CRITICISM.

Saturday Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 124, 24 November 1877, Page 9

CRITICISM.

(Liverpool Porcupine .)

The verdict of a newspaper has morn power in determining the destinies of a book, a play, a picture, an actor, than any thing else, except the presence of that all-pi’evailing brilliancy of genius which asserts its merit independently, or in spite of the decision of cultured critical acumen. The consensus of journalistic opinion pretty faithfully may be taken as representing the public faith, perhaps because to the ordinary mind the newspaper is the only, or, at any rate, the most facile meansjof arriving at a conclusion on matters of common discussion. Ninety-nine out of every hundred every-day folk do notread George Eliot’s latest novel, but glibly enough will dilate upon the supersubtlety of its plot, upon the pre-Eaphaelism of its method, upon the over-refinement of the character of its hero, and upon the gwtm-scientific freak of its author, all because. Mr Quill, the estimable amateur, who, for the value of the books, contributes the reviews to the Mudbury Penny Popgun, happens to hold such views. Again, an eminent actor whom the world runs after visits Mu'dbury, and Mr Jenkins, the third reporter upon the staff of the important organ alluded to, is told off to favour the public with his ratiocinations upon the performance. Now, as a transcriber, and even embellisher, of aldermanic orations, Mr Jenkins is simply invaluable, and when he was at school, some twenty years ago, it was his custom to declaim at half-yearly anniversaries “ To be, or not to be,” or “Now is the winter of our discontent,” or “Who’s he that wishes more men from England ?” So he has had some experience of the histrionic art, and some knowledge of Shakespeare, and in his own mind he considers both to have been so complete that he has never done anything to enlarge the one or increase the other. It will therefore be seen that Mr Jenkins is a most admirably fitted person to declare that a great actor’s conception of, say Hamlet, is entirely out of harmony with the meaning and intention of the author, to confidently affirm tfiat such, an actor’s instincts are contrary to the simplest canons of his art, or finally to insinuate that his personal peculiarities utterly preclude any chance of theatrical success. Of course this actor has spent more years in the study of Hamlet than Mr Jenkins has seconds; but that counts for nothing. The critical faculties of the latter gentleman, trained by the study of nature in police-courts, guardians’meetings, and inquests, are less fallible than the specialistic training and narrow sympathies of the object of bis lucubrations. He is right, and the actor who has the amusing impudence to suppose that he knows his own business best, technically speaking, is “damned.” The views of Mr J enkins become the views of millions, and the Mudbury Penny Popgun goes on its way rejoicing. But if abuses such as these creep occasionally into newspaper criticism, that very important branch of journalistic work must not be underrated. True, sound and wholesome criticism is the life-blood of creative genius; and newspaper criticism is undoubtedly generally accurate and good. Upon the press there are many men whose natural gifts are essentially critical, and whose range of study and mental balance enable them without fear to exercise their powers. . Others, there are who, to some extent, atone for the want of these qualities by the possession of strong and

• 'H'T v sturdy commodM6ns& 7 however, are-invariably slow- to dogmatise,- andare. |nore> ready stp/; describe s than] to. judgeA Their aim is always l rather) to; enable others to form a rational view-than to cram their ownf; conclusions down .'the/ .public l throat; F Sparing[ alike in; censure Tand;in, praise, they Become respected linicohyeying. eithSftli/By?! their . means rfaults:. temperately: spoinfed'dut: are, corrected,* t add-' meritsnfrankly confessed are treasured-and-cultivated. such mfen; the influence'of the press Was bUilt Up andis preserved ; s and though that ’ influence.'may be overrated;‘and confidencein ahy particular journal 5 may ‘be misplaced/ lit is undeniably true that newspaper .criticism, Jidnestly and not immorally, and contemptibly employed, ; 1 is one of the , most Trustworthy and potept . guides of the general thought of the. day. 7 f,