The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1879-07-20
CrIILcIan.
That tine-honored and genuine old
poet, Pope. in his Essay on Criticism IS


That ime-honored aud genuine old
poet, Pope. in his Essay on Criticism, .
wrote:
pAsS'd.
Tanned critics rsxt, aad prov'd plain fools 81
Sosne neither can for wits nor critics pass.
As hear! mules are neither horse nor ass
This Is as true at the present as in
former times No matter what the sub
jeet Of criticism be. it is too often made
to subserve a meaner object than mere
criticism. Men who make il their bus
mess 20 'crite, become oftentimes too
careless or too piquant irtheir animal
DIVERSIONS. and rot infrequeutly adopt a
style OF hagitious opposition for the
purposes OF nOtorieIy, or the conserya-
ton OF their own pride and ~sel.-conceit.
We are the press; the directors OF the
public mind; the oracles of society: and
AS such it is our duty to criticise. Hence
they set about feeling for sentiment,
searching for the thoughts and opinions
OF others; lacking enough cerebral force
or even fertility Of imagination in
themselves, they rather seek an intui-
ton than give one out, and thus pan
der TO the morbid sentiments and lower
tastes Of that, which in their superior
wisdom they please to designate As
Public opinion"
This is not right. The man who
yields 4 pen has 4 mighty weapon. If.
In addition, he has at his command
that potent power, the press, his might
Is like unto the sods; bat before he can
rightly call i. his own, he should in.
struct himself in its nature end correct
use. a giant in strength be should
know how to use hi. power. Such
knowledge should teach him no, TO in.
Weigh against Individuals, but rather to
improve art; to help scientific observe.
ton, to assist iii the elevation OF So
ciety. In our opinion the Object of all
true criticism should be to elevate the
character OF man, 10 refine the taste. to
perfect art, TO emulate all towards the
highest attainmeutE. Never should he
write as though lie were the supreme
Judge Of passing events, hut rather as a
moTer in them, helping by his own
powers to exhibit a standard. and TO
move mankind up TO it. Nor should
he imagine that he is the depository Of
superior knoWledge--the PauIora's
Lox the great rcanum from which So
c!ety must be enriched Jon the cou.rary.
the great power OF a true critic G,Uull
be exhibited in his modes n~utithesis;
his GROWING force shouid resi in the
. exact 'de!inca:icrs of contrast.
Never should he SO far forget the true
nobility of his Office as instructor as 10
be capable Of such a .e-rful detection
rs to denounce q ritter instead Of his
theme; 10 irurch iEYcctiyes against p
public man beiors lie has knowledge or
patience enough to demonstrate the
errors OF his policy or even write Of 4
public singer o. prominent musician
with arrogance ard cortumcly, instead
Of pointing to the Art. which may have
been lost sight Of, or failed to have
been cduced.
Just criticism few reasonable pco.
pie would object to; but Il great many
men who assume to be critics lack self.
knowledge enough to constitute them
worthy of Of its true dignity, taking
peculiar pleasure in u%rraignipg individ
unls as "poor artists. Knowing little
Of those artists and less OF their art.
instead Of holding up to view a Picture
Of peri ction, which u true astist would
admire, and by which public taste
would be improved. Such critics arc
justly described b. the poet Young as
Hot, noisy. enyIou-.proud the -rribbllug ny
Barn, HES NJ Uotnce, waste paper, Ink, aIl
die