New-York tribune., 1894-04-29
NOTES ON LITERATURE.
Mr. GOODWIN SMITH ON "MARCELi1A
THE TWO WORDS ENGLISH AND BRIT
IsH-A PUBLISHERS NEW VIEW.
London, April 10.

polltcal novels 50 that Robert Elsinere 9iso
must be meant, and the criticism on Mrs Wards
methods is the more general. Says Mr.. Coldwin
Smith:
''To me It seems that to introduce theology and
politics to eke out what, perhaps, would be
vapid love story, is sin against art and against
truth"
And he went on to pronounce a blessing on the
memory of Sir Walter Scott:
"Who gave US frst-rate tales, tales that really
exalted the affections and purified the feelings.
but who never propagated anything; whose
simple object was to make them happier and
nobler and better"
Mrs. Ward has, think no right to complain.
She must have chosen her present line with
full knowledge Of the consequences. she has
heard before now remonstrances against her mis-
sionary system 1t is quite possible that she
wrote Robert Elsmere'' because she could not
help 1t. That book was the result Of thirteen
years Of thinking and writing; the result OK
whole life OF anxious meditation on religious
problems. The only question that need now be
raised is whether she did we'll to put her specula
tions into the form and framework Of novel.
When she resolved to make "Marcel!a" a
polItico-soclastc book she can hardly have for
gotten what was said. in SO many keys by 50
many different persons. OF the former work.
Sine knows what grounds the intrusion Of
politics or philosophy into fiction Is condemned.
She must have made up her mind TO disregard
these admonitions; for reasons sufficient to her;
and to pay the peralty of the slightly defiant
attitude to criticism and TO accepted theories os
literature which she has once more taken up.
Mr. Goldwin Smith makes another remark
which deserves attention. lie advises us not TO
yield to the prevailing spirit, but to keep our
balance:
In an age lacking in science. cultivate science;
in scientific age, cultivate literature and the
humanitles."
As this is the age Of science the right thing
therefore, IS to cultivate literature. Il Is some
thing moro than a counsel Of personal freedom
and Of intellectual independence. IT is a rccogni-
ton OF the fact that man cannot 1--we by science
alone. Darwin thought he could. and perhaps
for himself he was right. He declared he could
take no interest In Shakespeare or in poetry Of
any kind. Pigeons and earthworrns interested
him more than Hamle: and more than the Fairy
Queen. But l apprehend it is still permissible
10 others 70 care for the spiritual for the
ethereal. for beauty. for art and for other things
which to the scientist often Of no account
or Of ittle account. 1t may be. says Mr. Goodwin
Smith. that the day Of literature rs over that
the nnal reign OF science has come. that we have
passed the youth OF the world. II 80. | can only
say am glad that am seventy years old"
VIII the man OF science see any tenderness of
feeling in that. or will he IT aside as interest
Ing only 10 the pathologs;?
The perferv1 Scot. perceive exists in Americ,
also. anl there as well as In his native land.
complains of the use Of the word English instead
of British He thinks it wrong 70 refer to the
% rs ho
his compatrIots on the London press went far
thcr and said the writer who used that nhrasa
meant 10 say British Indeed he meant moth
Ing Il the sort. II ls "a common error" says the
pcrfcrvld one cvy. as If to spare the feelings
of the offender. II II be an error it IS undoubt-
ediy common That might In the truly Demo-
cratic mind give rise TO a doubt whether II b. an
error. But suppose hardly week passes with
out letter. often angry. from some SEQ; TO some
English newspaper making this same complaint
Sometimes he writes to a public man. who has
committed the offence in public speech. Nay
when Lord ROsebery spoke The other day az the
Corn Exchange in Edinburgh he--a Scot; though
a Lowlander-sad English when It was thought
he meant to Include Caledonia in that irritating
adjective and Il fellow Scot in the audience
roared out. BRITISH; rather angry Lord
Roscbery took no notice Probably he considered
that a Scot might take liberties with his own
country.
DO not know how far this criticism IS 70 be |
carried. nor whether it has any real significance !
except as wastepipe f)r overliowing patriotism.
Lord Rosebcry has lately described England as
the Predominant partner She is predominant, |
and will remain so whether Scotland like X or |
not; or even Ireland. Being Predominant she !,
gives the law. and settles the usage Of things |
the word English There was once in |
drygoods firm Of which the title was |
\ T. Stewart Il CO. Was II ever known as any |
thing but "Stewart's"? TIE late Mr. Stewart |
was the predominant partner. There are part
ners In Messrs. Tiffany & cos. but their exist
ence does not prevent NewYork from referring |
TO the firm Tiffany's. or TO the silverware they
produce as Tiffany ware. DO the other partners
feel aggreved?
And II we come 10 other affairs than political.
how are we to avoid woundng these delicate
scotch suscepubtles? May or may not
speak Of the English language. must caIl
Il the British language? Oh know very well
hat there Is language of Scotland which is not
English still very considerable portion Of the
common speech Of the Scottish people Is English.
There is no such thing as a British language; 1t
3 n linguistic contradiction In terms Americ ms
need not be supposed u have partaity for
English over Scotch. But II We make distirc-
ion between English and British. | rather think
sc select British the less complimentary or
css friendly adjective. There is often sugges-
ion Of old hostility In il; Il flavor Of our Revo-
utionary days; and OF Brtisher II my Scottish
rcnd VIII turn to the .wo latest American
dictionaries he VIII find the Century" describing
tsclf on It's title page as AN Encyclopaedia
.excon of the English Language; and the
Standard" as "a Standard Dictionary OF the
english Language" II he turns to definitions OF
he word English In the same dictionaries he will
e still worse confoundcd. Belonging to. or
characteristic of England. or TO its inhabitants
r institutions: often used for British" says the
Century" There is sense In which Scotland
erscf belongs to- England. The Standard