New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-30
BITS OF CRITICISM.

DUMAS TIE ELrER.-There is something
about Dumas as a novelist VIII, reminds one g., .nr
sverythinc" lie IS not great artist in words. and yet
his descriptions and the like ALWAYS up their
and yet his readers Tsys feel that men and Wcmen.
1nd rot Law feIres ere Sccupy ing their 'trt,n III,
1. frequently his contempt regular plot,
get the interest vi all his best wOrksave only Monte
to the end ard the best roter IN the world ca d"
more. AS his Dialogue, 1t is perhaps hardly second
tSs there G III aha 9 uc IT, The s" Shar do
not lombard each other WITH astounding epsram like
the characters OF Moere and CODgreve yet they bet
uiten dali They are rot learned or philosophical nt
they have plenty OF moteeE-wi which Ism";n more 20
the purpose. Even when has been finding { Mt
with the separate ingredients of the books. suddenly
stokes that the total effect cold not be b1er 81 IT,
kind II yoa want other KINGS you else
BUT, il you want this kin there is none BIKE It. People
fortunately his chief radncers have taken good
w se on ye nsn ~ Soc the sS0 IL Da 6k
nevsr very serious ones really rgnrs cG9ie, to
WAGNER THE 1CONOCLAsT.-The path of
Richard Wagner is Uttered VITA tne Traces OF alm"s
ferocons onsiaughs upon those OF MS fellow tiS;S
ald wreaked spite upon the tonbs OF the dead cne
after another great and cnefsnea reputation, aav, '-
Meyerbeer treated McndelSsOhn with daddln, struck
patrnnzec Moy rt and. TO sneak. made post mor"n
e1amiDaon OF Bee, hoyeS to lecture upon his dsease
Wat he thinks OF the living b. aims we shall, IL 81 IL
know more fully, aud ;hen p"r1ree thls houient
master must rest until some one else Is gdtv OF
All this may be the result OF extreme te"y0r. # that
"nojie rage which make man spcrr tn restraints
decency for the sake OF tbs cauSr t cmp0.s
1t just possible shat Wagner NAV weep fa he sIctn
while he tties 70 ann.hate the artist; that liz may al
the image wnie he pits forth ali MS strength o.
overthrow the Idol; though this IL ha dy probable,
he would plant himself ON the yacan; pedestal. Set
whether feeling struggle with sense OF duty. TIC
eject p2on oLloOkers s the Wagner yet,
oil meD the chartered Ebertinc OF music--iJha Lon
don Telegraph.
OK TESNYsoS's "CUP"-" The Cup is not
poem. except incidentally and will. we suopect never
be Thoroughly appreciated BY the mere reader aud
not play IN any modern sense al all. IL Is iragIo
story. SIMPLE and direct. even harsnly direct rvrr
was story OF ancient Greek or H!nd0o legend Antique
sOero and hare, II related iy the author ~ the
Book or K,Eqs" Ire representative is sufficient to
make believe that there possibilities for The
been slaked when such audience si entranced To
listen 10 sucJ story II only 1t Is adequately told tod
by poet and not play wright told without fear that
there will be ann for the Oitiest language,
the most glowing poetry the grabdest snati0n. There
mast be somewhere Ia me EEgah mind capacities for
Intellectual enjoyment To be rsal zef through this &ge,
which Uf ste have been fairly trie0 W. mad
Thought IL nearly iu possible that tragedy should ~ vive
In England that dramatic art 10 succeed consent
70 bs Phiiistine ana 0urgeoIs; but The Cup" has
given US hope The Spectator
MR. SwfNBURNE's UNIQUE STANDARD.-It
might also bt saia OF MI. hwinhurne's poetry bai, II
such verses these has men:a! nor eiDotionu value
they survive for many geDereton on accOnt or
Their thy thin alone As to the Inenta value o. bis WORK.
that must be judged by STANDARD appGrabie 10 ii" Othcr
contemporary poet, Dasmnrh As his nstiod 81 wOfk IN
70 radically unlike theirs. There II 10 greater mistake
than that OF comparing poetry whose mental vanc con
Ssts In distinct and log1cai eDuDciatUp Of ideas, and
poetry whose mental value consists IL the suggestive
sebness OF sym6ol latent in rhythm ano even 81 aoor
~ 10 idle 10 DISCUSS the question w!cb klnd OF poetry Is
poem Ike "ThalBssius," for instance while devoid
ogether Of any logical statement OF hoNeh may %
iecuno oil thoughts and emotions TOO uoep Cf "nu5
ns shaken prism Is fecuDd OF tinted llghn.-lIhe
Alhep@um.