New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-18

= :, have II first? Who second? Who is 10 he
.o trustee for all mankind OF this priceless
nor, of the artist? What guarantees will be
,rsn? A money guarantee? But we have Just
,.en told that there IS not and never can be
,v relation whatsoever between any work of
.,r,us and any mere money value Is the rict-
rs 10 be handed over BY the artist to the State
,-rhout any security that the State will pass II
, a; some specified time to the next State?
T. ne 10 trust to the honor OF his trustee? VIII
o.her States be content with that sort of safe
guard? In other matters. which Count Tolstoi
and Mr.. Howes probably think of less impor-
lance, the Powers Of this world have never shown
themselves willing TO rely implicitly on the mere
good faith Of those with whom they have rela-
tons There are such things written treaties
and penalties for the breach of them in the shape
Of war and other scourgec. free to large portions
o. II not to ALL mankind
Would. then. our two lovers of men add one
more to existing causes of quarrel? Or do they
begin to see the ideas with which they set out
the ideas which lie at the root Of their specua-
lions are something more than Utopan? The
dficulty-one main difficulty-with these amiable
dreamers of amiabe dreams. Is that they omit
10 take account OF human nature and of human
passions. They want to make the world
over They must begin by making men and
women in a new image; not necessarily their own
This way Of dealing with the problems su2
gested by these two writer's IL no doubt to some
extent fantastic. But how, otherwise are you
70 handle chimeras and conceptions which
themselves fantastic and something more? Argu-
ment Is. as I said. thrown away upon minds
which nourish themselves upon impulses and
take views of life which are purely visionary
They will not be at the pains to think out their
own thoughts. 1t is left for the critic to follow
them In their natural and inevitable consequences,
and when he does that he will probably be told
ne Is wanting in sympathy. and cannot compre
bend the grandeur of the notions he has analyzed
because he does not approach them In a sympa-
thetic spirit. The remark might just as we'll be
addressed to the anatomist who approaches the
dssecting table. sympathy is not what
is most wanted ir cutting up a corpse. choose
the illustration for the sake OF the analogy For
the ideas of Socialism not living, but dead
not vital but corrupt.
The extravaganza we have been considering is
in itself of no great Importance. The notion that
the writer Is not worthy Of his hire is but
vagary, an excrescence growing out OF notions
equally remote from real life from any posi-
bility of real life globe peopled this is.
1t has however merit 1t is put forward
a tangible proposition. II is something which
can be apprehended and answered. 1t is
over good enough instance Of that looseness
of thought which Is characteristic of Count Toll
stoi. and OF humanitarian writer's in general The
Russian and the American both talk Of free gifts
TO mankind. They do not reflect that the free
gift they desire to make-though I believe
Mr.. Howes does not In fact make or attempt
to make it's not free and not a gift They
desire to. Between them and their fellow citizens
Of the universe stand the publisher the paper
maker. the ink-maker the compositor, the printer.
the binder the bookseller, and many more.
Every of them levies toll on this free gift.
Only by the help of these Intermediates and
mddlemen. or Of some OF them. can the spirit
ual gifts" and the messages Of genius" reach
mankind.
Even Count Tolstoi does not propose 90 print
and publish and distribute his writings at his
own expense. All ne can do is relinquish his
own right 10 be paid for the writing. He makes
mankind free gift of his royalty. or Of the lump
sum down. which the publisher would be happy
to pay him for copyright 1, is doubtful whether
mankind profits even by this to the full extent
which the benevolent author intends. How
much cheaper you buy the Tolstoi OF to-day
than the earlier Tolsto who was paid for his
lntern1ndDl Die DONelSI HOW rnuCn OF the extra
cheapness is due to his REIMBURSEMENT Of roy
atty. and how much to competition between rival
publishers? The very translator who renders
the Russian into English American intercepts
a portion OF the free gift He takes his transla-
ton 10 the publisher and sells Il. or he Is paid
by the publisher for translating IT, and the cost
Is added to the cost of the book.
1t remains wholly doubtful how much in the
way Of gift to the public is to be credited to
Count Tols.oi except good intentions. All honor
TO him for his unselfsh generosity and for carry
ing into practice. far as he can the senti-
ments he avows principles OF conduct. Nor
do I mean to censure Mr.. Howes or anybody
else for not acting on his sentiments or not max
ing or trying to make free gift Of his books to
the American any other public. He has a
right TO theorize and dream. and right to say
that I'm the world 1t stands, no single indi-
vidual theorist or dreamer can fairly be called
upon 10 reduce his visions to reality. The mis-
chief lies not In the failure to attempt the impos-
sibe. out in giving to the world under the
authority OF great names those crude specula-
tons of a spurious Socialism on which less non
eat or less capable men build projects of spolia-
ton ana Of anarchy. w. W. -