New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-23

,,.., ,ro,,, b.r, or from Arnold Indeed, he sits
oos,,,, beneoth the tradition OF the latter
"tbe critic of most authority in the generation
Immediately succeeding Macaulay's That last
ohservation was an unlucky one for Mr.. SAINTS
burv. for it shows infinitely his weakness IN
respect 10 historical grasp. He Is unaware APP
narently of the fact that Arnolds criticism mas
been one of the most active agents OF literary
deva,onrent in England, that he is to-day one
~ the most vital forces in English letters, an
Influence which is. moreover, increasing steadily
in weight. The following passage from ME-
sa,ntsbury's account of Arnold will probably
stand as one of the most extraordinary de-
liverances put forth in long time: "Undoubt-
edly the influence Of Mr.. Arnold did not make
for good entirely. He decentralization In
the least meaning to do SO, and, indeed, mean
ing unite the observation-disclosures. thorough
ness scholarship IN criticism. He discouraged
without in the least meaning to do 40. and. In
deed meaning quite the contrary-simpliclty and
indebtedness in 8 yle.
After this there Is nothing astounding in the
news that the real fault Of Arnolds books of
ethical sociological and Biblical discussion rs
that they are popular, that they undergo the
very curse OF speaking without qualification
and without true culture which Mr.. Arnold had
himself so freely pronounced But II Is very
disconcerting that Mr.. Saintsbury should pigeon
hole in this way writer who Is now more
than ever before part and parcel OF the literary
growth OF England It demonstrates anew that
tho documents Of literature are for Mr. Saints
hurry so many books to be reviewed. not the
symbols OF n great army Of interdependent
workers In the spiritual, intellectual movement
~ a century This being the case It remains
only to say that, while many of his critical
judgments are trustworthy. being the fruit OF
On reful and more or less sympathetic reading,
he frequently puts himself on record as lacking
In insight lacking In historical grasp, lacking
in Imagination. Lander, he says. had not SUI
preme genius. This of the author of some OF
the impcrishabe lyrics In English literature!
Mr. saintsbury Will not be accepted as the
historian Of nineteenth century literature III
England. lie has not written that history. and
what he has written Is dishgured not merely
by the organic deficiency which has been chiefly
exposed in these comments. but by conspicuous
errors Of an editorial character and by offences
OF style PREDATORY apologies do not excuse M
portant omissions nor the I'll results Of haste
II a history OF nineteenth century literature IL
worth writing at all. It Is worth writing thor
ourhlv and completely whether the presses are
bon, waiting or not In respect 70 translate
-, subject upon which the labors OF Symonds
| Iri,zgerald Kossetti and JOwett alone made "A
cbapter IMPERATIVE. he has scarcely anything 10
aov He was too much occupied. apparently with
the r.cullarties Of English. 10 give much atteh-
ton to exotic tongues. - their connection Win
hts subject He was finding out phrases Ike
"poeslloss verse" the fashionable Poplar coup
! LET ''ro dis-Popc yet further. poetlcal Ve!Iei-
ties" "talkce- talkcc" and similar graces. Tnen'
too this historian had 10 give much time 70
! tn, "circumstances' ~ his subjects he taxes
the most curious satisfaction In stating that
they were either easy" or "afilufnt tha'
scott made about fl5.OOO a year by his novels
and at last his assiduity IN this direction cuI-
inmates In the assurance "a to Keats tha'
.t.,,.,, hia origin there not a
touch Of vulgar.ty about him" This is H.
erary document worth preserving.
How many Of the Literary Anecdotes" In the
yolum. bearing that title deserve preserVa'io"
| IS a question IA suggestive as that PROVOKED py
| Mr. salntsbury's observation In regard 10 the
proper duties Of literary historian. was II 'ne
| duty 81 Mr. Nicoll and Mr. Wise 10 print al tha'
,h.v have printed in the first volume OF the ex-
tended work which they promise their subscfio-
ers? Their. are two tests 10 be applied to thelr
| Aocurnente Are they accessible in print any
| where else? whether hitherto imprinted or not
ara they OF "A M ture 10 be valued by historians
I, tho f,iure? Most 81 the data in this book
Could be got at with little trouble By any on"
living within reach ~ the great libraries. For
EXAMPLE the chapter on tttoXetor IN our Oid
Home" was originally written for the Keep
sake" and Hawthorne modified II - some extent
when he embodied 1t in the later work The edi-
,,rs of IN. Literary Anecdotes' reprint the
pages from THE Keepsake" because they say
those to whom Johnson and Ia" ,horne are dear
,vilI be thankful to have It In It's primal form.
Tn. surmsc may or may not be- correct. But
the Interesting point IL whether this KIND OF ma
terial Is "A Contribution toward the literary MS
tory OF the period" 1t IS only by stretch OF the
| imagination that II can be considered such. and
IL is in their method OF selection that the editors
Of this new collection Of anecdotes seem likely to
defeat their own aim and render their volumes
useless II is profitable to read the memoranda
relating 10 the trial Of william Blake for sedition
| NJ chichester This trial forms one Of the most
| picturesque episodes in Blakes career his biog-
| ranhcrs would always wish To know the whole
| truth about it, and the speech for the defence
| bore given for the first tine from the contem-
| porary record. taken dow In shorthand, Is
| curious and interesting II not momentous. frag-
| ment But the bulk OF the matter In this stout
| volume cannot pretend to even the slender dis
| tlnciion OF the brief Blake papers
Some OF the material In this anthology Is good.
| The many pages given TO Materials for n
| autobiography Of the Writings In Prose and Verse
| of Robert Browning" are likely to be OF SER
vice to writer's willing to sift them OF the
| wholly unimportant records which they include.
| Rut en- the whole. no rule appears to have
| governed the editors In their choice, and they
| include In their luxuriously printed and even
| costly volume anything which happens to strike
| their fancy and Is not exposed for sale on
| every bookstal in the United Kingdom 1t Is
| earnestly to be hoped that their next volume
| Will show a radical departure from the almost
boy,sh ignorance OF what true historical data
mean which distinguishes their initial produc-
| ton. Also. what they reprint or publish from