You will regenerate criticism,
as you have purified novel-writing. One becomes better as he reads
your works, and feels an irresistible desire to do better that he
may be more worthy of your esteem. The days your criticisms appear
are our red-letter days, and every line you give our poor little
books is worth to them the sale of a hundred copies. I take the
liberty to send you herewith a humble volume. You may, perhaps,
find in it some over-crude tones, some raw shades; but do not
forbear to exercise your critical perspicuity. I submit myself in
advance to your reproaches and to your reservations; to be
censured by you is even a piece of good fortune, as your
reprimands themselves are adorned with courtesy and grace."
"Sir,--I admire you the more because our opinions are not the
same; they may be said to be contrary; but extremes meet, and we
join hands on a great many points: are we not both of us
vanquished? Chateaubriand sympathized, nay, more, fraternized,
with Armand Carrel. I am not Carrel, but you may be Chateaubriand
before a very long while.
Pages:
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226