The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
WITH ENTIRE FRANKNESS.
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BY HENRY JAMES.

" % % % % 90 % 90 90 % 90 % % GO 90
With the characteristic bravery of
the anonymous, some unknown critic
writes to crush me for having at
tackled" Hubbard T. Smith. The ex-
tent of my offending was that l re-
buked Mr.. Smith for having claimed to
have written a song which had been
written by Eugene Field Even I'M
der the light of a correction coming
from a source which chooses not to
reveal itself, fail to see wherein I
erred save perhaps in the direction Of
mildness. 1t is true, as the critic af-
firms with evident feeling, that my re-
marks, did not appear until after Smith
had disappeared, but Smith must share
the burden of this fault. Probably it
was inconvenient for him to wait over
for the next ship, so as to see what I
would have to say about him, while the
impracticability Of my saying anything
before his pretense had been published
can be grasped even by the intelligence
of the person who writes stuff to which
he is afraid to append his name. It
matters nothing that on occasions
Smith may have said that he only COM
posed the music of the song On the
particular occasion to which reference
was had he asserted unqualiiedly that
the song was his, and as the song is
not his l think the justification for
calling attention to the fact complete
Furthermore, the next anonymous as
sailant who projects himself into my
notice will wish he hadn't if the type
writer can stand the strain.
There is some satisfaction in noting
that the flock to which Edwards Davis
formerly ministered is being scattered.
No better use could be thought of for
a flock which would deliberately listen
to the monkey shining Davis, a fellow
who belongs to the sawdust ring rather
than to the pulpit. Now if Davis him
self will scatter, the sense of gratifica-
ton will be promoted to an actual JOY
A Call subscriber sends me clip
ping from the Washington Star to
show that in disagreeing with the
reasonable sentiments ascribed to Sen
ator wellington of Maryland 1 "over-
shot the mark" My expressions were
based on a direct accusation made in
the Baltimore American news columns
and discussed at length editorially in
the same and the following issues.
Whether or not / overshot the mark
depends upon a decision as to which
paper lied. There Is no way available
by which to ascertain. 1 certainly
have no desire to misrepresent the
sentiments of Senator Wellington nor
anybody else. I am puzzled, however,
to understand how in overshooting so
lofty a mark as Wellington I happened
to hit the sort of a person who divorces
himself from his name every time he
has instructions to give.
Having received a word Of commend
alton, the Post in its pleased surprise
prints it as Praise from ST. Hubert"
The gentleman upon whose approba
ton an especial premium has been set
had been known heretofore as Sir HUI
bert, his other name being Stanley,
and the difference between a sir and a
saint Is said to be easily recognizable.
However, it is not to be wondered at
that the Post should have acted on the
impulse to canonize him.
By the latest steamer from Australia
came a story about tiger trainer who
has suffered the discomfort of being
eaten by a feline in whose education
there had evidently been some defect.
The spectacle, of course. was not a
pleasing one, yet / can imagine no use
for a tiger trainer save to furnish his
pupil with a meal. AS between trainer
and tiger my sympathy is always with
the captive beast. He is kept in a
cage, to which he may grow accus-
toned and cease to pine, but he never
becomes Injured to the red hot iron, the
lash and the utility of being prodded
with pitchfork until induced to jump
through a hoop must be beyond his
grasp. He belongs to a family en-
dowed by the Creator with bad tenn
per and taste for meat. When man
meat invades his cage he feels resent
full, and when. by hostile demonstra-
ton, the man-meat invites disaster, I
do not see where the ground for pity
ing him appears, If the invitation be
accepted. There are methods by which
one may avoid contributing to the gus
tatory delight of tiger, and the best
of all Is to keep away from there.
In the name of a tortured humanity
I wish to enter protest against the
abominable form of unnatural crime
known as the coon song" AS rule
this song is absolutely without merit of
melody and the words are worse than
| idiotic. for they indicate that the writer
must have sense enough to know that
he is making a fool of himself. I have
in mind particularly a recently pub
lished outrage. entitled Honey, You're
the Warmest Gal in Town" The title
is in itself an indecency, according to a
late decision by Judge Morrow, who had
to pass upon a similar breach of good
manners concerning the proprietorship
Of which two persons had had the
nerve to quarrel. I do not know the
tune written for the words, but If it
were refrain stolen from the celestial
choir it would be inadequate to the
raising Of the song to plane of re-
spectability. 1t may be noticed that
chronic offenders have a mania for US
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