ABSTRACT
Therearemanyadvantagesinthegrowingpracticeofsigningaliterary criticismwiththenameofthewriter;andnottheleastofthemisthat itpermitsthewritertopraiseheartilyandabundantlythosewhom hetrulyadnlires,takingonhimselfallresponsibilityforhiseulogy. Idon'tknowwhetherornotTHEBooKBUYERwouldallowmeto sayanonymouslyallthatitmightbequitewillingtohavemesay overmyownsignature.Thewielderoftheeditorialwecannotbut takeintoaccountaveragepublicopinion;itisthatindeedhehas chieflytoreckonwith.Butanindividualwriter,isolatedbyllisown signature,maybeacharteredlibertine,havingfulllicensetosay whathepleases.Now,ithaslongpleasedmetotllinkandtosaythat theaveragepublicopiniondoesnotyetrateatitsfullvaluethework oftheadmirablestory-tellerwhoisknowntoallofusasMarkTwain.
