New-York tribune., 1902-08-13
LONDON NOTES.
Mr.. DOBSoN BRUTALLY ATTACKED
TAXATION OF TITLES-THE NEW
PILGRISrS PROGRESS
VNS&
London, August 2

writer The pensloner retaIated py SUING
Truth for libel. but laughed out of
court after il had been proved that he had
been importuning dukes. bank directors and
distinguished people for assistance and writing
political letters for both parties. Mr.. Labou-
chere rendered public service by revealing the
facility with which anliable and credulous
statesman had been imposed upon by a cadgirg
letter writer and duped into bestowing a sub
stantial literary pension upon undese-ving
claimant
Ar. Balfour prohted by the warning. and not
only revised the civil lit grant but also sought
10 inapart dignity and significance To II by Judi
cious selections When NJ. Austin Do5soa retired
from the Board of Trade after protracted and
honorable career in tie civil service he re-
cev without his own solicitation or suggestion
q pension Of 1850 for distaguis. ed literary ser
vice. Mr.. LaboUchere ought to have regarded
this selection as tribute to his own efficiency
as watchdog of the civil list grant: but
strangely enough. he is barking at Mr. Dobson
as fercely and savasely as he grovled and tore
the trousers Of the begging letter write.
The objections raised by this Ill ratured critic
are first, that Mr.. Dobson already had a PEN
sion a retired civil servant; and. second.
that he is a small beer poet. whose literary
work has not earned the distinction OF Treas
ury annuity. Lord Crewe has answered these
criticisms with dignity and good sense He con-
siders the first point irrelevant, the retiring
pension from the civil service was regulated by
law and practice and had nothing whatever to
DO with the special grant for literary service.
he has also described Mr.. Dobson both accu-
rately and sympathetically as among the first
six or eight living masters OF English poet
and critic. and. consequently. entitled TO
recognition in the apportionment Of the modest
civil list grant. He regards this Treasury pay
u7ent as an attempt on behalf Of the public TO
correct the balance when the merit Of an au-
thors work is distinctly greater than the money
reward earned by him. Lord Crewe's views will
be shared by all who. he says. know good
from bad in literature
Popular novelists may make large fortunes by
their industry and doggerel may command
special rates in Truth but the returns for ar
tistic work like Mr. Dobsons verse and studies
Of French and English literature Of the
eighteenth century, cannot have been large, and
Mr.. Labouchere's protests against reckless
waste Of public money are alike ungenerous and
unjust Mr. Dohson has been arduous worker
in the civil service. and for lifetime has de-
voted his daylight hours to public business. His
literary work has been done at night in his
suburban library. One Of the most modest. un-
pretentious and sensitive of men, he has lived
quietly and with moderate means, and has never
made an enemy. Nj Labouchere's criticism OF
this industrious civil servant and literary re-
cluse, who by virtue of lifetime OF study has
become an acknowledged master Of French and
English literature. is brutal and malignant
Equally unjust his structures upon Mr.. Bal
four for making excellent use Of the literary
pension fund
Truth" is on safer ground when II satirizes
the social value Of the peerage and proposes a
graduated income tax on the basis Of titles IL
begins with the spurious title Of Esquire
iS sed 70
man from the tradesman, and which is assumed
bv hundreds OF thousands not having q Vestlge
Of right TO the Of il. Truth" humorousIy
suggests that the title should be financed on
cash basis, all persons assessed 10 income tax
under $500 year paying the lowest rate ana
being reduced TO the level OF commonplace
Mr." and all persons returning an income
from $500 TO f1.500 being charged an additional
TWO pence on the pound and allowed the privi-
jeee Of having Esquire" their letters. The
graduated scale is carried from ''esquires" TO
knights and barcnets and on UP TO dukes;
and the ironical comment is added that the
beauty Of this system would be that tltle
would be q clear indication Of a mans weallh
and consequently OF his social and moral VaIue'
and at the same time the taxation C the lower
orders would be relieved and persons Of humble
social position would practically be compensat-
ed in hard cash for their inferiorty in rank
This is not only delightful pleasantly worthy
Of Thackeray but also wholesome. sa ted satire
Truth" with all its asperities and vagarles.
helps Vanity Fair to laugh at its own foibles'
affectatons and idolatrous love Of station rank
and suartness. II it be sometimes heartIess
and brutal in condemnation Of men. II is gen
orally clear sighted in probing the vanities Of
luxurious society.
There is no urgent need for international
agencies for promoting good feeling between
England and America The two countries un-
deTstand each other. and while they may not be
sympathetic all points can be trusted to be
just and generous in great emergencies Leagues
and societies for keeping the peace between
thzul are superhuous; and the professional ser
vices Of organizers and agitators are not re-
quired. There is. however. excellent oppor-
tunity for useful ministratons and graceful
hospitality on the part OF so unpretentious q
club as the Pilgrims. in whicf General Wheeler
and other Americans in Lo-do~ have taken a.
marked personal interest. II has joint mem
bership Of Americans and Engishmen. and is
designed 70 promote excha nge OF hospitality
and good fellowship whenever prominent men
from the United States sit London. similar
organization Of Pilgrims is ANTICIPATED in New
York. and The two clubs win he homog neous in
plan and motive The Pilgrims will not Inter
fere in the slightest degree with the systsma-
tized work OF the American society, and neither
jealousy nor strife should be excited by the
new social enterprise. Since the Anglo-Ameri-
can League ard the Atlantic Union have failed
to accomplish any practical results owing to
their exclusively English management. II WI
be Interesting TO observe the new Pilgrims
Progress. l. n r
TO KEEP PLAYGROENDS OPEN.