The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-10-19
THE PUBLIC ITS OWN BOOK CRITIC.


Outside Of 4 comparatively narrow class the read
Ing public is given over to fiction; fiction written L
day, fiction the large part Of which escapes even the
notice. much more the comment. Of competent critics.
One may name on five fingers the highly special
lied hook critics of to-day. and these. rs has ever been
the case with critics. possess no positive determining
influence upon even those contemporaneous writings
that fall within their limited scope. and for the mass
Of writings that come from the press these gentlemen
have neither time nor inclination.
II a fixed. narrow standard OF criticism were 4
vital necessity in literary accomplishment. one might
be led to despair Of the present were it not precisely
like the past in that respect. But with a desire to
make the most Of existing conditions one does not
have TO cast about him long before discovering cor
tain tendencies in the public itself of a distinctly en-
c~ouraging kind as concerns its reading taste.
Much indeed may be said in condemnation or the
historical romance" 1t is disputed in the minds Of
many whether it really serves it's primary purpose to
entertain. since fact hampers the Imagination and oh
structs the pen which otherwise might travel freely
and effectively Beyond diverting for the moment it
is Incredible that it goes further and does the most
that Is claimed for it. instructs; for the line Of de-
narration between fact and fancy cannot safely he
drawn in the same book-at least by the average
reader. But the popular craze" FOR books bottomed
on fact indicates a drift in the direction Of truth not
TO Ice gainsaid-a perceptible craving for something
rrler and more SuhSuilltial. anu z craving which the
books themselves stimulate.
Such. Il drift or tendency is obviously wholesome
and bids fair to continue.
There has been Of late & notable turning toward
standard authors. For example. she Dickens craze"
If one must use such Il term to denote popular in
clination-is no mere senSationaliSm. hut q fact with
in Individual observation; and since Uickens's own
time it is 10 he questioned whether he has ever been
80 widely read. 4 reference to publishers discloSes
that never have 50 many new editions Of old standard
authors been required. AS reading gains ground
one speaks OF it as if II were 4 brand new art. and
indeed it is comparatively new 10 a surprisingly large
class-and the reading class spreads. a wholesome
revulsion in favor OF the old or established books
must inevitably ensue.
Il IS scarcely To he hoped. even should it prove
desirable. that what we call the great reading class
will ever outgrow its absorbing love OF fiction. but
without disparagement to present day novelists it is
to be hoped. confidently hoped IN view Of the in
creasing tendency to extensive reading, that the pub
lie will cultivate a discriminating taste which viii do
far more than can any art of special criticism.
Let the public become its own critic. Let it begin
when it will. and judge roughly between venison
pasty and palpable beef. 1t is no very difficult thing
"a matter Of making friends with the few master