Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-06-30
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
How the New Books Compare
With the Old Timers.
MOST WISE HEADS AGREE.
That 1t Is Fruitless TO Attempt to
Keep Up With Current Literature.
OF NEW BOOKS THERE IsNo END
Edmond Gossc Tells How Mrs.
browning christened Her "son-
nets From the Portuguese.p

8ts~ AVAe sas'
It always seemed to me that Goethe
uttered an especially clear axiom
when he said that at is only because
they are not used to taste OF what is
excellent that the generality of people
take delight in silly and lnsipid
things" II this opinion OF the great
German poet was not the exact truth
there would be no market for the null
titude Of trashy novels and CHEAP
magazines that find a ready sale these
days. A mind formed In a classic
mold abhors the silly trash that serves
TO amuse and delight the vacant
mind" Who, after spending fort
night in the noble companionship of
shakespeare, Addison, Pope, Swift and
Johnson, could sit comnlacently and
listen TO the silly ERbble OF some Of
the modern favorltes, the yellow
Bookers" aud the like, who are able.
through public favor, to "loll at their
ease in their ohariots' and dictate
terms 10 their publishers What would
Swift or johnson say should they come
back to life long enough to survey the
field of present day literature? 1t is
not hard TO imagine. a feeling Of
nausea would overcome them; they
would sink back into their graves
crying; "In death there is some re-
ward"
II does not take very long for the
cultured mind to discover what sort Of
books the average man reads. That
f. shown by his conversation ever
Great readers are not always good
writer's. but they are most always
good takers. The man who reads and
thinks most always has something to
say worth listening to. providing his
audience In of n character that would
justify him in speaking his mind. A
sensible man will not make himself
ridiculous talking over the heads" Of
his acquaintances. And II Is but sell
dom that the well-rend man these days
meets with companions who care to
discuss subjects above the latest
monthly magazine or the latest popular
novel all stale, fat and improbable"
That so many people delight in silly
and insipid thlngs" as Goethe said.
q dcplorable. The classics OF the lam
guage are not easy reading" for the
man who has soaked his mind In the
goose pond of village gossip" and who
has come to delight in SILLY and in
elpld things" But having Injured his
mind to better things. that which
formerly served to delight is no longer
found Interesting. In other words. that
which was "displeasing we do pleasing
And"
VIII the chase after whatever Is
wild and new ever cease? VIII the
average reader ever cease to take de
light in SILLY things" and return to
the good old books Of the past, to the
golden days of Elizabeth and Charles?
There seems to be much dissatisfaction
with present day magazine literature
and with the overwhelming gorge Of
new books constantly claiming atten-
ton. The reader who attempts to keep
up with current literature Is hopelassly
lost. Some wise folks dlsclaim ever
reading anything that is not a year
oldj others say they never read n book
mat has not the stamp Of approval
upon 1t, while others have given over
taking any interest In new books
Whatever 1t requires a wise head to
choose the wheat from the chaff"
In the old books there Is an even
ness OF excellence that is surprising to
me modern reader. II cannot be said
MAT everything published in the old
days was supremely good; yet there Is
q flavor TO all the old books, out
Eide OF controversial works. that is
delicious and agreeable. 1t would seem
then, than there was no market for
silly things" hence they were not
published The publishers Of the Eliza
pethan Library" have attempted to
gather In convenient form some OF the
iorgotten good things of the long ago
old Nicholas Breton, Gent, who passed |
away from this life in 1926 at the ripe
ola age of SO years, has been resur-
fected. After taking look at what
nicholas has to Offer the reader will |
m Inclined to ask how is It he Is so
h'tle known. and II there are many |
more like him? Nicholas, IL would |
seem, was voluminous writer. and |
ae editor of the Bower of Delights |
aunlts that there was so much that /
vas good to choose from that 1t was 4
somewhat of a burden to make the /
nender selections from the many writ |
mss OF the author. There was ever |
~ anon says he, "another and an
e,ner Dit that claimed inclusion" Mich |
was, II would seem. was something of |
spoet, besides a writer of smooth and |
ssIeeable prose. But his lines were /
r.. nke Marlow's, mighty" but rather
rmonotonously sweet and pleasing. |
.ake The little poem, Beauty" as a |
sample Of Nicholas Breton's style:
Petty twinkllng starry eyes.
a a did Nature first devise
~ SPARKLING in your sight
11s,o give Love such delight.
SIC make him. like a fly,
ray with looks until he die?
~ ye were not made at first
Al, III inlscnlet 10 be curst;
~ XII affections care
w. doth only truth declare;
Lave WORMS wonders never wither,
I'VE and Beauty live together.
fe'sed eyes, then give your blessing,
iaasses " PASSIONS best expressing;
e ~ mat only lives to grace ye
III nor suffer pride deface We,
~. gentle thoughts directions
Y y" une power Of your affections.
Nicholas, 1t would seem. was given
nsnt airy things. His was not a
cnpant, sensual wit, like that of
eieVe. Here Is another dainty bit:
teonsh love is only folly:
rAnion love Is too unhoIy:
fAke1y love Is covetous:
H., iopve Is frivolous:
M, ny ~ gracious love Is II
uo'h prove the worth OF wit.
fsuutly but .deceives the eye;
N1si,tS ,ieads the ear awry:
Il Wsnnh 10th but enchant the wit;
. Ehns' inc overthrow OF II;
vlrtna ~ VISIONS worthy grace,
sees tue sweetest face.
fesstree hath Love found his life,
Ehdnawsli thnut all thought of strife;
fru,Hss IN Discretion's care
i,s,n' that clearly doth declare
lnst 10th IN true fancy provo
ene exerements OF love.
He,a u faith my fancy free
! Eow n 10Y. love may construed be;
Iouy I, SIoWs and what IL seeks.
" IL yves ana what II likes.