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Ill
The Worth and Impotence of Free
Criticism
AS a part of an already too long intro-
duction, it is right that I should
say a brief but emphatic word as
to the freedom which was accorded me
by the managers and editors of the Ad-
vertiser. That freedom was perfect at the
outset, and was never limited or dimin-
ished. The value of such liberty to a pub-
lic critic is incalculably great; the lack of
it to an honest and earnest man in that
vocation is like the lack of wholesome
air to human lungs. It was years before
I fully appreciated my privilege in this
kind, or realized how much happier was
my lot than that of some of my profes-
sional brethren. The ideally perfect dra-
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