1923-03-13 — Page 5

Page

LITERARY CRITICISM. LECTURE AT THE HELENA MAY

INSTITUTE

A HARDY ANNUAL.

THE

The DIRECTORY AND CHRONICLE " for the Far East-China, Japan, Indo-China, Siam, British Malaya, the Philippines, USEFUL HINTS TO THE ASPIRING | Horneo and Netherlands India-mal vita So well-knowA G1st appearance to-day.

CRITICS.

,'

HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, MARCH 13th, 1928.

COMPANY MEETING.

A. S. WATSON & CO., LTD.

17

il

Mr. E. J. PHAN seconded the adop tion of the report and accounts,

There were no questions, and the pr position was carried unanimously.

The CHAIRMAN then proposed the re election of Sir Paul Chater, Mr. J. Scott Harston, and Mr. F. P. White, as

Directors."

I trust you will approve of the proposed appropriations for Rearve Fund, Staff Provident Fund, and Chinese Staff Superannuation Fund. With the addition A FLOURISHING CONCERN, of $75,000 to the Reserve Fund, that Fund will stand at $350,000, another record in "Wo

feel it is time that all Chinese on the Company's history. You are familiar Professor Robert Simpson, lecturer in is the volume in every office of importance the permanent staff should be assured with the Staff Provident Fund and the throughout this part of Asia that it that after many years faithful and disposition of appropriations to same. -English Literature at the Hongkong would be superfluous to decribe its con- etficient service in the Company's employ, It will be necessary to give contributions Viversity, delivered an extremely inter- tents in detail; they follow on the lines provision would be made for their de to this fund for a few years more, until

sting lecture on Literary Criticism"

which have been dictated by long experience pendents in the event of death, or that such time, at least, as the fund is big at the Helena May institute, yesterday and endorsed by several generations of they would receiro something on retire enough to allow of the senior members of afternoon, to a large audience.

European and American business men,

ment after many years' service." the staff with over thirty years of ser Professor Sirson said there were Indeed, so closely is precedent adhered to The foregoing statement was made by vien to retire with enough to live upon Ihrer professions which all mea felt they that all the sections will be found to the Chairman (Mr. Henry Humphroys), if they so desire. The Chinees Staff could form by the light of nature. These follow in precisely the same order year at the annual meeting of Messrs. A. S. Superannuation Fund is a now thing. were: teaching, the editing of the news after year so as to facilitato reference Watson & Co., Ltd. which was held at The disposition of the appropriation papers and the criticism of literature; so

by those acustomed to consult the the Hongkong Hotel yesterday morning, under this heading has not yet been why insist on special training or worry volume.

The Company's prosperity was indicated, determined upon in detail. The proce- about previous experience. Consequent- In the preseal edition some of the old too, by the Chairman's statement that dure will be different to that of the Staff ly, those who asked for instruction in these matters, did not always meet with and now obsolete Treaties with Russia their profits had far exceeded all pre-Provident Fund which is confined to thei

European Staff and the higher "paid encouragement. People were, sometimes have been expunged to make room for vious records.

In addition to the Chairman there were

Chinese staff. Wa leel that it is time indignant when asked to provide special the Agreements reached between China professional training for teachers. Most and the other Powers as a result of the present at the meeting-The Hon. Sir that all Chinese on the permanent staff people waxed sarcastic at the idea of revolutions of the Washington Confer Paul Chater, Messrs. J. Scott Harston should be assured that, after many years Schools for Jourdalism-probably, be ence, which ended its deliberations in and H. P. White (director), Mr. J A. of Laithful and eficient service in the Included Tarrant (secretary), Messrs.-E. & Chap Company's employ, provision would be Cause they felt that some day they might the early part of last year, wht to earn a bit by writing to the amongst these is the arrangement recently man, J. D. Humphreys, D. E. Clark, made for their dependents in the event of

·wspapers, and "did not want to find concluded for the transfer of Shantung Wilson, W. Morley, J. M. Wong. F. W. death, or that they would receive some The China Stapleton and A. P. Samy (share thing on retirement after many years of "themselves competing with those who from Japan to China,

service The Auditors have asked for am Il professional qualifications. Similarly, (Amendment) Order-in-Council, 1021, reholders):

The CHAIRMAN, presenting the report increased remuneration, and, subject, ta people were both astounded and annoyed lating to the registration af British When told that there were such things as subjects-is also given in retenso. Infor and statement of accounts for adoption, your confirmation, their fees will be in

crossed from $500 each to #2600 each. - I courses of Instruction in literary appremation with regard to the Chinese Post said:— Piation or criticism.

Office has beed amplified in view of the At the inst annual meeting of share have no further remark to make, gentle. Instruction in literary criticism aimed transfer to this organisation of the fine holders I informed you that the net profitmen, and now propose that the report for the year constituted a record in the and statement of accounts as presented to criticise tions hitherto, performed by the Foreign history of the Company, but you will see be passed. ut teaching people, how

When the motion is duly The revised from the accounts before you that the literature and began by asking what Post Offices in China

any questions shareholders may have to was the critic. Professor Simpson then Chinese Customs Tariff, which only profit for the year, under review is seconded. I shall be pleased to answer made a comparison between à judge and came into operation this year, is set forth 833,002.82 better than that of the previous sk

year notwithstanding 825,44616 has been a critic, pointing out that while the judge in detail for the guidance of exporters written off for depreciation, before arriv had a body of law the eritle had none. and importers. The list of Hongkonging at such profit. In previous years, allowances for depreciation of machinery, Thus, if a judge were asked to judge of Stamp Duties cibodies the amendments furniture, fitting, lannches, etc., were "Conduct he could compare the deed with introduced by Ordinance last October, and not deducted before arriving at the net thy law; if it was found in conformity the tariff of the Hongkong Stock Ex. profit shown, but an appropriation was with such it was good, if not, it was change has been brought right ap to made from the net profit and passed by shareholders at the annifal, meeting; and bad. Bus, with the critic of literature date.

had the, samo procedure been adopted on All the descriptive and statistical this occasion, the increased profit over even the laws of grammar could hardly be regarded as laws of literature. In introductions throughout the work hare last year would, have amounted to $58,509.98, a condition of affairs which this connection Mr. Simpson instanced undergone their usual careful revision your General Managers and Directors writers such as Carlisle, Browning and and, in some instances, have been almost think you will agree with them is highly The change of procedare Mr. A. S. M. Hutchison, who delighted entirely rewritten. Each of the entries satisfactory. in breaking grammatical rules. The in the long lista häs, us in former years, was made at the wish of the auditors. The considered that this method of rendering happy ages when the critic's function been thoroughly checked, and it is safe the account was the more correct one. was the function of the judge were past. In an ago like the present, when it was to say that none but those who have You will notice Stocks in Trade show a the spirit of the times to challenge all engaged in this task can have any con- reduction of $130,114.99, due to smaller

A. SPECTACULAR INCIDENT. stocks and decrease in cost prices. Ox laws, it was certain that laws of liters ception of the tremendous number of the other hand. good debts due from cus

On Sunday night, just as the 11.45 When the judge of literature had had changes which take place in the Far East tomers show an increase of $43,008.37:

You o'clock ferry.

about to mostly due to increased business.

leave bis any there was always the appeal to in the short space of twelve months. As will also notices that we have spent during Hongkong, the passengers were alarmed the treading public. The judgment of many transfers and changes of style.date the year $35,000.19 on machinery and to sou a huge sheet of fame shoot out the reading public was in literature the from the opening of the new year, the plant, and on building improvements, of a motor boat, lying at anchor near only final judgment; and as the average reader was not much interested in cun- work of printing was not commenced etc., $25,868.71. In a business like ours, Blake Pier. The flame was followed by we have not only to replace the older a loud report, of an“, explosion. Flames then, paring things with law the average render until January 10th, and even

machinery with up-to-date plant, but in were then scen to come from the fore bad usually disagreed with the indical throughout the two months of continuous stall additional units to meet the in- part of the boat, and to the watchers on critics. What was the use of giving machining that was necessary to com- ereased demand. With regard to the the Star Ferry it looked as if the boat judgment with which nobody agreed? Criticism by law had fallen into disrepute plete the volume, new and amended amount spent on building improvemente, because it had been found that the judg entries which came to hand were em- etc., the greater portion of this sum was had caught fre. Fortunately the flames expended on doubling the size of the were checked, little or no damage being ment of suceeling generations had bodied as far as possible Where a pier at our North Point factory and done. It appears that a tin of potrol differed from the judgments of the

section had already been printed, the erecting a new bottle godown on the standing near the motor engine becare critic by law.

Shameen, at Canion.

ignited, and an explosion ensued The lecturer, to bring out his paint; latest alterations-as, for example, “in the referred to the history of the drama and transfer of Consuls to new ports-were the early laws laid down between the inade in the Alphabetical List of names Henaissance and the second half of the at the end. The Publishers offer the 1923 seventeenth century, respecting the three unities. He pointed out that Shake edition to the public with every confid speare continually broke all three rules ence that it fully maintains the high and yet his plays could not by regarded standard established by its many pre at any time as poor plays, but always decessors and will continue to prove an

Не даге as the greatest of all plays. as farther examplex of men who had indispensable rade mecum in overy office transgressed fixed laws in terature. which can claim to have interport connee- Dryden, Pope, etc. How then was the tions.

spiring critic to judge? There were no laws or we standard. As an alternative to-law the aspiring critic was recom mended wide reading as * means of advising the student and pointing out instablishing an ideal standard; and com that no tracher could give him full satis parison a method of judgment. But factory instructions how to criticise, the even this did not carry him very far. It lecturer recommended a study of · the failed him whenever he was confronted great critics of the past. This, he said with anything new. It not only failed him but might mislead him because the showed how criticism began, by speculat new thing failing to represent what he is abstractly on the nature and func tions of literature, how it proceeded to had read before, was thereby condemned, All great literature was in its time new give directions to authors, but found literature, and for that reason nione it that authors were an independent set of men, who would not be directed and, as often condemned by the erities.

finally, how criticism had found its truc Profesor Simpson proceeded to point sphere, nos in speculating as to what out that. Ibsen: was the greatest dramatist of the nineteenth century chiefly because was the true nature of literature but in he did not write, like the dramatists of trying to direct people's attention to the the seventeenth emitury, Hush Walpole actual productions of literature; not in Was & great novelict not simply because controlling and judging authors but in interpreting them. This was the general.

ture would be scoffed at..

After referring to the difficulty of

his novels were compounded of the same function of the best critics throughout mixture of character.. narrative, cover the last hundred years. The most modern sation and general description or

reflec tion un practised by his predecessors, but development of literary criticism might be described a psychological criticism, because to all that he added something Thus there was for the critic an increased now--an inner realism. Shaw was great dramatist not simply because be necessity to study the biographins and made use of the Theatre as a means of correspondence of the authors... The preaching, but because his instruction work, not the author, the artist, not the was delivered in a different waysWhat, was slogan of the past, uttered was new in literature, if judged by.com by those who wanted to believe that the parison with the old would always be were separate, but today, the iden condemned, but all that was good in which tended to prevail was that the literature was in its day-new..

proper enjoyment of literature was:best Dealing with taste, the lecturer said,red by knowing them and the that it was the capacity for being pircumstances, and considering the work Istrongly-allocted either adversely or as an expression thereof.

favourably, by what one experienced; but How often was cusisdisappointed in a taste even in this simple cause was a going to ece for a second time a play rare thing. It was rare not only with which impressed us greatly on the Brat reference to literature but with reference visit, or in rereading a book which one bad once enjoyed. This was enigde that

to life in general. How could the the first taste was mistaken; but when average human being, who was not a' sufficiently conscious creature to have reprted trials confirmed the first im strong feelings about reality be expected Pression, then we knew that the book to have a taste for diterpture Most good. What we had read once said. people could read any sort of book They enjoyed we had the right to capress our Telt no difference between Treasure enjoyment of, and a duty to try and find Island" and "Coral-Island," or Tom reasons for our enjoyment. What we had Brown's Schooldaye" and its innumerable enjoyed many times we had the right fo fimitators, betareen; the playa of Shale call good. ponek speare and the plays of his chatempor. (Continued at foot of next column,)

The looturor was warmly applanded at the conclusion of the lecture and was socorded the thanks ed the meeting.

Mr. D. E CLARK seconded, and tha motion was carried.

The re-election of Mesers. C. Bernard

Brown, ACA, and B. Greenwood, A.C.A., as auditors, at the remuneration of 8000 each was proposed by Mr. J. D. HoMPHETS, and seconded by Mr. F. W. STAPLETON, and unanimously agreed to.

Was

SEEING THROUGH" THE GLEAMS.

My dearest Amicus, the gods, decree

That friends should share each inmost thought and dream;

So marvel not while I relate to thee

Weird happenings that monstrous strange may seem.

I har observed that life on this dull earth

Provides no scope in humble work or pleasure

Or sacrifice, for thoughts of higher birth

So

To those who, like myself, have too much leisure.

a friend (of Plato's kind, of course!)

Have sought, whose wisdom hath a mystic source,

By wondrous means of printed bits of card

Or small brown morsels of the tea-plant's sprig,

She can convince me of my frm regard.

For one for whom I never cared a fig.

Or should the swear that I must sleep for more

Than half a hundred years, the dates disclosing,

1 prompt obey the stern prophetic law

(Though you, perhaps, would merely think me dozing!) Now it while I narrate what she did see

Within my teacup, four days since, at tea:

1 see a mount where you will view with awe

A ghostly veil to taunt your wondering eyes!"

I tried to scoff, but surely ne'er before

So strange & picture did in spirit rise. Next morning (now bellere me as you will,

"There are more things in heaven, and earth”—and

The marvel of it held me bound, end still,

For not, second sight, what did she go on t glimpsed the Peak-oh most unwonted might |

Twas thed in fog, a misty, ghostly white!:

How well, too, I recall the day, she said--

A valued friend will bring you tidings and, "To leave you with an aching void a dread,

And you must mourn bereft, while all are glad I took my way to my accustomed toil,

And strove to cast the gloom that did enfold me

But breinight a slumber could my fears despoil,

The vision was fulfilled My cook-boy told me My go Canton; my brother makeo, dia"... Oh what a elave to paychic law was I!

She hath as well aboard, nor large nor wide,

And like an artist's palette in its shape; Its price was half-a-crown-and clipped inside

Apencil file; yet is there no escape From paychic facts that it proclaims abroad, And-dire calamities that it doth levy Upposite victims. (Bronthe not, magie board,

That, fingers, sometimes press a trifle heavy 1).

Though tea leaves, cards, Pla Sinious. I'm single yet!

But

Control

BUY

BISSELL'S

CARPET SWEEPER

AND USE IT.

THE ONLY HYGIENIC WAY

OF COLLECTING DUST.

A DOMESTIC NECESSITY.

THEY

LESSEN THE CHANCE OF CONTAGION.

LANE CRAWFORD LTD

LANE,

CRAWFORD, LIMITED.

EST. 1850.

SHIPOHANDLERY DEPT.

COMPLETE SHIPS' OUTFITS.

DECK AND ENGINE ROOM STORES.

OILS. PAINTS AND VARNISH IMPORTERS.

ENGINEERS” TOOLS, INDICATORS, COUNTERS, 1.

PACKING AND ASBESTOS GOODS. AGENTS FOR DOBBIE MⱭINNES' NAUTICAL-SPECIALTIKA

NEW

COLUMBIA

DANCE

AT

4

RECORDS

ANDERSON'S

¡OPPOSITE WISEMANTS.

TEL. 1322

Powell

„TELEPHONE, C. 846.

STOCKTAKING OVER!!

AND WE HAVE STILL FURTHER REDUCED OUR PRICES IN, THE

FURNISHING DEPT.

LARGE STOCKS OF OUR USUAL HIGH GRADE MATERIALS TO SELECT FROM

}

ERT ADVICE AND ESTIMATES FREE.

Wm. POWELL, LTD.

COMPLETS HOUSH FURNISHERS,