The mirror., 1910-09-15
The Faculty Of
Just Criticism
Is One Which Should be Cultivated
And Practised Methodically
Says Mr.. D. m.

The reading of good literature can
be made both instructive and pleas
urable. For those who read merely
to pass the time away and to whom
literature as whole is simply an
art to be patronized when there is
nothing to do the selection of read
ing matter is not thing of vast i'm
portance; but for those who read for
instruction. system in the choice and
method of reading is essential. A
great fault with some of us is that
we read too many different things
and read them too hurriedly, with
the result that we are left with con-
fusion of ideas and opinions not in
frequently conflicting and altogether
without continuity.
To benefit through reading one
should read attentively and endeavor
to absorb something of the knowl-
edge that is impaired. This, how
ever, is not always done. There is
disposition sometimes to skimp
passages that require little study
to be thoroughly comprehended and
pass on to others that are less recon
dite because more commonplace.
One should not be over eager to sur
render opinions, or too ready to be-
lieve theories advanced in opposition
to them. To prevent this it will
prove to our advantage to cultivate
and exercise the critical faculty,
which will in time enable us to dis
tinguish the truth from that which
resembles it. By criticism is not
meant the glossing of excellence in
an effort to discover faults, but COM
parisons of opinions and beliefs,
with those advanced in the writings
we peruse and an effort to discover
in what respects we differ and why
and in how much we are correct or
wrong. The cultivation and the ex-
ercise of this faculty when reading
will make us more keenly suscept-
ible to that which is beautiful and
informing and may also prompt us
to avoid such errors as it enables us
to detect in others.
1t can be easily understood that
the idea of person of mediocre
abilities attempting critical analy-
| oio Df ho ov1y &
say, Herbert Spencer, or John Mil
ton, seems preposterous, but never
theless there is belief that such an
attempt is a great benefit to the read
er and not particularly harmful to
the writer. Properly exercised the
critical faculty will widen the range
of view, strengthen the memory,
teach the values of tone and proper
ton, and the need of purity and ap-
propriateness of diction.
There is belief, principally among
students, that all critics are prigs and
all criticism is priggishness. This,
l believe, is an error. When criti-
cism is honest, just, as well as severe,
instructive and encouraging, rather
than merely iconoclastic, the person
so criticised is benefited and may, if
so disposed, deduce therefrom much
that is wise and helpful.
Though, as was said, one should
be reluctant in the relinquishment of
beliefs, it is also equally advanta-
geous to be cautious in adopting them.
Reading to learn, our convictions
should be built up piecemeal, with
out hurry or prejudice, but medita-
lively adding to or rejecting ideas
and utterances deemed beneficial or
unsuitable.
There are persons who are not in
the habit of believing verything
, they hear, but there are quite few
who believe implicitly everything
!, they read. Veneration is an excel
Ilent quality, but it is one that can be
. exercised to excess. Popularity or
genius does not imply omniscience
and while possibly there is nothing
more unpalatable than insolent OBJ
stinacy, there can undoubtedly he
nothing more detrimental than sub
| mergence of reason in schisms and
i suppositions advanced as facts.
D.M