The Wilmingtonian., 1886-01-23
Geo. w. Curtis, Position.


cling the ephemeral and "elegant nothings'
of the easy Chair instead Of something
of some proportion and endurance The
general effect of his work is too much like
that of the clown, which is but for the mo-
ment. But this leaves US in dilemma, for
we are not willing to part with the present
delightful entertainment, willie we wish
that his pen might be engaged in more sus-
tanned efforts aud better worthy OF his schol-
arship, experience and, aud ability
We would indeed be fortunate could some
more comprehensive work be evolved from
Mr.. Curtis facile pen. But there is an i'm
plication, we apprehend, in our cotempor-
ary's remark which, we think indicates
lack of the full appreciation to which Mr..
Curtis well-defncd position in English liter
ature is entitled.
In other things, equally with the results
of contrasted literary effort, hurried criti-
cism sometimes uuiustly acco rds the palm
of supremacy to tie one who has achieved
some notable comprehensive work while
another, whose efforts, fugitive, mscellan
eous, and disconnected, though they may
be, are entirely overlooked and this in
most unjust way.
The essayist, paragraphist, and writer of
short articles is entitled to stand upon the
same literary platform as his brother of the
punderous tome. The question of priority
does not depend upon quality, but quality.
lie is excellent in the bellies lettreS whose
taste is good, not whose characteristic in
literature is prolifieness of lengthy
volumes. The essays of Eliza are as val
liable to English literature as the "Decline
and Fall of the Roman Empire" And
Lamb, as reyiyilier of English dction is Of
infinitely more value than Gibbons. Mr..
Curtis position is that of an essayist and
paragrapher. He is a writer of the most de
lightIul English, His mGtier is not that Of a
writer Of extended works and it is doubtful
whether he would succeed in that direction.
He is brilliant incisive, aud possesses that
subtle facility Of the pen that specially dis
tinguishes the free lance Of literature. But
the point that we wish more exactly to draw
attention to in referring to our cotemporary's
criticism is the greater demand of the day
and Of our iiteia.a.s u just saeh Siiteis V
the Curtis type. They in a paramount senst
are the conservators of good taste in litera
ture. Writers of large volumes are dsqual
, dissertators, and paragraphists arc the edn
Gators of the intellectual masses. They art
those who, being read by a wider class tent
: more to raise and maintain the status of lit
: erary taste. The criterion Of correct speak
1 ing and writing is taken uuconsciously iron
d them, not from our libraries. The "pur
: well Of English undefiled" is tapped fron
7 the EASY Chair,' and its congenels no
. from Motley, or Prescott, Macaulay or Bar
: croft, immaculate as the public may genel
h ally concede them to be in literary degre,
g Those giants of literature, Addison, Ga!
/ Steele, Richardson, Burke, Swift, Francis
x &c, were as class, only paragraph
re ers and essayists, and yet their age was tt
y brightest in the annals of English literatus
d not excepting even the Eizabethan. Loo
:. at the spectator, Tatler, Guardian, and Idle
as Surely the contributors to those periodical
none will deny, but formed the brghte
4 galaxy of English writer's They formt
Tia the renaissance Of cur diction--and they a
he read to-day. .-... ....
n Now we claim for Mr.. Curtis just such
weighty position at present
~ DR.. Wm. Smith says of the Addisoni
M epoch that the writer's of tat time are idle
is tilted with new and peculiar form of /
RS glish literature which was destined TO {
ert a powerful and most beneficial infuen
on the intellectual development of socet
But all these men, as a rule were mere
palagraphers and ess lyists. Their mt
ID attempted 10 heightened screed. Sho
All terse, tentative articles written in the pur
OF classical English was what they accompli
tbasn rnatrfnfaA aff,tts fnr,
the arcana Of our literature. Their con
it, buttons covered small "nodicum Of pul
AK news with a species Of short essay Or liv
rs dissertation on some subject connected W
= morality Or criticism, and inculcating pl
,, ciples or virtue in great and q
taste aud politcncss IN small things
not this somewhat Of Mr.. Curtis positC
And do We not badly need just such mil
ON and abilities as his-indeed, much more Il
yer we do the writers OF lengthy narrative, cC
rch mon enough, just now, and of cxcel
1t parts Our essayists are inIumerous-
is book writers are legion. The first is need
md Those capable Of equalling Mr.. Curtis
the pungent classic style arc few aud lar
- tween. Careless dietion iuxactuess in
oily application of words and phases, iudf
the ence AS to choice Of expression, these IN
the the velisimilitude OF the literary Harnesses
YES the day When then, we meet ltet
teh knfpht. of the s.anp Of tie man reterred