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Article THE FREEMASON. ← Page 2 of 3 →
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The Freemason.
world by a Lord Dorset , this valuable poem , which only brought the author ten poundsj would no . doubt have perished as waste paper * The names of Prior , Butler , & c . might likewise have been unknown , had they not found a noble patron to make their merits public . The unfortunate Chatterton is a sad instance of the neglected state of literature . Surely , surely , men who are endued with talents that miht be an ornament to the communityshould receive
eng , every couragement due to their abilities It were well if a college was purposely erected for the admission of all slighted authors , where their works mi ght be candidly and impartially examined , and such as were worthy of being made known published at the general expence . . I am certain that there are more good ieces rejected bthe
map y nagers of theatres than are ever performed . This is owing to caprice or want of judgment . Managers say that authors are very troublesome—authors say that managers are very partial . Both assertions are undoubtedly true . I am conscious that managers are frequently troubled by vain , pretending scribblers ; and authors frequently insulted by managers , who , guided by the taste of the million , give
little . or no encouragement to any foreign merit . Thus , when sentimental comedy was in vogue , ' She stoops to conquer' was declared hy - the manager a barrel of gunpowder ; but , notwithstanding the mana- < ger ' s profound knowledge and experience , this magazine of Goldsmith ' s -w . it and humour was not blown up . Many pieces which have been rejectedhavewe findby fortunatelgaining access
, , , y , triumphed over those critics . For example— -The Chapter of Accidents , and I'll Tell you What , rejected by H——s ; He would be a Soldier , rejected by C—m—n , & c . & c _ Of all characters in life a critic is the most difficult ; because there are so many bad ones , so few impartial : it is the easiest part to censure , or to contradict , a truth ; for truth is but one , and seeming truths
are many . Of critics we have various kinds ^ but an ignorant one is surely the most dangerous . Opinions are as various as they are false ; and there are men , who , being unable to produce a copy , take secret pleasure in depraving another ' s . Do not such shew more criticisin than judgment ? The censure of these critics would with me enhance the value of the work abused ; as all their ground is a
conceited fancy , without a sure basis to build upon . Who would not be often amazed at the peremptory conclusions which those wist ' ctitics make—wondering , men who know so little should speak as if they knew all ? There are many who imagine they are . displaying the greatest wisdom by censuring—but often , in this case , they expose their own folly ; for it may be generally observedthey criticize the
, most who know the least . No man can write six lines but there is something one may carp at , if he be disposed to cavil . It would be necessary for critics , if they would fain . be just , to adopt the following rule : —
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Freemason.
world by a Lord Dorset , this valuable poem , which only brought the author ten poundsj would no . doubt have perished as waste paper * The names of Prior , Butler , & c . might likewise have been unknown , had they not found a noble patron to make their merits public . The unfortunate Chatterton is a sad instance of the neglected state of literature . Surely , surely , men who are endued with talents that miht be an ornament to the communityshould receive
eng , every couragement due to their abilities It were well if a college was purposely erected for the admission of all slighted authors , where their works mi ght be candidly and impartially examined , and such as were worthy of being made known published at the general expence . . I am certain that there are more good ieces rejected bthe
map y nagers of theatres than are ever performed . This is owing to caprice or want of judgment . Managers say that authors are very troublesome—authors say that managers are very partial . Both assertions are undoubtedly true . I am conscious that managers are frequently troubled by vain , pretending scribblers ; and authors frequently insulted by managers , who , guided by the taste of the million , give
little . or no encouragement to any foreign merit . Thus , when sentimental comedy was in vogue , ' She stoops to conquer' was declared hy - the manager a barrel of gunpowder ; but , notwithstanding the mana- < ger ' s profound knowledge and experience , this magazine of Goldsmith ' s -w . it and humour was not blown up . Many pieces which have been rejectedhavewe findby fortunatelgaining access
, , , y , triumphed over those critics . For example— -The Chapter of Accidents , and I'll Tell you What , rejected by H——s ; He would be a Soldier , rejected by C—m—n , & c . & c _ Of all characters in life a critic is the most difficult ; because there are so many bad ones , so few impartial : it is the easiest part to censure , or to contradict , a truth ; for truth is but one , and seeming truths
are many . Of critics we have various kinds ^ but an ignorant one is surely the most dangerous . Opinions are as various as they are false ; and there are men , who , being unable to produce a copy , take secret pleasure in depraving another ' s . Do not such shew more criticisin than judgment ? The censure of these critics would with me enhance the value of the work abused ; as all their ground is a
conceited fancy , without a sure basis to build upon . Who would not be often amazed at the peremptory conclusions which those wist ' ctitics make—wondering , men who know so little should speak as if they knew all ? There are many who imagine they are . displaying the greatest wisdom by censuring—but often , in this case , they expose their own folly ; for it may be generally observedthey criticize the
, most who know the least . No man can write six lines but there is something one may carp at , if he be disposed to cavil . It would be necessary for critics , if they would fain . be just , to adopt the following rule : —