Page:Literary studies by Joseph Jacobs.djvu/28

 face of it is not English. A wicked wag among my friends suggests Post Mortems, but I trust I have not been quite so cruel as that would imply.

One more word and I have done. There seems something of ingratitude, almost of irreverence, in subjecting to cool criticism writers to whom one owes so much of one's best self. I need not refute the fallacy, that in presuming to criticise one assumes any superiority: if that were so, there would scarcely be any place for criticism, and certainly none at all for critics pur sang. The author appeals to his generation: the critic answers the appeal. In the present case the thing had to be done and I was called upon to do it. I can only say I tried to do my work as honestly and conscientiously as was in my power.