The times., 1897-12-05
I1E1-zlE!llt|(.ti|lal 1-zEt > |(.i|l
"Iiteiary statesrer and cthers {"

A perccptive young American wao has
engaged himself III the consideration of
serious purposes and high-minded per-
sons is Mr Norman Hgpgood. He is one
or "A fcw OF our writers, aud OF very few
of our essayiSts, whoare conceded voice aud
giyentht toleratlun OF ear in England This
mag not be Conclusive, bat il is flattering
tu Mr. Hspgood. &c has not. however
been with honor at home. His writings
have been accorded general praise, and
coinpa risoT lldA iiSed him 10 hiEh places
Literary Statesmen, and Others Is
volume II his ESSAYS which were written
during tile pasl three years and doubtless
reflect in the selection the opinion Of the
stutla5. as 10 what he believes Is his repre-
sentative wotk most worthyof permauency
In the eight essays he derotes himself "a
q yariet OF persons and to couple Of top
fcs. The tflc is taken frcm the thIee lit
eTary statesmen Lord ROSehory. John Nor
ley and Mr.. BalfouT-discussed in the first
three essays. The five Others are devoted
to Stendhal Menmee a. Cntic, American
Art Criticism, American CoSmopoli;anism
and Henry James. There is breadth here
sufficient TO engage the most catholic and
Cosmopolitan thinker.
The first few pages of any OF Mr.. Hap
goods writings bring TO the reader the i'm
preston that he is profound. scholarly,
treEchant, and incisive. Perhaps there
comes with il a suspicion that ho is In
VOWED. ana tnat impe5chcs tie first be
hcf Longer and mere intimate acqnaint
aHcc dissalves the difficulty, and patience
brings certified credence in his erudition,
the lcgicaI thoughtfulncss OF al he says,
the etahniry oil Ais ideas and opinions, but
confirn,nt iun OF the style weakness, in
vol, cmcnt. His diction is freighted with
The conception as the writer has seen it,.
l. is clear 10 hm, and be has not taken the
trcutIe To examine whether it VIII always
be clear TO another. a second glance brings
underst au6ing OF The idea expressed, but
destroys the placid enjoyment Of the
writers sequence and beSets, eventually, u
frcttine inquietude.
There are some staple ar rgmuentS Ia favor
y tne Philosopher who secretes his treasures
against rlppaut runners upon the sur
face. and some stock ridicule against
those who ask for gold without digging;
but the object OF an ESSAYS enlightenment;
It is, moreover, feature in the literary
tournament, and Emerson, Lowell, Lang
and others, into whose company Mf. Hap
that be may one day come, have not hest
tated, ia garbing their thoughts. 70 make
concessions To the convenience Of their
audience. From this it must not lie gath
cred that Nj. Hapgood lacks correctness
or carscity III English. Put his style
is the lea ST OF his charms, when il might
with care be made more attractive. He
Sights the eNpletive possibilities Of the
apparently Insignificant comma, ana sac
rificcs a surface smoothness III the ar
rancement of words 10 technical precise
ness. Ii fact, II Is in the arrangement
aud not a all ia the choice Of words that
we find his weakness.
The most interesting OF these essays,
subjectively. is that in which is discussed
tie influence Of cosmopolitanism. There
IS an impression in the budding generation
OF aesthetic endeavorers that there is no
Etimulant OF inspiration in American en-
vironmcnt. Tie whole evils concentrated
in this pithy declaration, that these young
struggiers foT the artistic "overemphasizc
what they get hold Of, from a deficient
sense Of permanent values" To those
who fret under restricted conditions be
points out very prcperl that perfect free
dom of opportunity weakens as many as
Il develops; to the man who has lived thirty
years In an American metropolis anG hates
#, he can only offer the rebuke Of his
own example.
Unfettered maginatiOnis is not deplcrablei
even when ultimate circumstances appa-
rentIy restrict its enjoyment. The you'll
who for several years has roamed unfettered
talking art and literature, studying what
he liked, dreaming OF distant scenes, il
often for 3 few years after graduation All
unhappy creature and fOrlorn spectacle;
but when he does turn from his dreams Of
other things 10 an effort to find beauty and
inter est ia what is forced upon him, he finds
more than bewould have done without the
experience" A final offering OF Conso-
lati0n on the point of cosmopOlitanism is:
il is q good education. the cosmopolitan
training and instinct; a good influence foi
Us. q refinement, stimulaut, tut most o
Us wDO cannot nave AZ SliD uld not Ia he the
deprivation q an essential one. Moreover
and more important from the genera pOin
or view IT not from that OF the individual
the most interesting men are not made bJ
cosnopolitan training. They grow out o.
the soil.
This is a modification OF the pleasant
theory Of personal development unassisted
by eXtrinSlcS. With requirement comes tb,
limitations Of tho thing acquired. There /
unlimited possibility II we 20 about eaI
nestly 10 nurture and develop it. The great
est teachers can but impart a few facts, Z
few general izations, and teach Us how {,
study Then the probleiu is within us u
itself and IL its solution. The gree test me I
have not merel J grown out Of the soil; the
have grown out OF self CoSmop0Htanism
In it, finer and truer Significance, is ex
tremey rare Ii usually exists merely as
feat Of requirement.
Mr.. Hapgoodnuiicc~ iu the Rosebery essl
some 0f tic ex- premier's literary az
cOmpiishmeuts which it may easily be be
Heved have escaped those wlu know tn
young lord only over the cable. And NOR,
Intimately than that lie is not general.
known in America. Mr. John Morley h,
sketches er3 phicailyin q single paragraph
having caught definitely the most distin
gushing quality Of that statesman, hi
distinetness. MI. Morley has no details
he has no blurred edges, no puzzles. To gan
a position Of influence in politics, and t,
assure himself a place in criticism, with
put the aid of Instinct for action, charm
Of style, personal wit, or el0quence, he ha
certaimlykept his gifts employed at a highe
rate e interest than is earned by mos
men OF as few talents Mr. Balfou
he studies entirely from his writings
pleading that the style is the man.
In there and the other essays the appea
is strong t. intellectual appreciation MI
Hapgo0d brings no stnkingly new or I'm
portant messages, but he is so palpabl
earnest, profound, capable Of more, an,
wealthy ia almost positive possibility
that has work must be received II yerentl
and gratefully. II has the genuine ring
tie thoughts stimulate, the opinions carr