New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-03
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1905.

terry. Mr.. Alden speaks out of Il vast fund OF
experience, and what he has to say about the
methods and conditions involved in the editing
Of popular periodical is therefore of peculiar
interest. This month he reveals the editors
point of view where short stories are concerned
lie has prejudice against famous author as
Slch but he would unhesitatingly reject story
from such source eff it failed to meet our rea-
sonable expectations pitched, perhaps, on even
4 higher key than those of our readers" He
frowns upon the idea of obtaining work from
IN author simply on account Of the advertising
value of his name, and points out for the beneht
Of those who make too commercial matter OF
their wares that the rare quality of distinction
is so highly esteemed by the publishers OF the
best magazines that the writer's possessing 1t are
letter paid than those who are more popular yet
wholly mercenary." For the comfort OF the un-
known author, he remarks that the best OF the
magazines must insist upon the thing rather
than the name, to such an extent, indeed, that
they more eagerly welcome the thing without
The name" 1t is little startling to read th2t
any one of our best magazines has, or should
lave. a prestige transcendng that Of any ons
individual author" We wonder what man Of
genius like Thackeray BalZac or Thomas
Hardy would have to say to that large assump-
lion. But Mr.. Alden's heart is in the right
place and he closes on the admission that while
IN editor must have absolute freedom of choice,
''he fully acknowledges his utter dependence
upon the creative genius Of his contributors,
through which alone his subsidiary offices TO
literature can be Accomplished
M William Morton Payne, writing in "Ihe
Reader" takes a cheerful view OF American
literary criticism. He is e1hlaratingly apprecl-
alive of Lowell and Stedman; he speaks with
equally Just praise of Mr.. James-whose recent
tn offn
tation of Balzac cannot blind US to the brilliant
critical work he has done in his time-and, at
the end he has q good word to say for the
younger students of literature who have ex-
pressed themselves in criticism" Mr.. Payne
also notes that 'the amount Of critical writing
of high character which is being produced
from year to year is by no means to be meas
,lred by the volumes Of essays that come from
the publishers" But we wish that he could
have found time to say something about the vast
amount of critical writing of an utterly worth
less character which Is being produced from
year to year in this country. No doubt 1t is
pleasant fer American readers to be told that
many of their critics know their business. But
they also need to be warned of the existence
OF positively astounding mass of rubbish that
is printed in the name Of criticism and con-
tinueS to be printed for no other reason than
that public opinion has not been adequately
ceive more honor than It receives now when
readers are made to realize that it is their duty
to discourage the bad. At present very little
indeed is done to moderate the flow of twaddle.
It Is useless to argue We give 1t up. Fic-
ton, blessed fiction, Is "in the Lead and, If we
may judge from the announcements is going
TO stay there Indefinitely. In other words, the
fall lists bristle with new novels Seven out Of
ten members of the old guard have books In
press, and the writers who are to make
their seniors ''sit up are coming forward In
legiOns. On the whole, there does not seem to
be any occasion for alarm. The semi-annua
batch of new novels always goes through the
same sitting process, leaving ample room on the
readers shelves for the next one. Moreover
while the novelists temporarily obscure, through
sheer power of numbers the workers in any
other given department OF literature, they are
not going to deprive the public this season. at
any rate, of its rightful quantity Of fine con-
fused reading" History especially American
history, is well represented in the autumn lists
and there is promise of an interesting success
sion of biographical studies We note with par
ticular satisfaction an increase in the number
Of American books Of personal "reminiscences
memoirs of social life in various parts Of the
country generation two ago We alluded
last week to the development Of color printing
in current literature. Its fruits will be observed