19 DECEMBER 1903, Page 16

OBSCURITY IN LITERATURE.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In reading the thoughtful article on " Obscurity in Literature" in the Spectator of December 12th, I was especially

interested in what you say about " obscurity of matter." The same topic is glanced at in a passage which I came across the other day in the " Lettres de Doudan"

" Ne cites rien contra ['affectation du style ; c'est bien souvent un travail necessaire pour faire sortir sa pensee du marbre oh elle est enfermee. Rien n'est plus nature]. quo l'homme qui ne voit de nuances A, rien. II n'a point d'efforts it faire, l'heureux homme; it va droit son chemin parmi les hautes herbes des lie= communs ; it ne va pas clans les bois oh personae n'a penetre ; it ne lui faut, pour se frayer une route, ni le fer, ni le feu."

Swift has made a quaint remark to the effect that fluency in discourse is often associated with vacuity, just as people walk faster out of an empty than out of a crowded church. What is here said of fluency in talking may be applied, with hardly any change, to facile clearness in writing. You can see your way more easily through an empty room than through a full

one.—I am, Sir, &c., LIONEL A. TOLLEMACHE. Hotel d'Angleterre, Biarritz.