New-York tribune., 1901-02-24
Gbe Ne,u'Dork Gribnne.
ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT-
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 2i. 1901.

NAL AKA l.bl.
Bad literature dies in the long run as in
eviably rs night succeeds day. but it sometimes
dies harl. Witness the egregous writings of
Friedrich Nietzsche. OF late it has seemed as
If his abSuriities To mention his distinctly
pernicious quaties-werr being generally ap-
praised at their true valCe. The scheme for a
complete English translation of his works turned
out TO be anything but popular. He promised
10 he forgotten and left undiSturbed in the
oblivion he deserved. But his death has ap-
parrntly stirred up some of his followers. and
now there is talk of his principles being re
stated, of his ideas being put in clearer light
before the world and 50 on. 1t is a great pity
Why not let the unhappy man rest in his grave,
and his philosophy" with him? 1t is an impos-
sihe philosophy At its worst il is monstrous.
At its best ii is still tinged with baseness and
is nmcal to moral progress and spiritual de-
yelopment. There is nothing in any of his
works that really needs to be- cleared up. The
essentials lie on the surface. They are material
ism and cSotiSm in their most Slarng forms
NictzSchc's philosophical formulas are not ex-
plantations Of how the soul may rise TO higher
levels. of how men may make stepping stones
of their dead selves. They are specious war
rants for doing what one likes
Spring approaches and the publishers viii
presently enter upon season which promises
10 be busy. In London sales have fallen OFF.
and it has been reported in The Tribunes Lon
don dispatches that the publishers are suffer
ing from The public absorption in the death and
burial of the Queen, and the events attending
the accession Of Edward VII. as they suffered
from the earlier phases Of the war in South
Africa. American lists may therefore be- short
encd 10y the withdrawal OF English books con
tcmplIted few weeks ago. hut now held back
for better times by the London publishers The
announcements already made. however show
that there will still be Il considerable mass of
new material brought out before the warm
weather begins. our own authors have been
and are. much occupied. and there are quantities
OF books coming from abroad. despite the losses
on them which may De- incurred across the
wafer 1t is always possible moreover. that
things may change in 4 very short time The
English market may enjoy a renewal of heavy
trade after the first emotions excited by the
new reign have had time TO cool down. In
America cvcrythin. is uncommOnly favorable TO
n good season. The political situation is settled
III" country is prosperous. and there are
clouds of any sort upon the horizon. Books will
be bought and read Some Of them ID is true
may not he read until several months have
passed the solid" books. of which there will
be a respectable company. are not likely to
get themselves carefully studied until the fall
But the light literature" Will be- absorbed with
aydty. and ii looks though there were going
10 be- plenty Of it, Not novels alone but es-
says letters. and books of travel.
NJ Rene i;aZin is Il French novelist AMI writer
Df travel notes. who 80 pleased NJ I.udovic
Ha6yy by his first story. MA Tante Giron"
that that veteran though n stranger Il, him in