New-York tribune., 1902-07-20

The death of Lord Acton whose learning was
prodigious. whose memory was phenomenal.
whose assduity and skill in taking and cata-
loguing notes surpassed that of any modern
man of letters and who, in spite of all this,
wrote and published very little-that little in
Guiding nothing of unique Value-haS naturally
excited discussion as to the essential value of
such cultivation as his. why" asks the be-
wildered observer, should man work so hard
at the acquisition of information and knOwl-
edge if he is not to make practical use of it?'
Admirers of Lord Acton hasten to explain that he
really did make such use of his vast store, and
in the most unSpiSh fashion. The reCOllectlOnS
of him that are everywhere finding their way
into print are full of anecdotes of his goodness
to authors and students his readiness to assist
with advice and guidance even the hunDlest
Scarchcr after knowledge. But we like best
to think of Lord Acton as a perfect type OF
the man who loves learning for its own sake
lie was never pedant. Sir MOuntstuart Grant
Duff remarks that ActOn's learning was "borne
as easily and with little Ostcntation as
child might carry a feather" and he was, even
in his most bookish mood delightful com
panion. Why, indeed, should he not have been?
Is the art collector who accumulates Il noble
gallery blamed because he makes no practical
use of his treasures? Lord Acton set, by his
comparative neglect of mere authorship, an
example needed in Il scrbbng age
The annual survey of Continental literature
in The Athenaum'' is always interesting, for
the reason that the judgments ii contains are
offered by natives of the different countries rep
resented. All the commentators this year have
good things 10 say of their cOuntrymen, but
none has a great bulk of work to praise. M.
Pravieux. writing from France, observes that
lla nfru
and throughout his essay he finds little to
Justify enthusiasm, concluding that all branches
of French literature 'are passing through a
period of expectancy" Herr Ernst HebOrn
states that lin literature, in other things,
there are years of fruitful harvest alternating
with years Of scarcity, and our granaries in
Germany are this time somewhat poorly filed"
The majority of German writer's. he says, are
crowding to the theatre where the lOudest ap-
pauSe is to be won, and adds that the few good
productions of the year mostly to be found
in the realm of romance. SignOr Biagi remarks
that Italy is witnessing "a fatal decadence in
various branches Of literature" and Senior Alta
mira notes that in Spain the period covered by
the last twelve months has been marked by
visible decline in comparison with preceding
years, in the number of literary and historical
works produced, more especially OF the latter"
The Belgian. Bohemian, Danish Greek Dutch,
Hungarian, Polish ana Russian reports though
not pessimiStic, contain nothing inspiring.
While alluding to national achievements in
literature we may appoSitcly pause upon a
curious phenomenon in this ana kindred fields.
Why is it that the richest ard most highly
civilized matt ians are often the slowcst in dis
charging their duties toward scholarship and
art? The indiSposition of the British Govern
Ivput q take IIVlutlVc al many ,pDortuDiti,S