Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-06

No. s JOHN STREET. BY Richard White
ing. author Of "The Island" Published
by the Century Company. New York:
1899.
OF the many changes that the century
has made. and is making still, there is
one less commented on than some that
arc less worthy Of remark-the change in
the attitude of criticism" toward new
and unestabished writers. In old times,
when the old-fashioned reviewer flourish
ed. his tenure of office hung apparently
on his skill at rendng in pieces. The
death-cries of murdered genius II we
believe the stories Of his contemporaries,
were music in his ears and the carcases
Of his victims were his victuals and
drink.
His word was still Pee. fob, and FUN.
! smell the blood of a wTiting-man.
Be he alive. or be he dead.
III grind his bones to make me bread.
SO It was in the old days. But now we
have changed all that. The critic is no
longer terrible. He is no longer a burden
on the back of the young struggier on
the road TO fame, but his pack-mule. his
common carrier, is often as not the main
stay, without whose aid he would fan
I'm the way and gasp for glory unhee led.
censed attempts TO get within the pale,
he is now often the lender of the helping
hand (and prides himself on his lending),
the professed adopter OF literary strays.
1t is even something of a fad recently
among some Of our literary critics. book
reviewers, advertisers writers-up, no
TIGERS. or what you will. and a kind OF
competition among them, who shall 60
society the greatest benefit thus by un-
oil.
baby genius. Nor do they wait for the
sound. They go after it. In their zeal
they 20 about i'm search Of embryo lions,
seeking whom they may discover. Every
few months or so rises the view-halloo
of gratifed industry, and-"Lol a new light
added TO our galaxy" They drag their
protOges bodily to the light of day and
thrust them forward TO be admired,
naming this one reaper Of fields green
with the greenness of freshness; that
browser in pastures new; and all geni-
uses, bright particular stars-indeed as
certain also of our own magazines have
said. stars of the very first magnitude.
Now when stars of the first magnitude
are so plentiful and astronomers are not
wanting to discover them it seems a lit
tie strange TO us that no lone
watcher of the skies has proclaimed
Mr.. Richard Whiteing's appearance
in the heavens. 1t seems strange,
we say, that not one of these clear
eyed has come forward and with the
precision of young Rider among his
scarfs-pins laid his finger upon Mr..
Whiteing and drawn him forth and said:
Behold / have discovered him!" For
apparently none Of them has discovered
him yet; or, If discovered put his label
upon him. However, Mr.. Whteing needs
Iof aI nf
any mark Of highest award" or first
premium" 20 make mo. John Street"
read And we dare prOphesy that ii will
be read and read widely. Good wine
needs no bush to advertise 1t. and star
of the first magnitude no official guide
10 make it visible. And II Mr.. Whiteing
Is not a star of the first magnitude, at
least he shines.
From the very first chapter OF mo. 8
John Street it is evident that its author is
Of no ordinary ability; at the last one puts
down the book with the feeling that he
has been with a master. Mr. Whiteing's
insight into human nature is of the Keen
est His power of description is almost.
N not quite. unsurpassable His style is
his own and perfect in its way. His COM
mand of true humor and pathos is admi-
rable. His Wit is Of no mean order. The
edge Of his irony, when he wishes, is as
sharp as "a hllllt but III iuS PitSSbSo "
pain he is as tender as a woman; and
throughout the book he shows a whole
some love of his kind that keeps his hard
est word from being bitter.
Mr. Whiteing's strength In the delina-
ton Of character is wonderful. A figure,
a name. six lines of annotation-and you
have a picture as vivid as II Dickens or
Thackeray had drawn it, Low Covey
.,riida Nance. Holy Joe. Old AS. Mr..
Azrael. Young Rider, are all witnesses
~ his power. The two first especially
can never be forgotten. 'Tilda and Low
Covev were not born 10 die.
And now a word or two In explanation
of the rather peculiar machinery oi ule
Hool Nv a curious combination OF cir-
s,,,,stances 81" the "chief speaker Oh
The story. has become the representative
~ The Diamond Jubilee of a little SCUM
Sec island dependent on the BRUSH
cyown. ~ was not only 10 attend ths
Ceremony in my representative capacity
he savs "but 10 report on the laws, GUS
IONS institutions. and manners OF .ne
mother country. for the edihcauon OF ,ns
isisnders For the manners "'iu
custom OF my own order ! could easn a,
answer without preparation bu, Wa
was | TO do about the otnersE 49,
~ responsibility 10 my commission SNOW
al y