New-York tribune., 1901-10-13

.oplllarity on the hypothesis that the literary
reatnlent of books is on all fours with the
itcrary treatment of any other subject under
he cum in appealing to mankinds love of
c0Ssip. This would seem to degrade the critics
fcc to make him public entertainer pure
ma simple. with no claim whatever to being
public instructor. \ new view of the matter
Sncy, but it is amusing TO find the editor of
'Tlia academy" whose conviction of critical
nisskn is presumably unshakable, naIvely
pla wing into the hands of Mr.. Smith. The lat
.er deals in his 'Fortnghtly paper with Pro-
'cSsor Saintsbury's History of Criticism" and
Ie pauses to castigate 1.-The atrocious style
which the professor affects. 1t is uncritical
enough for The Academy to talk, as it does,
# their being malice in this; but it adds
these amazing words: How long is 1t worth
while to go batting writer about his style!
The style is the man, and when the man is
well in years, neither the one nor the other
is likely to undergo much change Professor
Saintsbury's good qualities many and most
valuable; ought we not to rest contented with
the all he can givc?' Yes, if are to regard
criticism gossip. But if criticism is to be
criticism. may remark that it is worth While
To 90 on batting writer with bad style
Just so long as is necessary in order 10 drive
that styIe into disrepute and thus advance the
aim of all sound criticism, which is to make
right thinking and good style prevail.
Poor NJ RoStand has begun to find out how
evanescent is mortal fame. Only little while
ago his countrymen sitting up nights to
devise new forms in which to laud his genius.
Now they point the finger of scorn. 1t is not
so much his immense prosperity that stirs the
Parisians to this mood. 1t is that his "Ode
A TImperatrice" rected by Mile. Bartet at
COmpiegne on the occasion of the fete there
for the Car and Czarna. strikes them as
tawdry, imperinent and altogether unworthy
of the great lady for whom it was composed
With the poem before we are not surprised
ut the outcry. Il am the soul of this chateau,
the poet makes his supposititious narrator say,
and doubtless it pleased the Czarina to hear
her declare:
Madame this evening at CompeSne
1t is your majesty who doth reign;
hut she must have been somewhat disconnected
on learning that all the furniture and decora-
lions had gone mad with enthusiasm, so that
The marbles on their pedestals,
The bohemian chandeliers
Thinking their crystals
As in poetic rhyme,
The very imperial mahoganies,
Repeat with proud delight:
I'VE have an Empress.
You Will understand NY aSilalloll, says tit
nymph and adds, what is quite obvious, that
not being accustomed of late to such splendid
r6tcs she has in a measure lost her head. The
Czarina must have thought so as she listened
10 the chairs and tables and upholstery gen
orally in their glad derium,
Mr.. Lang is in high spirits in this mouths
.'Longman's and says, is his wont, divers
ndfying and amusing things. Incidentally he
addresses himself to the American humOrists
protests that he is mot the collective name of
A society of men of letters The truth is, he
continues that he is really the author of Mr..
Euskin's later books and of Tennyson's later
pocms-p -parenthetcally adding "he paid me
;cry badly"-and is "the great great grandson
If the Cardinal Duke of York" Incidentally,
also, Mr.. Lang wonders if nOyeliSts do wisely
II publishing their novels at sixpence, instead
If six shngS, and inclines to the conclusion
hat they are handicapping themselves by their
>iXpenny ventures. But he is most interesting
ii brief romance which tells how a certain
itubbins,. popular novelist by profession, smote
With knife "a young gentleman with long
nustache and Photographic camera" and just
rator of Stubbins's works. Look at this"
mporcd the would be murderer, Of his captOrs, |
rointng to the pictures in a volume he took
rom his pocket. "These were done by the |
-litin who WaltarS his af-