New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-17

Mr. Gosse's remark about the unbridled sreeo'-
ness Of great authors bids fair to give rise to
certain amount Of literature. THE Chronic'e
challenged him to say whom he meant'-""o '''o
great writer's are who "killing the goose ON
which they all lived" To this very direct ques-
ton Mr.. Gosse does not find 1t convenient to re-
n,v. Instead OF replying he writes letter OF
some thirty lines which is mere evasion OF tne
,ras,,on lie complains of the "meagre ana
fragmentary report" from which his interlocutor
quotes Yet. having Just read over veroatim
ranort OF what I did say" he does not deny the
accuracy Of the other report. He mas notnhs
10 explain or retract" 1t may therefore De taken
"a conceded that MI. Gosse Ola utter the VI
fensive imputation which he declines 70 exp'a'"
or retract He does not think It was OFFENSIVE
Naturally He tells us that at this boohse"e'"
Dinner his speech was listened TO by z" pe'so"'
-tbe assumption Is charming and charac'e''s'''
mn,orx them three or four novelists OF great
ponu,arity and distinction. each or whom happenS
n be nv personal friend" What has that 10 %
,,,h tho matter? He was actuated, moreover
nv the best intentions. Most people are espec'any
when they address disagreeable remarks 10 ~"
neopIe including three or four personal ir'e"as'
FINALLY he assures us that the OBJECT the so'e
object of my words such as they WERE was INC
maintenance Of the material prosperity VI vi.
author" These rather pompous futiii''es are MI
that thus tar can be extracted from MT "osSe'
II appears. however, that Mr.. Gosse - not ''''
an amateur author Of the dilettahte h'"' WI
reader" to a firm OF publishers. II m'sn' "''
be uncharitable therefore. to assume '"a' "".'
he attacked the authors for greediness. he really
held a brief for the publishers. or spoke i'o.''
their point Of view The publishers. suppose u
NAV he said without offending them. have long
heer used to the lions share Of profits. Many OF
.hor, s,I are But OF late years the author mas
understood his rights rather better. and by heip
-, Tho Authors Society mas even learned some
ching NJ the mysteries VI publishing He makes
q hotter bargain than he did. The publisher mas
90 concede TO him a larger share Of the returns.
The relations between author and publisher are
On more equitable basis. The publisher, not
unnaturally. likes the old times petter' anu II
"a Mr. Gosse who gives utterance to his discoh-
tent and rebukes the author for being sfee'S
because he no longer submits to Whatever terms
the publisher chooses to Impose on MIN. An oua
role for an author even Of the dilettante Klhu' !"
play; odder still when Mr.. Gosses aiter-oihher
oratory takes the form OF a sweeping ih'eco'e
o~o,r., authors more successful than he. and
holding less intimate relations to the publisher
There is some danger moreover. lest further
discussion arise on the question. who are great
ou,bo,a "The Chronicle" which Is capable OF
"unhr,dled'' enthusiasms names Mr.. Lecky Mt
Ruskin Mr. Meredith. Mr.. John Morley. MT
Hardy Mr. Blackmore and-Mr. Gissing. These,
cries the Editor OF the Third Page In me Papai
tone are great writers. The word great ~
used with looseness. Out OF the whole seven
would any 1udicious critic care TO afhrin mat
more than one is really a great writer? Mr..
v@rAtaah fx on
called great. But If you going TO include
Mr. Hardy Mr. Blackmore and Mr.. Gissihg why
NOT Mr. Gosse himself? Mr.. Lecky is an eminent
historian whose style In adequate TO the SUBJECT
and no more. Mr.. John Morley is student. a
thinker. really a man OF letters and writer OK
high merit; not great writer. Mr.. Meredith mas
extraordinary gifts. among which the power OF
writing good or even tolerabe English cannot be
included. But as Mr.. Gosse speaks OF great
writer's with the same RIGHTEOUSNESS which
might characterize even a writer for the PRESS
he may we'll enough have mad any or all OF these
authors In mind. At any rate he must nave hao
somebody In mind: perhaps. as The Chronicle
suggests writer's who. II not great. nave great
sales: Mr. Klpling. Mr. Marion Crawford. MI.
Conan Doyle. and other heroes OF the circulating
library. Clearly. he ought not to let them All
rest under such an imputation ir ne means only
some To be publicly censured by MI Gosse Is
a fate which only some gross form OF iniquity
can really deserve.
NJ A,phorse Daudet's visit to London seems
likely TO occur within few days. He has been
much heralded and interviewed. The French
press discusses his going as II he were bound for
Central Africa The English press discusses
his coming as IL he were Siamese Prince, or
an envoy from another planet. NJ. Daudet
himself plainly regards his Journey as an ad-
| venture emitting him to the prayers OF tho
| pious In all the churches. my preparations,
| he cries In tragic tones. ARE at last complete
There Is some justification for the tragic tones
II YOU reflect that he travels with whole
caravan OF relations and attendants; his vile.
| his mother-in-law. his brother. ] think. GER
| tainly his son and his sons wife and his secre-
| tary and know not how many more. An Eng
| lishman would make less fuss II he were setting
| out for the Malay Peninsula To Frenchman.
| and perhaps to a French writer most OF all. the
fuss IL part OF the attraction. He likes TO feel
| that the eyes OF his countrymen are on him as
| he buys his ticket at the Care du Nord or bends
| over his basin on the Channel steamer. He
| firmly believes that he Ia to encounter unknown
| perils He has certainly made his will and
| taken leave OF his friends with a solemnity be-
| fitting one who departs and knows not whether
| he shall ever return. To him. TO most OF his
| countrymcn, a journey OF eight hours. four OF
| them beyond the confines OF his native land. Is
| an event. lie thinks OF himself as rival 10
| Stanley and worthy successor to the Able
| Hue. The English are amused but keep their
| countenances and they are quite prepared to
| welcome Il distinguished writer without scruti-
nizng his foibles. and to ionize him to his
hearts content.
| NJ Daudets most intimate friend In England
| seems to be an eminent American. Mr. Henry
| James to whom NJ. Daudet consigns himself as
| he explains In his interview. But there are
| many literary societies which will be only too
| glad to nour out their homage at the Erench-