THE "SPECTATOR."
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Forty-five years ago, when I was a youth, I heard Dr. Henry Allon speak of the Spectator in such terms, from the pulpit, that I forthwith became a reader, and have remained a reader ever since. As a Gladstonian I had occasional new stunts—I tried the Speaker under Wemyss Reid, and for long enjoyed the Nation when H. W. Massingham edited it. But what has befallen Liberalism ? I can only compare it to a sort of Unitarianism—arid—fietful—partizan. Its weekly organs chill one to the bone.
What is so fine about the Spectator, especially the Spectator of to-day, is its wonderful breadth of sympathy. Other people to whom I have put my point have smiled in immediate response and sympathy—the point being contained in this remark, viz., that the Spectator seems to have gone through the self-same mental and spiritual evolution as myself, and to be in what I might call the pragmatic mood of accepting good from any quarter, if only it be good, and works. I was moved to take up my pen by your review of Mr. Shaw's play and preface. There again you strike the right note. I read in one of the Sunday papers what one would rightly term an appreciative review of the play, but which opened with the jejune and patronizing remark that the play was, and quite deservedly, still attracting audiences. Better surely to be like the editor of the Adelphi, who opened by saying that having seen the play thrice he hardly dared write about it, its qualities having so grown upon him.
I will only add that I do not read the Spectator because I uniformly agree with it, but because it always discloses a real point of view, with real reasons of an adequate sort to support that view. Above all-0 I God be praised !- never the poor dear old party piffle of saints on the Treasury bench, and knaves on the Opposition, or vice versa. I think you, Sir, have made and maintained this note in your paper, because you enjoy • to the • full the noble pleasure of praising what is good, the enthusiasm of full and healthy life, and a determination to acclaim a good thing when it appears— from whatever quarter. Long life to you and your paper
Previous page
