of disapproval of the silence of the United States Government regarding the conduct of tho Germans in Belgium, but this is not the explanation given by Mr. Jajies | himself. Ih his petition for naturalisation ho' mentions the following 'reason^: — , Because having lived and worked in England the best part of forty years; because of my attachment to the country, my sympathy with it and its people; because of long friendships, associations, and interests formed here—these last including tlie acquisition of some propertyall these tilings have brought to a head a desire to throw my moral weight and personal allegiance, for whatever it may bo worth, into the scalo of the contending nations in tho present and-future fortune. Some American papers were inclined to be rather bitter and resentful in their comments on Henry James's change of nationality, while others received the announcement in a philosophical and quite friendly spirt. The Brooklyn Citizen put the case with manifest fairness, and commended his desire to give his moral support "to the land of his residence by choice and of his adoption" while it-was in the throes of tho greatest crisis in its history. The Citizen points out that • Americans blame Englishmen who have made their homes in tho United States, and to whom prosperity has come-, for remaining subjects of the King. Why, then, should they blame Henry James for doing precisely what they would have these Englishmen do, "only, in his case the reasons for naturalisation are made stronger by the war." Henry Jajies expressed his opinions about the war from time to time with tho utmost frankness. He was enthusiastic in his admiration for the attitude of Britain and the spirit of her people. His soul was stirred by tho magnificent manner in which tho whole Empire threw itself into tho fight for freedom, and he occupied a prominent place at the great gathering in the Guildhall to celebrate the rally of the Overseas Dominions. His heart went out to Belgium. He gloried in her heroic resistance to the brutal invader, end wrote a most sympathetic account of tho work done by tho American Ambulancc Corps. His love for Franco was lifelong, and' it found glowing expression in the preface which he contributed to. The, Book of France, published in July last. He was a frequent visitor to France, and Paris shared with London the allegiance of his heart. No man watched tho Droaress of the war with

more intense interest than Henry Jambs, and no- one realised more keenly" the tremendousncss of the issues at stake. When an American interviewer endeavoured to draw him into a discussion about literary style ho brushed the subject aside. Personally (he said) I feel so strongly or everything that the war has brought into question tor the Anglo-Saxon peoples thai humorous dctachnient or any other thinness or tepidity of mind on the subjeel affects me as vulvar impiety, not to say aa rnnlc blasphemy; our whole race tension bccamo for me a sublimely conscious thin? from the moment Germany thins nt us all her explanation of her pounce upoi: Belgium for massacre and ravage in the form of tlio most insolent "Because 1 choose to, damn you all!" recorded in his tory. The war has taught us to place c higher value than ever'before upor our liberties and privileges as Bri tish citizens. The most tragic ex porience of our generation has en a bled us to realise with unaceus tomcd intensity the full truth Henry James's remark that "nevei do cherished possessions, whether o. the hand or of the spirit, becomc s< dear to us as when overshadowed b; vociferous aggression." Like St Paul, we were born free, and havi accepted our freedom as a matter o course, as an inalienable right whicl no one could challenge or take awa; from us. But now we are fightinj for it with all the strength we pos sess._ We arc paying a great pricc-t retain it, and after the conflict ii ovcT and victory won we-will prob ably value it at something like it true worth. Henby James was dis appointed because the United State did not choose to play a more heroi part in this gigantic struggle for th freedom of the world. He rcgrettei that the authorities at Washington could not-, or would not, ecc 'tha German aggression, if successful ii Europe, would, with as little loss o time as possible, turn' its atfcntio: to the American side of the world The Allies are, so ho felt and said fighting for the defence of ever ideal that has most guided th growth of the American nation an> that most assures its unity.