New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05
Che Nem'21ork Gribn11&
SUNDAY, JUNE s, 1893.
ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT.


Gladstone in literature with marked caution,
but its Just reputation OF his non-poltica'
writings should not lead readers to forget what
1.-THE Athennum" characteriZes as the late
statcsmap's "love Of literature in and Tor IL
self" Gladstone was as everybody knows, an
omniyorous reader and out Of the Kindness or
his heart he no doubt wrote many postal
card I'm praise of commonplace books which
hammered to treat some sociological or ethical
theme in which he specially Interested.
No doubt he was moved In this manner to ap-
prove trash. to the temporary ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
of the fatuous author, to the undoins OF WIDE
public and TO the evaporation Of serious book
lovers. But 1t is shor.-sghtcd for the latter TO
allow these impulsve excursions Of Gladstone S
to obscure his real sympathy for letters the
careful student OF his character will forget that
he ever recommended Robert Elsmerc or any
OF Mr.. Hall Gaines lucubrations, and will re-
member that his enthusiasm for classical and
Italian literature was intense. that all his life
long he had. as THE Athcnrum" puts IT.
familiarity with and appreciation OF all the
best that had been said or thought In the
world He typiNcd a race which has been
rapidly disappearing. the race OF statesmen
whose political occupations could not keep them
from constantly exercising their intellecS In
other fields.
Mr.. Calvin Thomas asks In "Thc Forum" this
suggestive question: Have we still need OF
poetry" He offers an encouraging reply. We
need poetry In the first place, he says Tor
pleasure and points out the advantages IL
possesses over some other forms OF recreation.
as for example. the fact that ut has not the
nameless drawbacks OF an ocean voyage"
which Is surely the most astounding COMPARE
son to which the divinest OF the MUSES. was
ever subjected But we need not trembe for
Mr. Thomas's taste He has got at the root OF
the matter, and his contention that poetry Is
still potent for pleasure. for instruction. for
consolation and for joy is sound and timely.
He shows clearly too, that contrary to some
pretty widely accepted theories there are no
far-reaching influences at work mpairing the
prestige and influence Of poetry. There Is
nothing in the scientific tendency OF the age to
deprive the poet Of his audience. Our prac-
Gcality will never keep us from listening to
an inspired singer. Mr. Thomas Is fairly GER
tain of this. but he has not the courage to fol-
low up the thought and frankly say that we
need not give moments attention to the IN
fucnccs" which may or may not be corroding
the source Of pure song. That source lies in
the heart of genius, and, while the develop
ment of genius owes something 10 its time its
arrival upon the scene is Independent OF earthly
considerations. Contemporary poetry being
mostly mediocre il is natural to wonder why,
but the subject need not give us any anxiety.
An optimistic discourse like Mr. Thomas 5
should be rcassuring 10 timid souls. but his
sprculations lead no nowhere. The wind blow
eth where it listeth and thou nearest the sound
thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or
whittier it gOcth. SO poetry comes and goes.
and the condition Of the world has nothing to
DO with it. The world can only rejoice in its
coming and grievc over its departure
We print elsewhere a protest from one OF our
readers against the wholesale dcnuncaion Of
Byron in which Mr.. Lionel Johnson has been
INDUCING The attack should no. be taken
seriously. 1t Is simply an amusing example OF
the kind Of writing that every youngster in
London INDUCES in when he can get chance.
Paradox and audacty are in great vogue, for
they attract attention to writer's who would
otherwise anguish unhcard Mrs. Meyne
patrOnizcs Gray, wags her head doefully over
the "Elcgy" as over something too inartistic
and unpoctica for words and Mrs Meync
Is the talk Of London. Mr.. ii. B. Irving writes
1.-THE Life of Judge Jcffrcys' and whitcwashes
that sweet butcher until he looks a very saint