The morning times., 1896-03-29
About Things Literary.
{ Written for The T'imes.)

An under court in Michigan decided re-
Gently That adverse criticism OF book is
libel, but the supreme court promptly re-
versed the decision. The facts in the case
are these: A Detroit man wrote book and
personally brought copy TO the editor of
the Journal for review, stating that he
was Detroit author and being q Detroit
book would esteem IL q personal favor
to have the book reviewed. The mana ging
editor placed the book in tile desk of
member of the staff with no other in
structions than to look it over carefully
and re view ii on its merits. In q few days
the Journal printed q column article re-
viewing the book. 1t was declared that
the book had no scientific value and an
effort was made to seriously show why.
There was also some ridicule of the
book. The author sued the Journal for
heavy damages. on the trial in the circuit
court the jury rendered a verdict for the
author, and the damages were fixed at
$500, i'll spite Of the fact that adverse
criticism sometimes helps the sale of
book. The supreme court reversed this
verdict and says: "No malice was shown
by the defendant unless it was clearly
deduclble from the arlicle itself. On the
contrary IL appears to be clearly established
that the defendant did not entertain any
malice toward him, and that the book
was placed by him in the hands OF n critic,
An author invites criticism, and however
hostile it may be, and however much
damage ii may do him by preventing its
sale, the critic is not liable i'll any action
for libel, provided he makes no mistate-
ment of material facts contained in the
writing and does not attack the charac-
ter OF the author. The book and the
criticism are both before the public. In
this case the personal character and repu-
tatiOn of the author are not attacked. His
theories are; the critic was at liberty
10 attack or denouncc them with sarcasm
or ridiCule. The declaration contains no
innucndocs, and although the criticism is
undoubtedly severe and caustic, 1t does
not exceed the bounds of legitimate criti-
cism" This is a valuable precedent
The signs OF the temporary collapse which
affect all trades Immediately after the
holiday season are beginning TO disappear
and the bookmcn will profit on the change
which comes over the readers about this
time. Lent, of course, brought its need
or studious IeaGers who devote the fCrty
days of seClusiOn to the polishing OF their
wits and to catching up with the literary
procession. This is, however, an inSigni-
fiCant tStimulant COmparedtot o the prospective
opening OF the spring bag of new books
which now Immediately before us. There
has been a CompaTa lively insignificant FRO
portion ofserious reading during the winter,
TO Judge by the sole gage OF these matters
the ClasSificauOns in The publishers lists
and the output of the circulating libraries,
SO the change TO the superficial summer
reading VIII be neither Il long nor sudden
step. Publishers call the first three months
of the year the period OF inaction, SO that
the season OF activity is at hand. There
are two hundred more titles announced this
year than last. The lists show that $50
books are 10 be put on the market shortly
which speaks for a large confidence in a
hope OF satisfactory profit. In fictiCn twice
as many volumes will lie issued This year as
last. The histO neal novel and story OF dd-
venture and quiet home life seem to have
come to the front once mere, and the novel
OfmatIimonial disturbance and unScXed wO
man seems quite conspicuous by absence
The general tone is healthy, the subjects
speak OF more culture ana less materlaliSfn.
1t is odd enough but strangely true that
very little is heard these days of the literary
aspect OF Italy. 1t cannot be that the
storied ruins and liquid skies have lost
their Inspiration for ina ginative temper
amentS. But who are the rising generation
Of inspired pens? Thanks are due French
paper for Ging light on this neglected
portion of ContempurancOus literary his
tory. II speaks OF the Latin Renaissance.
so il appears that there really is movement
among the Iiterati. 4 little patient delying
into the subject makes il known that
Italy has a promising candidate for in
ternational Immortality. He is young
man barely thrty-twO, native of Pes
cara on the AdTiatic coast. in tn" AbruZzi,
''thcllnd Of the gensta," whose picturesque
beauties and simple minded and honest
Inhabitants he never wcaries OF cXtolling.
His name is Gabrielle D'AnnunZiO. He first
devoted himself to poetry and published 4
number OF lyric gems. However, it is as
novelist that the young Italian has achieved
his greatest success. His friends say that
his characters are in large measure
portraits of himself, endowed with his
uersonaI views ana Chara cterSticS. He
hasn't fattercd himself, for though 3ttraC-
tive. his men are some what weak and frc-
auently egotistical. His style seems to be
more perfect than the matter il expresses.
tits sngularly virile, showing plainly French
and Russian influence but patriotically
southern and national in q warm and
impa sSloned eloquencc. One quotation
will demonstrate this as well as affirm
his great love for the eternal city. one or
his characters (Andrea Sperellil had
| CONSUMING ambition TO be Roman prince:
Rome was his great love; not the Rome Of
the Caesars, but the Rome of the Popes;
| not the Rome of arches, baths and forums,
but the Rome OF villas, fountains and
| churches He would have given the whC1e
! Coliseum for the villa Medici, the Campo
| Vaccine for the Piazza di Spagna, the
| arch OF Titus for the fountain of the
| Tortorses."
Richard Harding PAWS is becoming quite