New-York tribune., 1904-10-02

Whv ask an unlucky playwright, who cannot get
even farce accepted to criticize a brilliant play:
Why depute a woman who has eSSayed
a little unsuccessful fiction review novel which
has captured the fancy of the masses and IS selling
These be we1ghtv matters. Common human nature
s common human nature all the world over and 1t Is
not in common human give praise 20 another
for what we ourselves envy. Everyone has not the
same fine endowment OF generosity as SIR W alter
Scott, who wrote anonymous review OF LORD
Bvrons poems, giving them the most enthusiastic
praise and frankly stating that after the appearance
of SO brilliant a lumnary of genius Walter Scott
could no longer be considered WORTHY o; attention
a poet What rhymer OF to-day would thus nObly
condemn himself in order give praise TO rlval'
Nav ii not with due respect, be suggested TO those
who have the handling of such matters that neither
the avowed friends the avOwed foes OF authors be
permitted to review their bOOks-the same rule OF
criticism to apply equally to the works OF musicians,
painters scuptOrs and playwrights? Neither per-
sonal prejudice personal favOritism should be
permitted Interfere with the impression of work OF
art Vulgar abuse and fervid eulogy out of place
In the production of the human brain nothing IS
wholly bad and nothing is wholly good Perfection
is impossible of attainment present plane OF
existence We do find in Nature, still less shall
find it in ourselves. The critic can show good
in everything If he himself Is of good mind Or he
show bad in everything easily should his
digestion be out of order.
Unfortunately, the wear and tear of life, to quote
the patent medicine advertisements. wreaks natural
havoc the physical composition of the unfortunate
who is perhaps set down 10 review twenty novels
in column of print for the triing of guinea.
All of difficulties bcSet him For instance, he
may be employed a certain literary paper which
being the property of the relatives of novelist exists
chiefly praise that novelist, though it be
curiously called organ of English literature" and
betde the miserable who dareS TO praise any
else. Knowing much of the ins and outs of the
literary grind tender salutationS TO all reviewers
of books. together with my respectful sympathy. l
truly sorry for them, and | do not IN the least
wonder that they hate with i deadly hatred every
Scribbling creature who writes long" uovel-be-
the pay" for reviewing such a book is
IN proportion TO its length of course it ought to be
But, anyway it doesn't matter how much how
ltlc il it Is criticized The bulk of the public do
read reviews That is left the discriminating few"
And oh, how that discriminating few would love to
capture the fancy of the masses they could only
manage 10 do it! Yet Never mind" they say with
the trageCianS glare and scowl Our names will be
inscribed upon the scroll of fame when all for
gotten, Heaven gra~. ,Sem this poor c0nfort
One Onl regret that in these DAYS OF
dcrtul research, discovery and invention little
done to popuarze science in the columns of the daily
press The majority of the public ,tppallingly
ignorant of astronomy. for instance Would be
interesting to instruct them in a simple and easy
style the actual wonders of the heavens about us
to I'LL their minds with the details of , nuricr2 |
hardly like to touch the subject of geography for
out of fifteen educated persons asked recently
one knew the actual situation the map of Tibet.
Now, it to that the press could work