New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-23

Aalscr q = Trsyes.e,r i fIsm A,,a.a~ r ,Tss
unc'" e'c PIP iy, 2l Harper Bros
Mr. Towels f. not quite consistent, Abiding to
the malicious criticisms O. Poo. he leplor-s the
Ia, that merely pr tryinr to leo work - beauty
person oih-rvse harmless should hc punished by
The reckless w!' - another Hut when he comes to
ono Of the shattered IDOLS ~ his youth the al
most forgotten scottish poet Alexander smith he
IA rather pleased % remember tho WICKED skill with
which A writer la "ornhamc's Magazine" riicued
Smith ana indirectly MS yoiarics. lie would hardy
deny that Smith deserved a. well AZ the hands ~
a critic many 81 those whom Toe attacked Rut
this contrast only serves to show that when It
comes 20 criticism. onc'a sense - Justice IL apt
u be warped occasionally by hs sympaih.s or
dis.lkcs Poc's dlairibcs really noncnsive
when the nrst pain over. He made 50 hnc
a parade o. very little learning that his literary
eseays may sill be read with the satisfaction
that goes with watching a small but neat display
Of fireworks. III. praise. we'll as his blame
alike Intellectual Is there soul on the continent
who has read the satire Of "Ruhe'a." which. to
Poes mind. seemed TO herald a new day In American
ntcrature7
Mr.. Howels In telling Of his literary passions.
ranges over wider field than the majority OF
Americans can do He has had his favoritcs in
Spain and Germany and Itay AMI France. anl he
has been intimate with them In their own language.
But when those books enumerated upon which
his mind nourished in youth and his tastes
formed the list found 10 be confined with rare
exceptions u English and American authors. 1t
begins with Goldsmith. followed Glossy by Ger
vantes and irving. lie had hitherto got his knowl-
edge OF books mainly from hearing his father read
aloud. But with Goldsm,hs history OF Greece he
began to have literary llkIngs OF his own. Not
that he thought OF Godsmlth's books or OF Don
Cuixote. OF Irving's writings as literature. lie
then at the age when he felt wish to
be- everything that he read. II he studied the
PLOTS OF the Greeks he wished TO be ,ireek hero.
and II he turned 10 the Roman history he wished TO
be like the Romans. The mark OF wisdom In him
was that he preferred the Greek Republics to the
Roman power and among the Greek States chose
Athens. though the simplicity and self-reliance Of
the Spirtans charmed him much that he forgave
them the cruel treatment OF their slaves Curiousy
enough. while he was in the mds, OF Go.dsmith's
charming but very unhistorical histories he got
hold OF the "GeSta Romanorum" In what form he
does not say. but probably In the translation Of
Swan He seems to be ashamed Of this escapade
But he should not be- OF course the legends In the
Costa arc dscreditcd at the present day. even as
romance. But Mr.. Howcllss boyish affection for
them was more praiseworthy than his present
tempt 1t justified by long ages OF experience
when intelligent practically they
now. but restricted IN the reading that
II was possible FOR them to do Il had a delight In
that stupid collection OF monkish legends" he
writes. which cannot account Tor now. ana when
persisted In spite OF the nightmare confusion II
made OF my ancient Greeks and Romans" There Is
something Ike prejudice In the use OF the word
''monkish' hero. II II were an infallibe mark OF
something worthless. Even from Mr.. Howe.!s's
own words IL might be argued p.ausibly tina, this
medieval collection OF tales had not a little 10 do
with making him the rel.ist that he Is. There Is
not much romantcism In the Costa. certainly ess In
It's manner than 1t. matter II Its personaee' mot
at all the ancient Greeks and Romans Of Goldsmhs
histories" they none the less true TO the med-
aeval environment In which they were created. nor
less real In their place than Mr.. Howells's own
characters to tho life OF the present day The
fact that Mr.. Howells liked them a. boy. while
he cared less than most boys for the unrcalites or
tho Arabian Nights and Robinson Crusoe'' Is an
additional proof that the unconscious tendencies OF
his youth In line with the conscious and per
feet labors OF his mature years In line. too. with
another enthusiasm Of his boyhood. namely. his