Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-21

Max Beerbohm has been writing to
daily newspaper in London to protest
against the proposed restoration of the
deleted passages in Ruskin's works in
the new edition. Mr.. Beerbohm does
not think it is wise to make Ruskin
"lipe" by making him turn in his
grave" and is mistaken in his opinion
that the passages expunged by Rusllin
should not reappear. He says: 1T is
amusing and instructive, no doubt, to
trace the secret workings of the meth
cd of literary artist, to investigate
his means to his end, as revealed by his
reflections and amendments. But l
think that we owe it to him to deny
ourselves this pleasure. He takes in
finite pains that his work may be a
smooth and flawless whole. He does
not give it to us until he has carefully
refined away everything that has
seemed to him a blemish. He means
US to receive of his best, and of that
only. His pride therein would shrink
from the proposal to make us privy to
his second best. And so | think that
Ruskin's executors, in their piety,
ought to give us Ruskins work only in
that first and final form in which he
himself gave it to us. Perhaps this will
seem to most people a rather pedantic
view; but it is the view which | take:
and it is, surely, the view taken by any
one else who has any true insight into
the temperament of literary artist
and any true sympathy with that rare
thing"
Miss Mary Johnston is spending the
summer as usual in Virginia. 1t is
said that she has begun work on an
other book.
The publishers lists of recent years
have shown a striking number of add
tons to the books on musical subjects,
which is an undOubted proof of the
growing interest felt in music through
out the country. The recent musical
publications are generally popular eX-
positions of various phases Of musical
art, or else popular biographies of the
great composers. The publishers Of this
class Of literature unite in saying that,
While none of these books ever reach 4
phenomenal sale, or even large one as
sales go now in the publishing business,
they usually have a steady sale year
after year. And such books are always
welcomed and highly esteemed as in the
long run valuable additions to the lists.
Many of the musical books that have
been recently published are presenta-
tons in popular and easily Ineligible
form of various phases of musical his
tory and development, by critics and
GtnnnntC nj the hjOhast attDinnonntG
of polished literary form as well as of
high authority on the subject of which
they treat. But always" said one
publisher, who mas had large expert
ence in this class of books, the books
about Wagner and the Wagnerian
music dramas are the most popular.
With all that has been published about
him and his works, there is still great
eagerness to learn about them, their
structure. their story, their develop
ment. The rising generation especial
ly | think reads such books with avidi-
ty." There is a widespread demand for
musical books not only in the large
cities of the East, but all throughout
the West, according to another man,
whence he grew his conclusion that the
appreciation of music is gaining in
that part Of the country. A great fact
or in this. and in the interest in books
to aid in the understanding of music,
is the woman's club, that are extreme
~ numerous in all parts of the country
one feature of their many sided activ-
ity is the serious study of musical lit
erature of the expcsitory sort, by which
the value Of these somewhat limited
opportunities of hearing good music is
increased many fold to them and their
power of appreciation and understands
ing is heightened.