Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-07
i-:s
!: LITERATURE AND LIFEf
{ j.
Every dog has his day!
/ A. j. n. !;


cursed poet Edgar Allan Poe alive to-
day, how he would exult over his de-
famers, in the position awarded him in
the world Of letters! No one has ever
thought of him as rival of the En-
encyclopedia Britannica and yet that is
what you might call him in the II
volume edition of his life and works
projected by another biographer.
In the introduction to the recent 10
volume edition Of Poe's Life and
Works edited by Professor Richardson
of Dartmouth College, and brought out
by Putnam Sons, the author OF the
Raven is called the American world
author and given high rank in the
worlds literature. With a critical yet
loving insight, his biographer analyses
the genius of Poe, and while not blind
to his defects, he yet emphasizes those
qualities whose possession gives to the
poet supreme rank in American let
tiers. In creative genius, originality of
expression, perception of beauty, he
easily takes, along with Hawthorne,
tho not second to the latter, first
place.
Professor Richardson denies the
charge SO commonly made against Poe
that his art was divorced from eth
les. Admitting the poets Indifference
to the great ethical movements of his
time, admitting his inferiority to Haw-
thorne in the deep probing of soul prob
lens, he yet thinks that to call the au-
thor Of William Wilson''-one of the
greatest allegories of conscience, soul
less 'non-ethical.' pagan etc., is
mere idle assertion.
The one thing. says Professor Rich
ardson for which his name will rank
high in the spiritual movements of this
and all times. is his insistence upon the
earned perpetuity of personal asser-
ton. THE individual will live because
it wills to live,-that is his gospel from
first to last ".Annabel Lee not less
than Browning's 'Prospice,' is the
quintessence of belief in the two things
which are the final hopes and claims
of spiritual religion personality, and a
source of all things which creates the
love to reward the love-"
In the June Critic" was discussion
among authors OF the merits and de-
merits of book reviewing. In a late
issue of the same magazine is an inter-
esting symposium on the same sub
ject, from another viewpoint-that of
the publisher.
There were submitted to the publish
ers by the Critics correspondent, some
half dozen questions, concerning first,
the desirability of reviewing their pub
locations; second, the Conscientious
ness Of the reviewer; third, the fairness
of the American compared with the
English reviewer; fourth, concerning
the prepared notice sent out with cop
les of books to be reviewed.; fifth, the
selection of books for criticism-wheth
err best made by the publisher or re-
fluenced by motives of obtaining adj
yertising from publishers"
Out of replies to these questions, re-
ceived from nine leading houses, but
one firm-Dodd, Mead & Co, in reply
to the first question, expressed an Opin-
ion adverse to the reviewer, saying they
thought it would be a disadvantage to
continue the custom of reviewing books.
In fact, this firm replied to all the
questions in rather a pessimistic tone,
and wound up by saying: We are
rather gloomy about the whole matter
of book reviews, and are afraid we
shall have to wait for the public to
grow little more discreet. and a lit
tie more cultivated"
On the contrary, the army Of review
ers whose bread and butter depends
upon their vocation, will gladly learn
that the remaining eight houses all re-
spond favorably, stating they regard
the art of reviewing as a decided adj
vantage both to publisher and reader.
and would greatly deplore a discon-
tinuance of the custom.
In reply to the I'd and Sd queries,
these eight firms all reply favorably,
finding our reviewers on the whole not
only conscientious, but also as fair and
able, and some Of them more so as
the English critic. They do not ignore
the perfunctoriness and lack of care
full preparation that characterize much
of the reviewers work, but this they
attribute to the over worked critics
lack of time rather than to lack of
conscience.
In reply to the 4th question, the
publishers combine in one opinion, that
while sending a prepared notice with
the book to be reviewed is not the ideal
method, 1t is almost a necessity to the
many reviewers who have not the time
for careful examination: and they
see no objection to the method SO long
as the notice is merely descriptive and
not critical.
But it is the last question that
touches most keenly the conscience and
continuance of the reviewers art, and
the replies to this question should for
ever silence the popular belief that most
reviews are not the honest expression
OF an independent critic, but are bids
to catch the advertising patronage of
the publisher. They all agree that as
a rule, they see no connection between
the critical column and the advertising
department of the papers, and all testi-
fly to the general spirit of fairness and
that characterize the re-
viewers. Mcclure & Co. reply thus:
I'm general, yes. In particular, no."
But their elaborated explanation re-
fleets in no way upon the reviewing
papers Doubleday, Page & Co, Har-
per Bros, Holt & Co.. Houghton &
MifIln, all record an emphatic protest
to the prevalent idea, adding that many
of their most valuable reviews are
found in those papers-provincial and
in which, they rarely or
nevers advertise. Appleton Co. close
with, I'VE are extremely DESTROYS to
have our books Observation-Disclosures
if they deserve it-but let them be re-
viewed" The Century Co. says: I'VE