The intelligencer., 1890-09-27
WORKS AND CHARACTER.
Criticism of the Former Is Useful, "I ths
Latter PornicIOus.

Criticism of the Former Is Useful, "T the
Latter PGTnic!OuS.
There is q q class of criticism which
Is so extremely useful even with its
present impcrfcctions, that il would be
safo to say that, were they purgcd away,
tho more we had of :t the better for the
community. We alludc 10 the criticism
of the various works of mankind in
their several departments 10y th"s" who
have proved themselves To bc specially
competent to Judge and wise to dis
criminate, and whose object is to guide,
to protect and to enlightcn tho general
community on subjects where special
knowledge is needed. There is no de-
partmenL of human industry that is not
improved by such criticism. The work
OF the farmer and tho manufacturers the
architect and the ship builder, the m"r-
chant and the banker, the mechanic and
the teacher, the physician and tho law
yer are all benefited by the criticism of
those who arc superior in knowledge
and experience in zach separate prov
ince; and through this the safety, com
fort, and general well-being Of the com
munity are gradually increased. In tho
ohhiO Oh' W 81 - " ''i''i'
are now given to the public through the
medium of our best newspapers. are OF
immense value, both in their Stimula-
ting effects upon the artists themselves
and in cultivating the popular taste and
discrimination. Capable critics Of books
and other writings, of speeches and
lectures, of music and the drama, if
they are also conscientious and sincere.
are public benefactors and instructors,
and, as such, are entitled to our peculiar
esteem and gratitude. Tho qualilica-
| tions for such work as this are of a high
order and rare, and arc proportionably
valuable. 1t is only whcro incompe-
tence, partiality or sclf-intorest assumes
these functions that tho work becomes
public injury rather than II blessing.
1t is, however, very difficult in the crit
icisms of character and conduct which
are SO continually heard in our midst.
Here no special proiic icncy of fitness is
deemed necessary. Every one, what
evor his mental or moral status, what
ever DO his powers of insight and dis,
crimination, or his capacity for weigh
Ing character and discerning motives,
holds himself fully competent to criti.
else. Indeed, it is usually found that
the less highly he is endowed with
these qualifications the more volumin.
GUS are his criticisms Yet what is more
complex in its nature, more difficult tC
gauge, more intricately woven with q
! thousand unknown circumstances, than
character and conduct? Surely, if We
have a right to demand that the musical
critic be superior in his knowlod gc ot
the laws Of harmony and in his accuracy
of ear--that the dramatic critic be deep
ly versed in the laws Of the drama and
the meaning of the play, and skilled
to perceive how these laws are executed
a'd that meaning interprct tcd-wC
have at least an equal right to re
quire of one who attempts to criti
else character and conduct that ht
should have thoroughly mastered the
laws which govern both, tho cause.
which determine them, the reason.
which underlie them, and that hc bt
skillful to apply this knowledge 10 The
practical cases In hand. If criticisms
of this kind were confined to such per
sons, what Il wondrous change woulC
take place in our daily intercourse, ant
how great a respect would be paid To tht
few and moderate judgments that woul,
be passed! Az it is. every one feel
competent to mako estimates, TO form
conclusions and to pronounce verdict
on this most difficult, most delicate an,
most intricate subject, and instead q
resenting all this as the presumption o
incompetency, we calmly listen, accept
and pass ii on, as IL it wero we'll accrcd
tied truth. There Is stlll another wild
difference between the criticism OF worl
and of character, and that is the ulti
mate results to which they lead. II
who Understandings criticiscs som
practical work has definite and uSefu
object before him, viz, the improve
ment of that work in tho present an
the future. But the critic of charactc
usually has no such aim. and can hop
for no such result. If his criticism b
unfavorablo he may iniuro mans rcI
utation, cloud his prospects, rouse hi
anger, push him lower down in the seal
OF manhood, but can never thus holp |
lift him up or to awaken within him tn
desire to live more nobly. OF courso
there are exceptions To thiS-caSo
whore duty to others demands the uttc
ance of many unwelcome truths: but
, general the detractor has no such m,
tive; he merely speaks OWL of anothc
in desultory, careless, sclf-indulgoI
way. without counting tho cost, and ce
tainly without any well-deincd idea
doing good. d.-Philadelphia Ledger.