Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-14
THE CONFESSIONS
OF A REVIEWER
BY MRS. CoULsoN KERNAHAN


The reviewer is a man in an iron mask
for the most part, and is not regarded with
affection On the contrary, he is consd-
cred a Philstine, carper, a Pathfinder,
and altogether a most unjust person. He
is supposed to take fiendish pleasure In
ripping and tearing, at such times as he is
not damning with faint praise. He is said
to lean back comfortably in his Juggernaut
car while he brushes his victims under the
wheels.
OF course, he can't write a book himself
that would disqualify him for the part of
reviewer. But he can tell people how to
write, or, rather how not TO write. He has
a microscopic eye for printers errors, with
which he unhesitatngly saddles the unfor-
tunate author. preface to book Is
joy to the reviewer. 1t gives him scope for
the exercise of his wit. If the preface be
of an apologize nature, then the reviewer
entirely agrees with the author, and eX-
presses the opinion that he is glad the
author sees the necessity for apologizng.
Should the preface be didactic the reviewer
draws attention to its arrogant and egotis-
teal tone. Should it be explanatory the re-
viewer points out that the author is evil
IDENTIFY conscious of the feebleness of the
book that needs to be explained The re-
viewer is not merely spiteful, he is positive
ly vindictiVe. His only sorrow is that he
can't have the satisfaction of seeing his
castigation he has got. OF course the re-
viewer has not read the book-with the ex-
ception of the first and last chapters, and
a cursory glance at the middle. The re-
viewer does not need to read q book. Some
times he gets the pleasure of reading an
indignant letter from outraged author,
sent TO the editor of the paper where the
Objectionable review appeared. Then the
reviewer feels as If he has had draught
of generous wine
To willfully mistake the authors meaning
Is a favorite modus operandi of the re-
viewer, by which he can make the author
appear ridiculous. Another way is to take
the author seriously when he means to be
funny.
OF course the reviewer booms the most
feeble literary efforts of his friends His
eulogiums run their books into several edi-
lions.
The Real Thing.
These are some of the popular ideas
about reviewers. But there is another
side to the question-the reviewers side
Despite the Differentiated opinion to the
contrary, the reviewer does read the books
he reviews. Moreover he has often the
preliminary pain of cutting the pages
why do some publishers send out novels
uncut? He wades through chapter after
chapter of unmitigated bosh, where he
meets with characters who have become
painfully familiar in other novels. The
girl whose tailor made gown shows every
curve of her perfect figure The young
man with curling mustaches The villain
of sinister aspect, who commits all the
crimes of which the hero gets accused.
and he feels with truth that three parts
of the books published would have found
q better destination in the waste-paper
basket. But If he finds book of real
merit he rejoices in it, and calls upon his
friends to do likewise. 1t is quite imma-
terial to the reviewer who or what the
author may be. He has written a book
that is a book. and that is sufficient The
reviewer praises unstintingly out of tho
fullness of his heart. But he nevertheless
points out faults If he finds them-and
few books, even by the most credited au
thors, are without them. Strivers after
style, frequently in trying to avoid the
Scylla of slipshod English fall into the
Charybdis of ver-preciseness Writers
who have distinct gift for description
frequently over-describe, just as some
singers who have found the tremola eff
fective use 1t too much, and so lose the
charm OF the surprise. Authors with a
gift for happy smile. strain after smiles
till an artificial atmosphere Is created