New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-28
LITERARY TOPICS.
R,rsKIN AND LIBRARIANS.


BRITISH LIBRARIANS CONVINCED THAT THEY
C,S LEARN A GOOD DEAL FROM AMERICANS
,xpov TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE
Iovpoy. Jan. 4.-Fors came to an end with the
pceember number. new fors began with the
January number. The King Is dead Long I'VE tue
KING is not now heard for the first time. don't
know what attraction author and publisher may
find in new series as distinguished from old series
bnt the change is supposed 70 offer fresh atirac-
ton TO the versatile public. Mr. Ruskin Is as ''ie o
"A popularity hunter as most men, ana ne oheis III
explanation of the difference between old ana new
which NAV be accepted as If nothing more, an Ill
dcation of the altered mood IN when ne puis"es
his self-appointed task lie has written heretofore
ne tells u.s. Oh any matter which Glanced 10 interest,"
b;., hence the title In the second series be
means to retain his unettercd method, in reliance
nm the direction OF better wisdom than ms ); but
whereas befo-e he allowed himself to wrte on each
snbiect whatever came into his mnd-for the re-
lief Of his own feelings-he viii hencefdrh eDdeaV-
or 10 write what may. so far as he can Jndge. be
scryiceabe to the reader acceptable by HIN; ana
only in some occasional and minor way what may
explain or indulge his own lllr. Ruskin ~ feelings.
II will not the less he, this series, so far as
one can judge, autobiographical like the Old
Whoever cares for Mr. Ruskin must read 1t, Tor mere
may BE- found from month TO month the develop
mcnt of one OF the most curious pieces h meitai
framework which ever existed. Once his letters
had no wider aim than to beat mp recruits Tor 81
Georges Society a society which he himself defines
M a brotherhood gathered together with view u
the cultivation Of the ground in particular way.
But 81 Georges spite ~ the lavish generosity OF
its founder and MASTER has not thryen. He does
not abandon any Of his hopes efforts in its BEHALF
nevertheless the scope Of hs letter writing 10 now
so far broadened 10 have for its object the max
ing of a book which shall become call 10 all whom
il NAV reach 10 choose between hcing honest or DIS
honest land If they choose to he honest also 10
ioin together in a brotherhood separated, VislDly
and distinctly. from cheats ami liars" Whether
this appeal a. magistcrial in tone, reaches or has
ever reached any considerable number Of American
readers. do not know. I should really like to
know; though to Mr.. Ruskn himself. with his os
teutatous and often expressed dislike and even
contempt Of America and Americans, II may be
matter of perfect Indifference. He would himself,
make no doubt. be swift to say that he has an
equal contempt for those of his own countrymen-
aud they must be the immense maiority-who dis
sent IN word aud act from his teachings.
Over aud over again. Mr. Ruskin has given rs def
nitions of his own aims. and more less complete
accounts Of himself as he appears to himself once
more he now describes himself as man who from
his youth up and during life persistently literary,
has never written a word either for money or van
itv nor even in the careless ncOntinence of the in
stinc for sefexprcssion, but has resoutely spoken
only 10 teach or To praise others. He deems him
SELF therefore, necessarily inc0mprehensibe in an
age when Christian preaching itself has become
merely polite and convenient profession" / suS-
peet the booksellers would tell you that he Is not
So much incomprehensIble inaccessible, since lie
persists in the endeavor TO publish his books with
out publisher and there is still certain difficulty
in procuring his newest work, there is a great
costhucss in procuring his oldest. Probably no
man was ever much read aud 50 little believed i'll
as Mr.. Ruskin--believed in, mean, in the of
getting his opinions on any one OF the many sub
jects he deals with accepted and adopted by those
who read him. and read him with eager delight.
Only the other day. heard English artist affirm
with emphasis that Mr.. Rusin was absolutely ignO-
rant of art. thought the statement unwarrantably
strong but It would evidently DE surprise 10 Mr..
Ruskin himself for here to-day hc coolly admits
or asserts for IL is done with kind of pride that
only Just falls short of beins yangOrous-tlat his
knowledge of painting is entirely denied by ninety
nine out Of hundred painters of the day. His own
sincerity j., of course, beyond question:; witness his
resolution TO contest Mr.. Whistlers libel suit to the
bitter end. You have not forgotten the wanton
ferocty with which he attacked Mr.. Whistler 1t
was said the offence had been somehow ccndOned,
but what last hear is that both Mr. Ruskn and
Mr. Whistler are bent fighting the quarrel out,
e. the certain loss of both, and profit only to the
lawyers and other Phstines who will either take
part in the sport or look cruelty while two men,
each of unquestOnable genius III his way, meet as
enemies in "a public forum-I had almost written
arena.
II man proves lis sincerity--as the Englisnan
1 4. IL.
him if he does not sunass him. says
by paying for IT, Mr. Ruskin's is more
than ever beyond dispute. USury for example he
has condemned in unsparing terms. and, by way of
proving that his objection to usuIy is not thcoret
ical merely. he has lately been selling ont the last
ten Thousand pounds Of his Bank of England stock.
and investing the proceeds in the new three per
cents. BY this operation he loses sixty pounds
year interest. The sam would be of Importance to
any other man than Mr. RuSkIn who had, Mr..
RuSkiu has, spent the greater part If bis patri
mOny. Ont of the 100000 OF with which he
began life lac had about fl2 900 remaining at last
accounts and hc who renders the accounts is by no
means inquisitivc journalist, who has put him
self to the trouble Of ascertainug this fact. Who
else would have spent ouefth of this his remaining
capital ia buying three drawings by Turner, winch
Mir Ruskin - for various reasons" considered 1t
duty to buy! This notable if for no other reaso1l
because it threatens to DE the last piece Of personal
and financial gossip of the kind with which Mr..
Ruskn wiz favor his readers. The fnaGcial details,
at auy rate, are longer to make part OF the
monthly letters. They will, at most, be forwarded
Oh separate sheets to the Companions of ST. George,
and be annually Purchasablc by the pnhc. As for
S. Georga, lis money affairs involved III greater
mystery than ever. " ] never was less able 10 give
any account of then," says Mr. Ruskiu The Guild
Is not even registered further notifications in the
memorandum for registry are stiil uccdful, and the
regeneration Of the world must wait for the law
yers. and viii long wait, if they have their way.
The 1cGdcRg Very good authority remarks this