Mr. Chesterton writes too easily, and is too fond of constructing card-castles in order to knock them down. That is no drawback to him as a journalist, but it is a distinct drawback to him as a journalist, but it is a distinct drawback to him as a man of letters. Card-castles are good fun- but the fun is childish.
Mr. Chesterton has many of the lovable qualities of a great big child; some also of the distracting qualities. Mr. Chesterton is too fond of spoiling good writing with this shoddy wit. It is a pity. But if Mr. Chesterton annoys us with his childishness, he is, to do him justice, splendidly childlike.
He is childlike in his capacity for enjoyment, childlike in his power of enthusiasm. In an age that is inclined to be blasé and cynical, it is a joy to have a writer who is not afraid of enthusiasm, and who sees the dynamic force of enthusiasm.