Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-25

The new biography is spoken of
with bated breath, as if 1t were really
something new under the sun, when in
reality what is new Is the reception of
biography, and that not so much in
quality as In quantity.
What is new about popular biography,
in other words, is the plain fact that
more people are interested in the
chronicling of mems lives than at any
other time in the history of the world.
Biography always has been favor
tie branch of reading for discriminate
ing men and women-what is changed
is that there are today many more
discriminating men and women.
Thus the science and art of biograph-
ical writing has not changed SO much
as has the audience for such works.
This is due in large part to the system
of universal education which Is now
bearing fruit.
The extensive reading of biography
is one of the fruits of this tree. In con-
templating this strictly modern phe-
nomenon one is confronted again with
the difference between q few admirers
and many admirers.
In theory, at least, work of art is a
work of art, whether admired by one
man or million men. 1t is work OF
art if it exists, whether any one sees
it or not Thus great paintings hidden
under other painting put on top of
them, in order to fool invaders reposed
securely in their greatness until re-
stored.
The fact that they had no one to
do them reverence did not detract a
jot from their greatness. Art and great
ness in essence have little If anything
to do with quantity measurements.
So much for the theory. AS matter
of honest fact every one feels that the
truly great in art, whether it be mag
nificent statue, painting or book, de-
serves and ought to have large audi
ence. The whole theory of so-called
modern education has been devoted to
turning out as many appreciators OF
great things as has been possible from
the basic material given into the care of
educators for certain period OF years
There has been, of course, great
abuse, not only on the part of scholars,
who have come to have lip admira-
ton for great arts, but in reality to be
utterly lacking in any sincere appre-
citation, but also on the part of many
teachers, who have become pgoud in
their intellectually and have bound
themselves up in orthodox leading
strings through the arts.
On the whole the systems have led
to the increase in numbers of those
who are able to appreciate great paint
ingS, great statues, great architecture,
great drama, great music, great books.
No matter how much a true artist
may deprecate the best sellers" in the
arts, at the bottom of his heart he,
too, wishes for universal appreciation.
In his own case he feels, of course, that
the tremendous sincerity OF his own
productivity has a surging, elemental
appeal which sets 1t far apart from the
ephemeral best seller" which enjoys
its vogue because it appeals to certain
baser instincts.
This general appreciation, one may
believe, has come to the art of biog
raphy in the United States. Where
once only a limited few, generally
speaking, read biography, today their
number is vastly multiplied, with the
result that some of the recent bio
graphical works have become literally
best sellers" This is not only pleas
ing to the booksellers, who, it may be
well imagined, are playing biography
"for all it LIS worth" to use an ex-
pressive phrase in the vernacular, but
also it brings strikingly to attention
branch of letters always one of the
most interesting, intriguing and worth
while.
X X X X
Some readers, staggered by the glare