The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-28
SUNDAY, FEB. %, 1904.
The PERIL OF MoMus.


1t is sincerely to be regretted that
now. when civilization needs more than
ever honest critics, their ancient and
honorable profession threatens to fall
into desuetude because of the fact that,
the world is becoming less and less in
clined to give heed to what they say.
This state of affairs is partly the fault
of the critics, partly the fault of the
public. Today we all possess that dan
gerous thing, a little learning. Were
we not puffed up with conceit over it
we would welcome proper guidance;
such guidance as an honest critic might
give. But it is this very overweening
self-conf1dence that makes a little
learning dangerous; it sets itself up
as a judge and will accept no mans
guidance. The possessor becomes a
law unto himself in all matters that
come under that generic term, art. He
prefers to be his own critic. Yet it is
doubtful if the public would have as
stunned this attitude had it always found
the critic an honest man; honest, we
mean, in the sense of being fair. An
opinionated man may persuade himself
that he is honest, and so far as the ex-
preston of his own opinion is concern
ed he is, perhaps; but he is not honest
to his profession, for he narrows its
purpose to an expression Of his own
limited view.
William Winter, dean of dramatic
critics in this country, has recently
hurled a fresh philippe at the modern
stage. Past master in the gentle art
of vituperation, he mercilessly arraigns
such dramatists as Ibsen, D'Annunzio
and Sudermann for daring to build
their plays on certain accepted facts
of life which this critic believes should
never be revealed or limited at behind
the footlights. That is his honest opin-
ION, and there are many who agree with
him, but there are many, too, who do
not. and because he has permitted this
point of view to color all his criticisms
ne has injured his profession in the
minds of those who regard Ibsen as a
great dramatist and who find much that
Is good in the plays of his Italian and
his German contemporaries.
Il respect the maiden too much IN
Did her to my plays" said the Younger
Dumas and respect my art too much
TO write for maidens." This would
seem to be the attitude of most of the
modern playwrights whose work prom
ises anything. Mr.. Winter condemns
1t, which he has a perfect right to do
If he believes the attitude is iniurious
to the art he reverences.
But he is critic, and he owes a duty
TO the public which represents manv
different points of view. He has M
right to regard play with a jaundicad
eye merely because it offends in one
particular. His attitude and the atti-
tude Of those who follow in his foot
steps represent one of the Influences
responsible for the present peril OF
Momus.
Another is the employment of small
minded or illy-equipped men for the
TASK OF criticism. The pen is no longer
mighty instrument in the hands NJ
little men except as it serves for a
boomerang to destroy them. Proud az
the public is of the little learning it
possesses. it feels only CONTEMPT for
that man whose knowledge is no great
er' yet who sets himself up as Judge
IN all matters that pertain to art. Crit
icism that is merely abuse is offensive.
out criticism that is not founded on
broad scholarship is an impertinence
ana the public is becoming less and
iess disposed to tolerate it, An indi-
Vidual opinion of book or play or a