The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-09

luton" and the present John Quincy
AdamS'S speeches on the more recent
events--all of New England produc,
ton. Read BledSoe's little work in
size, but great in production, Us jeff
Davis "a Traitor?" b. F. Grady'S ex-
cellent work. THE South Against the
North" Dodd's Life of Nathaniel
Macon" and il you would extend
farther your researches, consult the
works of President Davis and Vice
President Alexander Stephens ON the
principles involved in the great war,
and a work by Rev. DR.. r. l.. Dabney,
of Virginia. l regret l can not at
this writing refer you also to some
one work that will give you a clean
insight into the real character. infiu-
ence and anti Republican principles
and opinion Of Hamilton. He was .
man of but little personal integrity
and Sobriety.
Vulgar writer's have been found in
all ages of literature. They have
abounded in France, Germany and
England in almost every century since
these centuries produced authors.
Coarseness, vulgartN lewdness have
run riot. and harm has been done to
the young while gratifying the low
taste of older readers. But few of
the depraved, vulgar kind have had
much high popularity. They gener-
ally eXtinguish early and some actual
ly die 'a-bornin'." Those writer's who
love virtue. morality, and have taste
with genius, usually shine longest and
with a steadier and more lasting ra-
dance in the literary heavens. 1t is
q want of taste as We'll as of morality
that lead men to call for the vicious
and depraved. Where there are azure
purity and heavenly light there will
be found stability of fame and a con-
slant devotion of clientege. A dun
man will never succeed by counter
feiting wit and wisdom, while playing
the role of the clown and the vul-
garian. Even genius cannot redeem
such displays, and only bad taste will
long relish them. 1t has been con-
tended that in the lower regions OF
literature bad taste is endemical' ana
d "contemptuous trenchant air" and
"a truculent seoul" are at
tracted to those who seek fame by
improper means, and by catering for
the readers Of vile taste and appe-
titeS.
Criticism of a, candid, sound and
even severe kind is needed now as i'll
the past Books accumulate with d
rapidity now that was not known
even ten years ago. The critic is d
necessity at this time if ever before
He should be free frank, able to
define the right, and to recognize the
evil. He is an interpreter, and is now
demanded to stand between the pro-
ducers and the readers, the seekers
and the victims. He is even needed
for still higher and more necessitous
work. He must stand between the
prophet and those who hear the
melody of his words, and catch some
glimpse of their material meaning,
but understand not their deeper i'm
port. Carlyle. But fault-finding and
carping are not the chief office of the
critic. He has much to do in recog-
milton of merit, and in the discovery
of eXcellences and beauties even. He
should be able "to behold the flower
age of poesy' in even 'parched and
rugged soil" as is contended for by a
German critic upon Goethe. 1t is. as
the great Scotsman above quoted from
said, "a much shallower and more
lgnoble occupation to detect faults
than to discove.- beauties" But per,
maps never in any age was drawer,
resolute, able, scholarly, penetrating,
criticisms needed thanAin 1905, in