Theophile Gautier

There is, perhaps, scant apparent logic in treating a closed career more tenderly than an open one; but we suspect it belongs to the finer essence of good criticism to do so, and, at any rate, we find our judgment of the author of the Voyage en Espagne and the Capitaine Fracasse turning altogether to unprotesting kindness. We had a vague consciousness of lurking objections; but on calling them to appear, they gave no answer. Gautier’s death, indeed, in the nature of things could not but be touching, and dispose one to large allowances.