New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-16
DR. RIPLEY AS LIBRARY CRITIC.

When Richard III. Dana d. Il Il seemed IKE the revival
interest IN who nad ded B." letters half century
ago but when George RlDFy, haIdy more than "A dOI
years MS junior, GieJ asst Sunday, almost VITA fresh
copy for The tribune IN h.s hand u seemed as II
great ami uIque leader IN American letters bad COIN
ylee1 h- JOJ snort Auuian work. DE- pley has Oeen
The ana con emporary OF nearly all the men who
have ven 4 character literature. ssd
vet, While Others have made books ana worldwide
literary fame ne las been simply the critic o literature
ard has clit y assisted IN winning reputation for Ire
deserving. whi.e s-emIngy careless OF his Tue
most modest OIL men, ne was ais, oae of the most abe
Though writing more AMI perhaps better tan
any ofher American author, e is nearly bali
century since ne has published an original work.
He mas been essentially critic. his miIid eDeycloPe
die It's range and versatile - - cxIraoroIndry ue
gree been concerned chieny with tue thinking Ut
others, bis great work IN ieers has been the gud
ing o people 10 appreciate our own authos,aDd the
OF aufhf IN dong tnrir best work
He has been second in Iaule ndee1 10 ike Emcr
and Hawthorne and IrtIng aud Bancroft but he ass
been SECOND 10 his peers oLF that he m.ght shape ana
develop by words praise and Diame thr literature
the nat He mas for qudrer OF century Kept ms
TRIBUNE the foremost or teal Authority IN Anne can
eLtei s. and small part OF l. present standing and
hueuce que 10 his pen. He Is the nrst and CD 81
Jus anee among us, OF one VINO ban pcrsisteny iea
tue office Of literary critc 70 Its full impOrtanee
as Gaide IN literature. He has not only
mtroiuc d authors to a public Of which they
wsre afraid. but brought again and again to .
test wdter toe aud once Snicn s-Ve aim fame ana
bread lt with the Literary As &c IS with the pouteA
educ ttiOn OF the peoplethe NEWSPAPER teaches them
For Dr.. Ripley has IN hled the duties
OF literary teacher or the nIo1 pJini"g out w1at was
WORTHY. an guiding peope 10 the form alton OF cor
few literary the pr me oil hfe. indeed, whom DE-
Ripley has not assisted OF Influenced tGronga his literary
articles, lEd, ncu cons darS BOW closely
identified with lie. there Is hardly position IN tIs
countrY OF grraJer importance influence. DIR. Ripley
has almost created American literary criticism Mara
Fuller had indeed written her eaieursIrd erillcsm
on Goethe before Dr.. Ripley began his work IN thx
TRIBUNE. but first criticism its proper brezdh
and supreme DpaItisuy. Dc knew no difference, aP
par 8y between friend or foe. He had the full know
edge of modern literature which and sobers oe
iuGgneut. lie fully up 10 the advanced posteos
zoe attest no1gat, aud knew how 10 b. oold for tfas
which had yea TO win its A. the writers who aass
mems minds boil like pot have feit the nnaepeSe
o. his strong snd empbatc recoSnton nc esipS
Herbert speueer u he hearts or American readers
flfs that Emerson was our foremost arer ~
fret pointed out that Hawthorne though the 0osca
OF letters America" was one OF the foienvss
where his Judgment OF books or OF men 10
mandrd subsequent revision. lie has bees
Gcne for American Macaulay for English .sM
Carlyle has for German literature. LJrd Jenfy
stood arsr IN ms day among Lngsh eruc. aea ,a pa
THIS will do" eowed down Wordsworth, 1nOuss
II did lis WHINE for nearly hair centnyt
DIR. Ripley has stood with Us whcse Jonrsy do ~ -
Land. aud. without hrs imprimatur, no Amer can 49,
has gone far American readers: De IN fseI,
tue first American cri;c rs Emerson is the nrst Awss
can writer who nas won European reputation 99s ~
CUlerdge and Carly aud Jcfrey in England Is essa
uaiiy the held winch he has been Without nv.
here. He mas stood upon thes level snd risen aoV'Ss
their pr judices. Few men Lave had IN ihe Ouse
spendid equipment IN the study OF u IN.
emt trratures. snd few have used their syv as
power better advantage. He hid no Onch % ~
seiUs. The fcreuiost literary critic OF his day mus
nothing LISA than Vf the foremost en oil t0e um -
nau requirements, OF generous ~ mpatnes, -
true AID del, cato 1uignent-a man, 10 shor, ma
stands, Ms 10 were III INC Shoes OF tne hrs
best literature. DR.. R,py, 70 may b. said without ss
tauon. has held this unlque position for the sa
man. aud met all It's exactiODs with un' auns Ing
racy OF Judgment, with rare sagaeity III .,ho,S
merit with skill ana tact IN dealing Win 80
aud Justice sympathetic and generous as,rsrs
CRITICISMS, but IL Will be many day before We ShN
| the lao OF DE-. Ripley as literary critic again.