New-York tribune., 1901-12-01
Cbe Nem'l)ork 9rib'1''e.
ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT-
SUNDAY, DECEMBER l, lool.

Tho tremendous mass of Christmas books now
coming from the press eXciteS again 'iie otli'o
itv which is each year excited as TO inc oio"u
lines of development followed III thlS ci"Ss "a
literature 1t is gratifying TO record Ill l'oi' do
,,r recorded in 1900. distinct improvements
Fog one thing the distinction between the pooh
nf = profcs>edIy holiday character and the DOCK
that is nublishcd at this time OF year LOT Lo
other reason than that ii Is believed 10 DE Il
book worth publishing, Is far less frequently
drawn than once the case SERIOUS pooho
-n,+ were formerly held over" to await the
Tine when the holiday mood should nave p"SSeu'
1noyins nurclIascrs free to think of thoughtful
things. are now published Is matter OF course
IN the thick of the holiday season. This is
>rcp gained for it is 4 recognition OF the fact
that hIyers Of books do not necessarily stroll
like, sheen through any pastures that may De
chosen for them. There was, in fact, some
-l,ir.., in The, naturc of il superstition about the
,.r:rtire of piIing high the counters i'll December
with nothing but gift books The gift books
are there now and we glad of it; but 1t Is
comfort that other books are there too that the
~1lperStition has been exploded.
Mr. Uenlny's review of the BalfouT biography
of Robert Louis Stevenson, which took the
form not simply Of severe criticism OF the
book but Of an extraordinarily candid little dis
course on the dead romanccr, has caused
umultuouS sensation 1t can only seem an
attack" however and a ''trcachcrouS one, 10
those who are hidcbound in their devotion to
Stevenson that they are unable to endure the
uttorance of ANYTHING referring to him that is
not i'll the nature of panegyric. The IrIbune
while having frequent and cordial tribute to
mali Y
ana work that have seemed to justify praise
has from the start contcndcd against an "NAG-
.crl1ed conception Of his value to the world.
He was not 4 great man, nor was he Il great
writer and as we have said over and over
again it is not ONLY useless hut distinctly harm
Cul IL his legitimate fame to pretend that he
wa, either the one or the other 1t is only
fortnight since We were once more imploring
;llat tn" stream of highfalutin about him might
cease We rejoice, therefore, that Mr.. Henley,
with all the authority Of on" who knew him
well and all the sincerity of OH" whose love for
him cannot bc questioned. has risen up 10 dam
that stream. to punctuTc the St"N"H>"IiiAh
bubble, ana To accelerate the reaction III which
Justice is certain to bc done to 4 man Wh" has
Hitherto been as much hindercd as helped on
the way to- his destined position in English let
tcrS. As to the manner in which Mr. Henley
has rendered such sterling service to his old
friend. there will doubtless continue To b" more
than one opinion That his methods can be
suggestive of the literary swaShbuckcr we have
more than once had occasion rcgrctfully TO
point out But the good faith i'll which hc has
written on this occasion and his good SENSE
may be seen upon the surface; and when the
first fury Of eXaSpcration among his critics has
passed away. they will admit. As every appre-
ciative and loyal reader of Stevenson must
admit. that he has given a shrewd blow to sen
tmcntalty ana cant.