Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-17

Press ana Time Co.
NarhviIle. Team. Jan. 2. 1867.
THE COMMENCEMENT AT LEBANON
REPLY TO COERAB's CRTTI-
CIsMs.
In the columns Of the UNION AND DIS
PATCH of this city Of the 81 inst, com-
appears under the style of
81 Lebanon Literature, HOnOra ETC. in
which the writer INDUCES in most severe
on the commencement exercises
of the two literary societies of that place
Nothing seems 10 have been left untouched
by his scathing hand in the generous"
criticism. lie deprecates the misfortune Of
America in having no reviewers 30 apply
the lash Of condemnation to the worth
less scribblings Of shallow minds, which re-
gret is echoed by every reader Of the day.
This critic seems too familiar with Small
matters not 10 recollect the old adage Of
'fhe glass house, and his generous
criticism" invites return with courage
worthy Of more ability. Those who place
themselves before the public must expect
the application of the scourge, and no
writer, however great his genius but can
receive assistance fromthe critical observa-
ton Of competent judges on bis own faults
and merits, and be instructed by the
delieneated beauties and deiormities of
those who have gone before him. "Tue
criticism is the application of taste and
good sense to literary productions a judg-
ment prompted by feeling, not by rule, Of
those competent 70 point out and correct
errors but every hutter Of 4 fish bird in the
stagnant pool Of American literature can
not he so classified.
The production before ne is not, As many
are, totally worthless for il is written in a
certain fluent style commendable in
Young man, 1--WE take it he il pcyy young,)
but his ability in this respect IS misapplied.
Ia his criticism he appears
Most ignorant Of what he's most assured
Whose CLASSY eseence
bOdying forth the reflected light Of other
minds, expressing his opinions with an at
tempt 10 sustain them by a few rhetorical
rules, in a style which the hacknied phrases
used would lead us 10 believe was an imi-
tation Of the authors he 20 Auently names.
The first victory of good taste is over the
honbast and conceits which defOrm such
times as these" This victory is not TO be
had by the rattle Of small arms on the
picket line AFhe deformitie7 are glaring,
and errors TO be righted so plain that all
NAV see The efforts OF critics are for re-
form, bat all eXertions will be vain if the
patient is 20 be physiced with the disease.
Tdlq attempt at reform is the embodiment Of
the diseases of the day. The perfect
knows not Of itself; only the imperfect feels
it, consciousness, makes itself known" In
every sentence of the would-be satirist
these imperfections are developed, and
plainly indicate the consciousness Of the
author giving TO the composition the I'M
misiakeable stamp Of tiippant conced.
Let ug turn 60 the production itself
WHAT prompted il we know not, neither do
We care, bat are charitable enough TO be-
lieve that the same spirit brought il that is
80 plainly visible in its face,
It's pleasant, sure, 20 see ones name in print;
A books n book, though there's nothing in't'
and a desire to crafty vanity is more
pardonabie than other feelings which might
have prompted it.
The allusion Of the critic 10 the would
be literati,'" is unfortunate rs carving
with 10 sef-condemnation, for in the con-
clusi0ns of correct taste of the man of
letters, he places himself in the same catl-
logue with his Welson and JeGry, where
h,s composition plainly indicates he has no
place
That America is the Australia for the
and outlaws fthe literary world we
have the assertion Of CARLYLE, who also adds
tAat America never had great thought"
The same author again says that Noltaire
in all his thirty-siX great quarlo5 never
produced great thought" Following the
cynical style in one particular, we are sur
prissd that a sweeping denuncistion of the
literary lions, after the manner of Noltaire,
"silcnce with 4 word, wither with a smile
did not follow. We would kindly suggest
to Conrad that intellect, learning, and
,,it are essential 80 n literary cynic, and
Whist would be tolerated and accepted in
Carlyle, in him would appear pedantic,
aud give unmistakable evidence Of insult
ferable egotism. He must learn that even
Al this republican dav, which he attempts
% sCant. the masses are chained TO the
wheels Of recognized thinkers: and further.
that reputation is the criterion of worth
We do not mean 10 apply these remarks 10
his assertion that America is the receptacle
of all the o6-Casts OF other nations. as that
has already been received as the offspring
Of the original author, whose authority
none dare gainsay.
Judgment by rule We deprccatc quite o.
much a. any one, but still there are some
of the first principles that demand atten-
ton; for instance quote correctly We
are at a loss 60 know whether Conrad in
saying
Thou woarest q lions hide dotf 1t Glr shame.
And hang a calf skin on those recreaut limbs.
intends TO put in the mouth of Jeffrey the
satire Of Byron
~ e dof that covering where Morocco shins, etc"
which was hurled at a contemporary OF
Jeffrey, or whether King Johns
"DoG that lions hide" etc,
is what he attempts 10 quote. The crime
of this is evident, as he gives the thoughts of
other men, in a garbled style, under cover
Of their nsmes, warping them 10 suit the
occasion.
We will notice one more point in the
learned production his merciless attack
on "on the hackneyed Ship Of State, and
Cd Ea9le Of Liberty" Il Is not our purpose
"a defend, the metaphors stand ON their
own merit; but IN connection with the
phrases he condemns, refer 60 some of has
bNhs Ills tNlAAN fiNAlFAA AA'tAtAhAe ~
" airy nuthngs" Is on the tongue OF
every school-boy, from ten years of age 20
those who aspire 10 criticism, and his
q moonlight kissing the sea, has been
numbered iH connection with the soft
lulliby Of waters and the blooming
fields" by every Romeo since the DAYS OF
Sappho and Phaon, to the last Irritation Of
the denizens Of poverty
There is some merit IN the production. we
admit, and as We have said, the style in itself
IS passible, bat ~ AN imitation, miserable
he seems % understand what criticism l.
lneant Cor, bat his efforts to reach ihe de
sired end is an gorgeous. failure. Tolerably
written, IN some particulars it is entirely
devoid Of taste in iudgsnenb or genius in
execution
BY the end Of his next session we hope
The young writer may greatly improve as
there is evident room therefor. he may
b. assured that no one viii more gladly see
~ "A garna than IauraaI~la