Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-09-20

For The Ac.n5lican.
IA Critic H.hakeI.r
DELTA.

HcF AEt Ac.u3ican.
IA Critic R.b.leI.r
(The following is from the pen of one who
understands himself. We had 10 intention
whatever ri submitting % single sentence on
the matter. rs what we Lave written stands 10
20 speaa for Itself; ana if it is shown tia we
criticised unfairly. We shall most willingly
stand corrected. TIL then. we very much
prefer to ict w.a; W h4 c done remain. and
calmly submit oni>elf 70 the raadon slo.s
from the title gun oEtAe gentleman who hides
behind Tie iowa stamp
liz lie Tam County Ia,ow OF sept, 18th
there appears an article with the above caps
ton orei the signature Of iowa The OBJ
.iect of T. @ wsitel thereof seems 10 ba TO admin
lister a feh.ke to the auho o. 4 ''glauce at
"reminiscences" which appeared in a late NUN
Der OF lie RsraaLlcAN. l presuGle, Judging
from the general tone ot.'iowls aulole that
lie did not design = attempt the defence Of
"reminiscences as literary productions. On
the contrary. he acknowledges that the writer
of those sketches is "a m.a well up in wears
with little elucatcaso far az grammar and
spelling books go. Now ii is not my object
to ~critic.se "reminiscences. although |. read
them over in con 'cction with the review there
Of. Neither DO | design defending the criti>
cisms thereon, wh.ch. If necessary. doubtless
the writer OF y glance 1t "reminiscences can
do in a much more acceptable manner than is
in my power 10 d.. | only wish 10 say that
Iowa In lis eagarness 10 rebuke The critic
Tor not dealing mo:e gently with the p-olae>
ions OF the gentleman we'll up in years, has
inadvertently and, Il presumel without any
which !! would respectfully cali his attention.
In the first place, he seems to misaprehend
the real scope and design Of literary crifi-
cism. 1t is then the duty Of the crii ic to point
out ana %critieise any errors or imperlections
in the productions, which lie may undertake
to review. If h. finds the English language
murdered by enc who presulles 70 write anl
publish for the instruction Or amusement o.
the public, it is his lr.vilege-even his duty.
TO fully expose the monstrosities which such a
one is attempting 10 palm of for good English
II there are egregious blnniers in the gram.
matical construction of sentences. he shouid
indicate them aud characterize them as such.
II glaring antiquities exist. they should re.
ceive special attention, for the writer's own
benefit, in order that he may learn to exercise
more care and avoid similar errors in the fu-
ture.
The critic should not, however. deal in gen.
eral censures, but should support IL. business
Of his structures by illustrations taken from
the production, which he is reviewing. If he
rursues this course, however severe he may
be, no one can justly complain.
1t is the writers misfortune or fault. thu. he
has written and published articles liable TO he
severely criticised. and lie cannot after the
are published. and have thereby, in a certain
sense, become public property, call to his aid
the christian charity and gent,enanly court.
esy" Of the critic to cover up, or rather no,
expose his errors.
Criticism does not require the exercise o,
any such extreme gentleness Of spirit. If the
rule referred to were adopted, the greatest ig,
noramus in the country might write and pab.
fish at pleasure and go unscathed. Tie onl,
thing which can prevent such men from in
ficting their puerile jargon upon those who
derive their principal share Of reading from
newspapers, is a just bnt but severe criticism
which will expose their ignorance, however
wise they may attempt 10 appear.
1t must also be remembered, that criticism
is not designed to snhserve the purpose Of a
personal assault. 1t is intended to purify the
literary atmosphere; it applies only 10 the
writer's literary ability and qualifications as
manifested by his published writings. ",
one can claim exemption from severe criti-
cisms on his published writings If they are
only JUST on the ground that he has never
pitched into any one, or on account of his
'nnvarying courtesy" Having once placed
himself before the world in the capacity OF an
author or contributor to any PERIODICAL publ.
cation, he must subject his writings and him
self az a wrtter to such remarks as both com
mendable and inferior literary composition
vii! ever elict
The principal error Of 'Iowa' consists in
this: He undertakes TO censure the Critic
IA doing SO, he renders himself obnoxious ia
quite as severe a reprsmand as that which he
administers to the critic. lie accuses that
person of having committed ian uncalled for
fragrant act Of rndeness' in the article enti.
tied ~ glance at "reminiscences"
This is n somewhat severe charge 10 pub.
fish against any one, and should be supported
by something more than mere assertion.-
'Iowa" should, both according 10 The rule
which has been laid down in regard TO criti.
cism, and according TO dictates of justice and
fairness, show wherein tie act complained OIL
was uncalied-for, fragrant or rude. This he
does not even attempt to do. lie contents
himself with the general assertion withou,
any proof; which course to say tho least is y,
evidence Of that 'tchristian charity and gen
a-~M~seerTr~N