The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-04

times who have been already buried under
the accumuls ton of criticism and who. pos
sibly. had as able critics In their own day.
There are men. however. who contribute
distinctly to advance the popular taste for
books: and that in its way, is the advance
ment of literature. For instance. such men
as Doctor Barrett Wendell. BY his splendid
discoursss upon the literary arts, which are
not designed for the delights of scholars
alone. he has developed something Of an au-
dence among the people-the people who
read the literature of to-day. and whose
verdict will have an influence upon the lit
erature of Tomorrow
c. r. Winchester professor of English
literature in Wesleyan University, in his
work, Some Principles of Literary Crit
icism," offers tempting morsel calculated
TO quicken the taste of the average read
err" 1t is not written over the head of the
average reader. Although Winchesiers
principles are not directly applied 70 con-
temporary writings. he treats of modern
literature to some extent and In most d.
verting manner.
Principal interest for his work, however,
attaches to his general discussion of crit-
cism. Some idea Of its nature may be
CLEANED from his premise that criticism,
broadly and Professionally. may be defined as
the intelligent appreciation OF any work
of art. and by consequence the just est-
mate of its value and rank. Literary crtti-
cism is, of course. concerned only with lit
erature; but the general nature of the func-
lions of criticism is much the same whether
the object criticised be literature or paint
ing, or sculpture, or music And of taste,
he says, 1t is simply the power TO appreci-
ate any work of art. 1T IL not single
faculty, but must imply the joint action OF
intellect and emotions.
For the average reader" who would
stimulate his liking and his taste, for the
man who would sharpen his perceptiveness
for The eXceilences OF books. and especially
books that come out OF MS own era, ioF
the man who would develop his se!ectiVe
faculty, indeed for the indolent hammock
reader who would only tempt his appetite
there is a book entitled Talks on Writing
English" by Arlo Bates. facile prinreps
among its kind. 1t might well nave beeh
named Popular Talks Designed to increase
the Pleasures Of Reading In SO lar as arr
s susceptible Of analysis Professor Bates
analyses the art OF rendering ooohs
tractive, and the analysis Is without ues s,.,
o.,in-, tho subject ever fresh and new with
interest. -, ,ar,,,s 70 he
classed with some of John Mor.e! "f',ns1
upou literary topics. While tr!he rs,
ornate the style Is scarcely les eeau'. ~,
than Norley's and the perceptions OF 'he
be,uties of literature are characterized ny
.von more f,resse. As lecturer upon III.
erarv themes. the Talks are series OF
lectures. delivered originally before po
ton audience, Bates suggests Carlyle ahu
his series of oxford lectures upon the his
tory of Literature" although Bates pre-
tends to nothing beyond an attempt to d.
vert an audience and touches upon nshter
aspects having naught to do with historical
nbasa. and conhning himself largely to
modern books.
The modernity of Bates will attract the
.ayerage reader" He doesn't labor under
the accommodating weight OF centuries Oh
traditions Without the slightest d!srcspect
for Homer Bates wouldn't hesitate to speak
i'll of the dead provided Homer msrited 1t,
nor 70 treat Homer as contemporary IL
Homer suited the purpose. Just as there Is
no perfect character there Is no perfect
writing, and in illustrating the im9er-
fect.oEs of literature. by way OF heighten.
ing the projections, Bates mas an array Oh
horrible examples selected without re-
gard to person or reputation, and including
great names from Homer down. And the
crudities and clumsy faults. as well as the
beauties and gra, es OF writings are MADE
so plain that all may see. Bates mas
virtue and excellence In n newspaper para
graph as frankly and unhesitatingly as he
points out some ludicrous feature In pop
ular'' novel or vice versa. Incidentally Miss
Marie Corelli of the million circulation.
takes her place beside the mmorta's chosen
for "horrible examples George Elliot.
Dickens and Thackeray come into frequent
use for illustrative purposes. as dc many
notahles of the Twentieth Century. Bates's
sense of humor. his versatility. and his wide
familiarity with contemporaneous liter
AZURE good bad and Indifferent, give his
book popular interest, to which his style.
almost colioquial at times. contributes.
There are numerous books of this class.
hut none which so happily and conspicuous
~ combines diversion with instruction.
which stimulates without wearying. From
fiction to Bates is not a long stride. and the
reader who selects the Talks" for ham
mock companion may while away several
delightful hours. and afterwards find a
better zest for good novels.