New-York tribune., 1901-04-20

ABOUT CURRENT LITERATURE. BY John
& co. PIP '''
MI Collins is a critic who loves the quiet of
his study. who is at his happiest in such essays
as the ''Catullus and Lesbia" and the Land
scape in Poetry" of this volume-essays to the
writing Of which he brings not only fine scholar
ship and taste. but a delicate, measured en-
thusiasm. Nevertheless it is not for its classi-
cal learning for its kindling words the
masterpieces of literature that we welcome
"Ephemera Critica.' If the book is. as we un-
hesitatingly pronounce ii to be. nothing less
than a priceless boon. it is because through most
Of its pages there breathes the indignation OF a
critic in revolt; good critic. wise critic. who
sees many things that deserve castigation and
d is not afraid to speak out. ITO be misrepre-
sented and misunderstood" he says in his pref
ace, is the certain fate Of a book like this
AS to misunderstanding, We do not see why 1t
should exist: the authors style is as clear as
crystal: there is not a passage in the book
which is not absolutely lucid But that misrep-
resentation of il is easy We have seen from the
reviews of the work in the London journals
Scrutinizing them with some care. have
found in those journals. which should have
been the first to uphold a critic fighting for
needed reforms in criticism, nothing but dsin-
genuous twaddle about minor details; cheap
belittlement of the important points made in
the book or fiat concealment of them. No bet
ter proof could he offered Of the truth of what
Mr. Collins has to say against current English
criticism. He has struck home with VEN
geance. and it has made the CALLED jade vince
The state Of affairs which he deplores is
known TO all men. but denounced by few. The
English universities abide by a policy in the
treatment of purely literary studies which is
combination of pedantry and prejudice. They
are strong on philoogy and weak in aesthetics
Periodically. their nominally scientific scheme
of instruction is scandalousy lacking in the
thoroughness and logic which science in the
truest sense demands. and thus the whole lit
erary movement of the country is tainted at its
source. Inside and outside Of the universities
work is produced which swarms with blunders.
inaccuracies and errors Of critical judgment.
Inside and outside of the universities these
things are not simply condoned; they are re-
garded with such good nature that when man
like Mr. Collins utters a protest against them
his voice sounds like that of one crying in the
wilderness He shows in one essay that an edi-
tion OF Shelley's "Adonais.'' with an introduc-
ton and notes by Mr. ". NJ. Rossetti. dscloses
Grass ignorance in the commentator. but it still
circulates bravely with the imprimatur OF the
Clarendon Press. He easily exposes the in
let in the Select Plays issued from the same
institution He makes mincemeat Of Professor
saintsbury's Short History of English Lit
erature" finding grave bemishes without num-
her in that work, yet, is well known, the
professor retains the chair of rhetoric and Eng
nsh literature in the University of Edinburgh
Other writers who have come forward with
literary" edifcation for mankind he further
demolishes-Mr. Gosse, Mr.. Oliphant Smeaton
and three or four more. 1t has been asserted
with great solemnity by the exasperated re
viewers mentioned above that Mr.. Collins only
invites laughter by taking pains to put such
little authors as Mr.. F. ". Raffety and MI
Richard LIE Galenne in his pillory. But it is just
because the little authors of the day are taken
seriously and admired, because they share with
better men the responsibility for the degrada-
ton Of criticism and Of taste that Mr.. Collins
very properly includes them in his list
He protests that there are too many literary
cliuues. which encourage insincere eulogles or
bad work He is right. He denounces the in
competence of many critics in high places and in
the lower ranks. and he is right. He declares
that in these days Of appeals to the masses
II is as easy 10 write UP the sort Of works
which are addressed TO them-popuar essays,
tales and novels-as IL is to write up the COM
rnodities of quack doctors and the shares of
Of log rollers of self-advertisers. of the COM
pliers of handbooks who offer themselves to the
public as literary guides when they are ac-
ouainted with little Of their material at first
hand: Of all the critics." in short, who know
nothing Of criticism but assume to write it,
and somehow contrive to get their wares print
ed and praised. he is the unqualified enemy; and
he excoriates them with brilliant pen. Every
word that he utters in their condemnation is of
sterling worth. for he does not give us mere
assertion: he proves his charges up to the hilt,
giving chapter and verse for his criticisms. We
are told that his language is too strong. but
when things have got to a desperate pass IT is
time TO use desperate measures. 1t may seem
harsh TO say of Professor Saintsbury that In
his books ''he appears to be constitutionally in
capable of distinguishing vulgarity and coarse
ness from liveliness and vigor." but, as this
happens to be the fact why not state 1t? Mr..
Collins is heartily sick Of the perpetual mush
OF liberation and 'amiabity'' in which so much
criticism nowadays is saturated. and we can
quite understand how he feels. AS We have
often had occasion TO remark, we feel that way
ourselves. This is a caustic book. Mr.. Collins
sees clearly through the shams Of the time and
strikes boldly at those who chiefly RESPONSE
bic for them He thereby renders good service
TO literature.
Miss Mary Johnston's new novel Of Virginian
life in the earlier half of the eighteenth century