New-York tribune., 1908-02-16
Gbr Aempork gribaatts
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 16, 1903.

promise many interesting DOCKS Iof tIe cohihS
season. but not many of these as usual viii
b. drawn from English sources. That, at all
events is what may assume from the inves-
ti2.ation made in London by the Pail Mall Ga
Zette" After exhaustive inquiries among the
publishing houses It concludes that ''the spring
season of 1908 if not its autumn successor as
well, will be Of caution and delay. This,
however only so far as lighter and more spec
ulative works are concerned 1t appears that
books OF the heavier kind, books of hard fact
and research, may be expected as always, for
they appeal to we'll defined audience and the
publishers of them may count upon sale which
if limited is certain. These prophecies are not,
after all, in any way disturbing. BY lighter
and more speculative works." the writer means.
we suppose, novels and those books of travel,
biography and miscellaneous literary study
which are produced by the facile professional
bCokmaker rather than by the author who
actually has something to say. In other words
the new promises to illustrate the sur
viyal of the fittest Who can regret it? The
light wasted volumes in question will not be
missed, and their absence will give the reader
more time for books that are worth while.
Mr. Andrew Lang always fertile in playful
suggestion. makes a proposal which might we'll
appeal to "a capitalist of disintereSted charac
ter He wants a new periodical established,
UNler the engaging Title OF 'lHe COCKPIT
What the surprised reader hastens to ask, could
have put such an idea into the head of Mr..
Lang? Nothing more nor less than the obser
vation made by the editors of Folk Lore" that
"a man who is not prepared to face criticism
had better not publish book 1t is good
idea, says Mr.. Lang, to complain of criticism,
because that leads to discussion from which the
debaters on both sides may profit In 1.-The
Cockpit authors anG their commentators might
argue Indefinitely and, in the long run, truth
might prevail. Apropos Mr. Lang tells this
anecdOte:
L remember meeting Mr.. Browning. once,
when he in indignant mood. critic,
a very eminent, courteous, and honorable critic,
had reviewed his poem, had printed ex-
tracts, and had complained that they were very
obscure. No wonder, for the critic had mad
vcrtently misprinted them so as to render them
wholly unintellisibe. l could not convince Mr..
browning, who did not know the reviewer. that
the error. though deplorable, was accidental. |
Now, would Mr.. Browning have been to blame
II he mad drawn the reviewers attention to the
correct text of his verses? Then the blunder
would have been acknowledged. with apologies |
To remain in the wrong is the last
tlli1g that the critic desires.
If authors would more frequently realize the
fact pointed out in that last sentence the inter
ests of literature would be better served. No
critic worth his salt is opposed to diSpassonate
argument. Unfortunately, however the "argu-
ment' of the author criticised is tco apt to take
the form of heated sarcasm about ''prejudicc,'
personal malice Ignorance" and similar
imaginary offences against his faYless master
piece.
1t is right and proper that something should |
be done every now and then, to rouse the max |
erS of books to the Importance of indexes. The |
subject is familiar, no doubt. AS Professor
Santsbury has recently remarked, 'the index has |
been kind of fetch for some time" For his
part. he prefers to take to task the a1th0oSist |
he is reviewing FOR not having provided a table |
OF contents. Nevertheless, lovers of good in |
dexes should go agitating, in season and out |
OF season, for the establishment of the highest |
possible standard in this matter. Mr.. Alfred |