New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-20
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE SUNDAY -FOUR PAGES
MORALS IN LITERATURE.

MORALS IN LITERATURE.
MEssRs w. H. SMITH & SON AGAIN AND
THEIR BOYCOTT-MR. HARDY AND
LADY JEUNE-MR. HENRY AR
THUR JONES AS A TEACHER
OF MORALS
London. May s.
The controversy over the boycott Of Mr.. George
Moores Esther Waters by Messrs w. II. Smith
& Son. newsdealers and librarians. pursued Its
way all last week 1t seems to have come TO an
end for the present, and the conclusion OF the
matter may be given more briefly than the earlier
part The essential fact is that Messrs. Smith
and their manager. Mr.. Faux. continue unrepent-
ant Public opinion, with few exceptions, is dead
against them. There Is a general cutlery against
their fussy intolerance. Mr. Faux Is alone. or al
most alone. in thinking Mr.. Moore's novel an
immoral book. His censorship is reckoned piece
OF PharisaicaI prIrience. But he persists. He
meets none OF the objections. He does not even
respond to Mr.. George Moores challenge, nor
deny that. as Mr. Moore suggests his action Is
based not on morality but on personal preju-
dice against Mr. Moore The charge is supported
us that Mr. Faux consulted Mr.. Nude, and that
Mr. Nude refused to join In the boycott. He
puts the case more strongly. in one respect, than
I do:
Esther Waters Is a book which every news
paper has welcomed as an exceedingly moral
book TO this opinion Mr.. Faux is the solitary
exception. challenge him TO name a single
person who thinks as he does-prelate. politician,
OF letters"
But neither to this challenge does Mr.. Faux
make any answer II from the beginning he
had taken refuge In silence. one could understand
his attitude. There are many accusations TO
which silence Is the best answer; the silence Of
contempt. Not so Mr.. Faux He was twice in
tervewed twice put his case before the public;
then. when his defence is overthrow and his po-
sition seen 10 be perverse and ridiculous, he re-
treats; neither Withdrawing nor apologzing. but
silently continuing his censorship upon Mr..
Moore
1t Is possible enough that. In Mr.. Faux's case.
az In 80 many more the better part Of valor is
discretion. Interests are involved; a system is
perhaps in peril. Mr.. William Archer, an emf
nent critic OF the drama. who often makes incur
sions into other fields, has touched, rather ten
DERBY and timldly. OF the weak spots in
Messrs Smiths way OF doing business as circu-
latlng librarians. lie writes:
rs Mr. Faux fully aware Of the insult to the
intelligence OF the faithful $1,000 implied in his
whole course OF argument? He talks as though
they were utterly incompetent to exercise any
selection on their own account-as though they
simply took on trust whatever he chose to offer
them"
So they DO That Is the system, or part OF the
system as I explained In a former letter. It may
t-an Ia 4 hat Mpccr
Smiths subscribers should allow Messrs. Smith
to choose for them what they shall read But
the doclllty Of the British public in presence Of
powerful organization must be seen to be ap.
preciatei The public SUBMITS to something more
than the impertlnence Of censorship. 1t submits
70 a system which leaves the selection and sup
ply Of its literature to people who have no other
aim than a commercial aim. nor any other stand
point than business and their own profit. There
comes. for example. a great run such n book
ns Mrs Humphry Wards "Marcella." Messrs.
Smith know perfectly well that there will be a
great demand. To meet Il they lay In certain
number OF copies Of that book. II the number Is
not sufficient, they supply their customers who
want 'Marcella" with some other book; and so
rufni from their own point or view. their obligH-
tons 10 their public. 1T may be true" says Mr.
Archer that good many Of the 1900 are app 10
relegate their choice OF literature very much TO
Mr. Faux's underlIngs at the bookstals." II Is
true and II is this ignorance and Indifference on
the part ~ 80 many Of their customers which
enable Messrs. Smith TO use up n stock OF cheap
rubbish and 20 distribute 10 their pa irons books
which are stale or books which are only not stale
because they were never fresh But the worm
turns II you tread on II often enough. II one may
Judge from the letters published in The Chroni-
Gle" II Is turning now. It must mean something
when twenty seven out Of thirty-one subscribers
in single public Office Indignantly protest"
against the action Of the firm. II that or some
similar protest be repeated often enough. It may
reach the only part OF Messrs Smiths organiza-
ton which seems TO have much senslbility.
In other words, 4, may show them that their
present policy Is not good business.
The incidental attack on Mr.. Thomas Hardy
has brought no less champion than Lady Jeune
to his defence. Lady Jeune defends him, In the
first place. by attacking others. She tells us she
has not read Esther Waters" but from what
she has heard, does not think IL a book that need
shock the readers OF generation who enjoy THE
Heavenly Twins and The Yellow Aster" and
"Keynotes.' So I suppose the friends OF the
writer's Of those works will rush to their defence
as Lady Jeune has to the defence OF Mr. Hardy.
II the new defenders should be women, they will.
of course. az Lady Jeune does single out other
books for censure. More will enter the
lists FOR these. and see reason why the con-
fict should not go merrily on for the next few
years
Lady Jeune is an advocate such as any writer |
might like to have, before any jury. Il cannot" |
says this courageous lady recall in Life's Little
Ironies story that can offend the most sensl-
tive morality. one line In which Mr.. Hardy |
touches false note" The sweep OF that sword |
clears the ground. az II one OF Mr.. Stanley Wey- |
mans heroes welded IT, To say that Mr.. |
IIarCly'e 1.-THE Western Circuit" touches a note !