Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14

and spontaneity destroyed. Even Tenny-
son is not innocent of this Some writers
who excel in poetic imagery, flood their
books with so binding aslight that the
main outlines are lost, and a general daz-
cling albeit beautiful vagneness- results.
II the reviewer points out these blem-
ishes, even thoughshe has accorded gen.
erous praise as sugar-coating to a most
beneficial pill, the author usually takes
offense. Nothing short of unqualified
praise as a rule pleases an author. He
wants to be appreciated, not criticised. Yet
a review to be of any worth should first
of all be critical. Alreyiew Is not merely
guide to the public as to the merits OF
q book, 1t should beoa help to the author.
How can it be this If it is mere appreci-
alton?
The Critics influence.
1t is true that the reviewer does some
times boom a friends book. But he is
far more often ultra-critical Moreover, no
respectable paper will allow booming If
the editor knows it. The editor of a liter
airy journal for which the present writer re-
views never allows one of the staff to re-
view friend or an enemy. This insures
fair play.
Anq one known to be reviewer is mum
dated oy applications from new authors,
from the authors fond families and friends,
to push some book that has got into print,
frequently by means of the golden key. 1t
does not seem to occur to these applicants
that the reviewer would be dishonest to
Ventllate opinions he does not hold. Equally
they DO not grasp the fact that good
wine needs no bush. That the reviewer
is willing to review the book on its merits
does not satisfy them They want the
DOCK pushed quite irrespective of merit
and are wrathful and resentful if the re-
viewer viii not prostitute his pen in their
service. Quite recently a man came to the
present writer saying that his wife's
auntS cousins bosom friend had written
novel, which he had got published by
advancing $50 toward expenses. Then fol-
lowed the request for a good stirring no.
tice of the book. which would make a go"
The man added: 1T would be a good act of
charity If you did this for to crafty the
author may be the means of staving off
incipient insanity, with which he is threat
ened.'
Another applicant fora review of book
of poems said: My sons book ought to
be great success, for it is entirely original
indeed, he has ignored all the accepted
rules for versfying"
Yet another pleaded for good review Of
friends book, because the author had a
lame foot!
Extreme youth and a want of educa-
ton in an author have been offered as rea-
sons why book should be praised. But
one of the most original reasons given for
pushing book which we have met with
was that the author was SO ''sweetly pref
ty.'
The Finding" Of an Author.
reviewer. When author comes to him
out-at-elbows, and with shoes that can
not even pretend to protect his feet, the re-
viewer, who has heart, despite public
opinion to the contrary, will go out of his
way to try and give him a lift He puts on
magnifiers to try and find merit in the book.
Sometimes ne finds that his generosity has
not been misplaced and has the salts
faction of knowing he has helped I'M
fortunate fellow mortal to a measure of
success. But occasionally the successful
author, having arrived" favors the re-
viewer who helped him, with patronage,
even if he does not actually cut him dead.
One author at whose request the present
writer wrote review came to interview
her on it. Having spent half an hour in
pointing out the utter ignorance and i'm
beclity displayed on the article, he bor-
rowed a sovereign and withdrew.
When 1t is realized that the reviewers
ambition is to find authors, 1t will be
better understood that he does not take up
a book by new author with the intention
of attacking it. He does not consider it
a foregone conclusion that because an au-
thor is unknown his book must necessarily
be worthless. There is always the chance
of a star rising; and the reviewer who finds
the star, gets some of the reflected glory.
He knows more or less the powers and
limitations of authors who have written
several books. But with a new writer this
is different The reviewer feels as he takes
up book of this class, that he may chance
to hold a prize. He reads 1t with special
care, even though 1t bears marks of mex
perience, for he knows that hidden away
among the faults of construction, and de-
fective style, there may be indications that
the author possesses qualities which work
and experience will ripen into an assured
success. Should the reviewer find such in
dicationS, he does his best to encoura ge
the author. To this end he spares him not
he ruthlessly shows up the faults, that the
author may in future avoid the pitfalls into
which his inpXDerieQce has led him
shows the author wherein his power lies.
This he can but rarely find out for him
self. As rule the part of book the
author prides himself is the weakest
Prof. Henry Morley once said to the stu
dents in his class for English composition
at University College: When you are cut
ting down a composition take out all you
think unusually good The professor did
not mean to be taken literally. He meant
that the author must mistrust his own judg-
ment, and go to acknowledged models, not
that he advocated serVile imitation but
that the test of standard works should be
applied To please the ear, and at the same
time satisfy the Judgment, is not given to all.
But by the careful study of a critical re-
view, an author may reap a harvest of
sound corn which, if he be wise, he will
turn into salable bread
The Light of Revision.
Authors do not revise their work suffi-
GENTLY. They are too easily satisfied. This
applies to the professional writer, quite as
much as to the amateur. If authors took
more trouble about their work after it is
completed and did not send it to press red
hot from their pen, then the reviewer would
find less TO carp at. Many books just es-
cape being good. A little wedding, a little
readjusting of the words or transposing of
sentences would make all the difference. A
great painter when looking on the repreSen-
tation of gloomy interior by a pupil of
his, remarked 1T is too dark The pupil
replied, Il wanted it to look gloomy"
"Then paint in lighted farthing dip on
the table and it will appear So" said the
master. This was done, and the picture
made name for the young artist. The far
thing dip had made the difference.
True so in a book, a fathing dip may
make the difference. Yet the reviewer who
points this out gets more kicks than half
pence. The real help his fault-findfng is,
If looked at in a right spirit, meets with