The San Francisco call., 1897-11-28

"This book will form a valuable addi-
tion to the library" is sentence often ap-
phi ed to works that are not literature and
to reference books of more than question
able value but it can with entire Truth be
used as descriptive of Talks on Writing
English" lis scope is wide, ard it is
eminently practical, with an absence OF
dryness in dealing with those questions of
literary technique whose very nature
would tempt an author into didactical
verbosiiy. Schooteachers will doubtless
accord The volume a hearty welcome as
ffording light on questions affecting the
syntax and construction of our language.
Professor Bates second book, to which
passing reference has been made, is enti-
tied Talks on the Study OF Literature,
and is an extension of his previous work.
This volume, like the other. is made up
from q course of lectures delivered at the
Lowell Institute. These have been re-
viset and to some extent rewritten.
Here again are noticeab e those valua-
BILE characteristics which make the colec-
ton OF immense utility, not only as a
readers handbook, but as guide 10 those
engaged in writing for the press. The
volume opens with discussion of What
Literature Is; that is to say, how the
word Literature" as descriptiv of one of
the fine arts may be defined. ITO be lit
erature," says Professor Bates, "a work
must express sincere motion; but how is
feeling which is genuine to be distin-
guisheG from that which 8 affected? All
that has been said must be regarded as
tho Of Ell
tical interest unless there be some crlte-
rion by which this question may be set
tied. Manitesty we cannot so far enter
into the consciousness OF the writer as 10
tell whether he does or does not feel what
he expresses it can be only from outward
signs that we Judge whether his imagina-
tion has first mad real to him what he
undertakes to make real fJr others"
For the novelist o. The Duchess" class,
the writer of Talks on the Study of Lit
erature" has a good-natured contempt.
He describes the processes by which
writers of this kind compo their novels,
and terms them as mechanical as those of
making paper flowers. He compares
wha, he calls The Peasant Pot-Boiters"
OF William Black and w. Clark Russell
with such standard romances as THE
Scarf i Letter" and the "Newcomes," and
rightly asks if there is any one who could
fail to feel that 10 Hawthorne, the crea-
ture of It's Imagination was a living be-
ing and to Thackeray Colonel Newcome
was creature alive with a vigorous hu.
manity.
In a chapter headed methods of
Study" Professor Bates stat,s it as fun.
damental principe In the selection of
books that it is idle to read what is net
enioved. We do not remember having
met this statement before, but it is one
that will afford IN uch consolation to those
who have feared that to derive benefit
from The study of literature one must
bind himself as with iron bands to emf
nent and highly respectable but dry and
prosy authors As MacauIay saws there
have been writers whose works it is fash
ionabie to call "Classlcs." but whose books
look down upon US from the topmost
shelves OF our Libraries and remain there
with yearly accumulauons of dust.
OF course, thinks Professor Bates, s'it is
possible to rouse the m nd to interest
The book, which are really worth atten.
ton will surely attract and hold if they
hended. If mind is indoient if ii is a Bile
to enjoy only the marshmalows and
chocolate caramels of literature, it is not
10 be fed solely on literary sweetmeats.
Whatever is read should be enioved. but
it by no means follows that Whatever ca
be enjoyed should be read. 1t is possible
to cultivate he habit OF enjoying what Is
good, what is vital. as it is easy to sink
into the stupid and slipshod way of carlpr
for nothing which calls for mental ex-
ertion."
Other chapters in Professor Bates book
are devoted to Literary Expression. "
why We Study Literature" False
Methods" "The Classics" "Contempo-
rary Literature and Poetry" and in
each are found the same lucidity. care for
detail and expert Information that we
have mentioned as present in the previous
book. A strict attention 10 Professor
Bates' rules both for reading and writinp
on the part of newspaper writer's and
authors would tend 10 cleaner and cIearer
expression in contemporary books and