The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-17
SOME REMARKS As TO CRITICISM

The Southern States is a very useful
h south in it's many interests. It al
ways contains instructive and valua-
BILE articles. The July number to which
we referred is Of that kind. 1t was
only yesterday that we saw in it an ed
it0FiAl headed THE Basis Of Criticism"
1t has q kind, appreciative reference to
Professor Trent, but not without a re-
buke for hasty and prejudiced judy
ment- We understand its caution
against criticism being "born OF pre-
sumption, prejudice or q desire for no.
toriety" to be suggested by some of
Professor Trent's opinions. Following
this it is said:
Zone other suggestion may be made.
In a recent publication Professor Trent
characterizes Alexander H. Stephens
in literary work as taking himself too
seriously The younger set Of wou1d-be
critics in the south, hawever loftily
their motives, should beware lest in
topping traditions from their founda-
tons, rather insecure, it is true, in
many instances, they do not impair
their work by manifesting the trait of
taking themselves too seriously"
That is good. It is we'll put. It is need
ed We could name several who iced
that kindly caution. Professor Trent
published in the Atlantic Monthly for
June a paper of cleverness in which he
criticised keenly a real or supposed
deficiency of the critical spirit in the
south. He referred particularly to the
"gush' of southern newspapers upon
every native who makes the least
name for himself in literature. pro-
vided he does not run counter to the
p~rejudices of his section" The "gush"
is e taken. We have seen many ar
ticleS in the last quarter Of a century
that overlooked with unmeaning
"gush' over southern writer's. We have
seen the same thing in the north. We
have read many opinions and articles
upon Walt Whitman that were so alb
surdly lavish in praise as to make the
very name Of criticism ridiculous. Ev-
books in h northern prints that are
ephemeral, not worth the paper they
are printed upon as "Ouida" says, and
are damned by another set Of critics
as poor flashy and inconsequentical.
There is very little scientific criticism
in the world. It is a matter of judg-
ment, insight, candor, sanity.
Professor Trent mentions as excep-
ions to the rule of "gush" those who
do not run counter to the prejudices
of his section" There may be truth in
the precious traditions and the sweet
faiths and take up with
and antagonisms of the new people
among whom they live, and write
of the home of their fathers
and ~disparage character and principles
and performances, it is not only nat
ural, but right that the "gush" over
such men should be s~teadfastly with
held, and the lash of indignant con-
should be applied.
But we did not intend to write so
much of what was said. We found in
editorial of The Southern States a
reference to The Messenger which we
herewith copy:
TN the first place, there are compe- |
tent critics in the south. This may
be perceived in a study Of the
editorial columns of such daily papers
as b Wilmington On. c. Messenger, |
New Orleans Picayune and even
The Charleston News and Courier,
it has an adequate perspective, |
which, it is needless to say, does not
exist, for a treatment by it of Profess |
Or Trent's works. There is, to be sure,
nothing in the south which has the au-
dacity to limit in an alleged popular
it's literary criticisms to
works which issue from it's own press
alone. Nor has there ever been in the
until recently ~ school of
impelled consci sly Of uncon- |
to the ridiculous position of a
admiration society. And in that
Is the hope that the real criticism of
American literature is to be born in
SOUTH"