The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-09-08
Literary Criticism.

Literary NFAGAcASAAe .
Few departments of a family news
paper are of more Importance to the
ordinary reader than that Of literary
criticism, or book notices. Lord Ba.
con said that some books are to be
tasted, some to be chewed, while others
are to he inwardly digested. In modern
times we have another class, and a
very large one too, which should not
even be handled. The very touch is
pollutipg.
1t will not do for every individual
to go through the interminable work
of examining for himself every book,
or even considerable portion of the
books issued from the press. There
are practical reasons which render this
impossible. Few persons have either
the money or the time to devote to
this work. Hence has arisen that
modern animal, the critic, whose
business it is to read the numerous
books issued from the press, so as to
give the public a brief, but correct
estimate of their merits or dement's.
This plan saves the reader an immense
deal of trouble and expense. Guided
by these notices, he knows exactly
which books to purchase and which
to avoid as a moral pestilence.
It will be seen at once that the
value of these notices depends entirely
upon the good judgment and honesty
of the critic. If be be wanting in
one or the other, his criticism is worse
than useless. Many has been the
time that We have been induced to
throw away our money upon a worth
less, and sometimes a vicious book, by
the incompetent or dishonest critic Of
some book reviewer.
1t would be amusing, if harm was
not sometimes done, to read the alb
surd notices which frequently appear
in reference to books. Some time ago
we read in one of the most widely cir
culated journals of this country a
eritique on volume Of sermons by a
minister of most decided Arminian
convictions, which was declared by the
reviewer to be of a ';decided Cal
whistle cast" a notice which proved
its author to be "decided" block
head, or very careless and dishonest
critic. Such blunders remind US of
the anecdote related of DR.. Willets,
VINO was quite cennoisseur in bird
stufing. Walking with friend one
day, he stopped at window where a
gigantic owl was exhibited. "You
see," said the doctor to his friend,
'::that there is a magnificent bird ut
terly ruined by unskillful stu&ag.
Notice the mounting! Execrable, isn't
it? No living owl ever roos;ed in
that position. And the eyes are fully
third larger than any owl ever pos
sessed." At this moment the stuffed
bird raised one foot and solemnly
bliuked at his critic, who said very
little about stuffed birds tLat after
noon.
1t is customary nowadays for the
publishers to send printed criticism
with the book they present for review,
which of course is always compliment
tary. From a lack Of principle or
from want of time to read the book
and prepare a notice, many editors In
sert this printed slip in the columns
of their papers, thus recommending a
book of which they know absolutely
nothing. When the guardians Of the
peoples interest thus sleep on their
posts, it is not surprising that books
of a worthless and often of an injurious
character are so readily palmed off on
an uususpecting public.