The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-18


~ would h. = tsres,rne task, and
vflB)l ope devoid % intrinsic interest.
NJ Like the easy writing against
which Byron protested, many
voals rro4e 'cslrse3 hard read
ing" R,,t dedication IN the abstract have
q charm for those zHo care 10 take ssy
peeps at the personality Of an author
Fifty years axo Dr Thomas II. Shaw.
professor OF English literature In the I'M
ueri.i I,yceurD o. s. Petersburg. comTnefi-
ting ou the fact that many % Drsdea's
univeraaea compositions consisted chiefly
Of dedieatlons and pFefacss, remarked;
'"I7le dedication vac "A species of ueees-
gary accompaniment TO every Book at a
time wnen tbs literary profession occupied
a much lower plane In tire scaie % society
than IL has since attained. j. s. hami'a-
afing to think OF the greatest genius ara
intellect thus begging IN strain o[ aoA-
lation. only the more fulsoue 80 The more
elegant, the patronage O! sofls obscure
man. TO works which were destined 10 IN
Ynortalize the age which produced THEM,
and 10 form tie brightest ornament OF the
country which gave them birth. How
painful to sat them thus selling their pre-
oeeency and birthright for a 'pieee of sill
yer and stimulating the nsgard bounty
OF a patron with the highest reiinementg
OF intellectual nattery. But this depiof-
q bic sacrifice OF Independence literature Is
no longer compelled 10 make
THE struggling pangs Of conscious truth
To hide.
10 qtiench the bushes OF ingenious
shame,
To heap the shrine OF luxury and pride
Il !ss.fs
These DELEGATIONS In most cases are az
solute models of elegance and atyle, so
much SO that in reading them one almost
forgcts the grossness OF the aau!ation they
convey"
IL nfty years ago literature was no
longer compelled TO make this sacrifice
OF Independence. how much more lofty
10 It's rank today y dedication is not
now fawnins Tor favor nor an expires
sion % obsequtousness II rs frank.
direct declaration of respect. gratitude. al
mlration. or-most frequently of Affec-
ton II is the bond which. out of thoa-
sands of possible readers. links one name
and one Individuality ~ith that of the
writer. II is remarkable for It's bteyIty
aud compress ion when II Is not, as fire.
aueutly o-eurs, dispensed with astYs"i 6ef.
The more fastidlous reader II apt Ia con-
slider IL intrusive. and In questionable
taste. This OF course. applies only - the
private dedication. one such a. Tcnny
sons To the Queen" or kipuags Wild.
insodious verses are notable exceptions.
These are "a great and or ar universal
interest as the poems or stories they ia
troduce
out of General Favor.
Perhaps the democracy OF tile press has
done more TO break down the barrier be
tween the author and his noble patron"
than any other agency. The book reviews
ia tie daily papers aCc Of common interest
10 the man who can line bis library walls
with first editions and ise whose reading Is
limited to the change az Volume al ihe
public library. IN either case the page
ufApla ylHg a dedication 20 personal
friend Ia unless the merit OF the lines
makes them worth the reading tor their
own sake, decidedly slpetiiuous- II sug-
Sests the beloved Wlfe'' ana dearly loved
husband OF the death columns. Now that
both appeal and apology have failen into
cesuetude it ~ hoped mat tie plaintiVe
Inscriptions indicative 81 appreciation ar
affection VIII he considered unnecessary
by writer's Of tbo twcntieth century.
To-day. instead of Il writer buying his
way into the federation OF man whose
claim 90 distinction frequently consists
merely ia Its accident 81 title or super
abundance uf wealth as III the days oe
Dryden il ia the riea ana the distinguished
who seek the acquaintance OF an auJatr
al mark ana consider tha, a-aaaintanee
s.