Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-06-06
what is said Of our 1iterature.

II is curious to know what is said of us by fer.
eign writer's. M. AMPERE is writing Tor a Paris
manners and mind. His rewarks on our literature
are appended more as a matter ofcuriosity than
for any intrinsic force or profundity.
eve sometimes say in France, with that slash
ing fiippancy W hich IS too common with us: tThe
United is country in which the people only think
ofsmaking money. There is no such thing as a
literature, and there cannot be one. Attic most
we make an exception for Cooper's novels, be-
cause we have seen them in reading rooms. But
in the first place, and speak most disnterestedly,
do not see anything so shocking in making fortune
when one sacrifices to it neither dignity nor indie
-pendence. Itisin all countries the obiectinlifes
of those who do not find ready-made support.
Napoleon says we'll inhis memoirs, speaking of
himself and other Generals in Italy: tWe had our
fortunes to make, LIDO not perceive that money
is particularly despised in England or France, now
;a-days. i have seen the chimney of machine
shop rearing its head beside the feudal towers of
Bedford, and our own mobiles are at the head of
railway enterprises; and very wisely. AS to my
comrades the authors, they have no horror of gain;
and the example of La Bruyen giving the MS, of
his Cdracteres to the grand daughter of his pub
Usher, little girl who had amused him by her
prattle has not had, have heard, many imitators.
stThen, too, we must understand hat we mean
by literature. Do we mean odes, tragedies, and
epic poems? As to that kind of literature will
not say that its day has gone by. Great talents
exist, no doubt, and will appear again-but evil
IDENTIFY, the world does not incline that way. To-
hensiye. There are crowds of works not to be in
Guided in any of the recognized classes of itera-
ture, which, nevertheless, may be immortal mas
terpleces-and which, even without that glory,
attest the cultivation of nation, or the merits of
its authors, on country, on man, on question
of philosophy, of art, of history and of poltics-a
summary of the results of scientific investigation,
of travels, and the ike-these ure what would
call literature of the present day, which is
ting new moulds and frames for books, and which,
above ALL presents the Intellectual life of the times
England possesses great number of these books,
inwhich information and talent are combined.
America is by no means without them, and there
is nothing to prevent from giving bi tn to great
number of them. believe that America will
never have Milton or Shakespeare; but do not
anticipate many such for Europe; and what is to
masterpiece of political philosophy, like the Fed
eralist? What is to prevent another Franklin from
giving his practical truths to the world, in his
shrewd, humorous style. t..g,s
1.I have not spoken of romances They are ex-
cellent painting of manners in Paulding, Miss
Sedgwick, and Hawthorne, " no is much superior
to Cooper a novelist. We have heard Of the
fantastic tales of Edgar Poe. From Patrick Hem
y the Virginian Tribune. to Clay and Webster;
the U. States have had orators; and their political
habits guaranty them succession of them-for
wherever liberty exists, there is chance for
eloquence. Hence, L should say. that America is
already in very similar literary conditional Europe,
and the resemblance will daily increase. Il
"But, it is said, commercial, a democratic
country is not fitted for art and literature As to
the first objection, without speaking ofAthens, the
most commercial and manufacturing city of Greece,
we must not forget Florence, whose existence and
prosperity were owing to commerce.. The wool
merchants built the great cathedral, letters and
sciences flourished under dynasty oftraders, and
the vessels of the Medci brought back with silks
and spices, the manuscripts and marble of Greece.
| The commercial towns of the low countries erect.
ed those Hotel de Vities and churches, which are
models of architectural"