Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-21
FUTILE CRITICISM.


two kinds-the over-ZcalouS and the
over-polite. Criticism that is strained
and angry, like voice raised beyond
its normal pitch will fail of its re
suits; it is too palpably exaggerated to
be convincing. the animus of the critic
is only too evident. On the other hand
just as worthless and unilluminating
is that sort of criticism which is hope
lcssly snug and non-committal, afraid
Of the sound of its own yea and nay,
and too timorous to be truthful.
OF the first sort. the slashing criti-
cism, tradition keeps us in mind
There we're the spacious days of The
Qua. tcrly and The Edinburgh, when
our friends Lord Byron and Mr.. Keats
were handled without hesitation and
criticism WAS held in reputc and fear.
And down TO our own time the pro-
Jhctic voices have been heard. unim-
paired in Carlyle and Ruskin. rcvilers
of the times, mentors and chastiscrs of
their Jcc. Since their splendid hour,
un1inChing criticism Cor perhaps one
ought to say ruthless crticism} has
lackcd FOR distinguished exponent,
unless Mr.. Henley can be called ruth
less. Mr.. Robert buchanan. while
sufficiently ruthless has hardly the
prominence that one speaks Of as dis
tinguished. Nj. Swinburne's essays.
80 full Of distinction and 50 courage
Gus, one hardly classes as ruthless
criticism either. His ire is so godlike,
his inVcctive SO voluble. his denuncia
tions so unmcasured. that one Il for
cnel must read him rather for diver
sion than FOR instruction. When the
great poet Of "Atalanta III Calylon'
takes up his War-quill there is de-
liCjous exhibition in store Tor the ap
p:cr,ativc reader whose humul in un-
j3dcd IS criticism, however, doubt
il anyone would call his work CON
elusive.
After all. il is thanklcSs tas, To tell
even IN a;tis; his faults unless YOU
can manage somehow to re-establish
his own good opinion Of himself at the
same timc-vcry much III the way that
on" says: 'Su-and- 50 is a blank pnur
2ctor; but hc is good to his mother"
And perhaps our current criticism is
not SD vcry dissimilaT to that: except
that we omit to tell tie man he's Il
poor actor.
There is no doubt we are more hui
criticism: whether Or not We are more
cT, ctive or useful may lc an open
question. Many Persons will hold that
the happy medium was struck by the
author of culture and Anarchy" in
his trcnchant style. III once fearless
and urbanc. cutting ana kindly. If
the medicine of sharp criticism can
over be made palatahlc to the patient.
/ it would seem that .irnold's prcscrip-
ton must W uscd-onc ounce of irony
t. two ounces of logic. applied hypo-
dcrmically. And if the patient gets III,
Il temperature. repeat the application.
In our own immediate time this
thorough method has largely been
superseded by sllve and lotion treat
mcnt very pleasant 10 take. No radi-
cal cure can be effected. and an erup-
tiun is liable to rcappe;Ir at any time.
Moreover. tie salvc remedy has one
81 eat draw back, il renders the skin
representative. SO that the least harsh
criticism CauSs intense ir,itatIoa:.
This is particularly true Of actors. in
whom the malady is almost always Of
vrulent order. For the moment.
however. this massaging Of the soul
with uncucnts of praise is most agree
able. 1t has a sedativc, neEalocephic
effect. entirely delightful. And it is
not until frequent repetition has dullcd
its potency that we perceive the degree
Of lassitude and debility to which it
hiss reduced us.
Il l could have only one rift from
Heaven would say: Give me an hon
est friend-one who viii tell re my
faults without aspcrity and without
fear"
II is the business of every critic
tmay we not say? to put himself in Il
position Of just such a chosen friend
tow ard the man whose work comes
within his study. True, the artist
cannot choose his critic. If he could he
would probably choose Il Swcophant
every time. ana that would be unfortu-
nate. So the rough and-rcady way Of
things as they are, whcrc the critic
picks cut his artist is better for us all.
Hut the critic should have in mind his
aclf-appointcd Office, surely.
This much being promised. I cannot
find any other obliga ton binding on
criticism but to find out the truth and
tell it. This in itself will be a task of
sufficient magnitude and courage to
enlist our best powers. If you are
fcndly ChcriSning the idea that the
world is only waiting to be instructed
IL, its errors you have not grasped the
first rudiElcntS of the situation. And
you may remember. if you have the
notion Of making criticism your cali
ing, that & pinch of ridicule is worth a
pound of railing. 1t lasts longer and
cures more thoroughly. and this
saving salt Of humor. which will en-
able you to eXcOriate others with pre-
cision. to their lasting benefit, will also
help you to bear their discontinue
with feeling akin to equanimty.
There will be no shadow of levity,
however, in your devotion to the cause
of truth You may use ridicule. irony,
huEor. invective or any other weapon
with which you are endowed as a
means to compass your aim. But that
aim itself will always be the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the
are I1nnlaa SAINT that ic