Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-06-06
what is aata 81 our 1iterature.

It is curious to know what is said ofsus by fer.
eign writer's, M. AMPERE is writing for Paris
ian periodical, observations upon American men,
manners and mind. His rewarks on our Literature
are appended more as inatter of curiosity than
for any intrinsic force or profundity.
stWe sometimes say in France, with that slash
ing fiippancy whichis too common with us: sThe
United is countryi in which the people only think
| of making money. There is no suchthing as a
literature, and there cannot be one., Atthe 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. ltisin all countries the objectin life
of those who do not find a ready-made support.
Napoleon says well in his memoirs, speaking of
himself and other Generals in Italy: tWe had our
fortunes to make, do not perceive that money
is particularly despised in England France, now
a-days. / 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 Cdrdcteres to the grand daughter OF his pub
Usher, little girl who had amused him by her
prattle, has not had, have heard, many imtators.
"rhen, TOO, we must understand what we mem
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-
day, literature is something more vast and compre-
hensive. 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 a country, a man, on question
of philosophy, of art, of history and of politics-a
summary of the results of scientific investigation,
of travels, and the like-these nre whatI would
call literature of the present day, which is crea-
ting new moulds and frames for books, aud which,
oil
England possesses great number of these books,
in which information and talent are combined.
America is by no means without them, and there
is nothing to prevent from giving bi III to great
number of them. I believe that America will
never have Milton or Shakespeare; but do not
anticipate many such for Europe; and what is to
prevent the United States from producing another
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.
"I have not spoken of romances. They are ex-
cellent painting of manners in Paulding, Miss
Sedgwick, and Hawthorne, who is much superior
to Cooper as a novelist. We have heard of the
fantastic tales of Edgar Poe. From Patrick Hem
ny 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, should say. that America is
already in very similarterary condition 10 Europe,
and the resemblance will daily increase. ~
"But, it is said, commercial, 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 lourished under dynasty of traders, and
the vessels of the Medici brought back with silks
and spices, the manuscripts and marble of Greece.
rhe commercial towns of the low countries erect
ed those Hotel de Viiles and churches, which are
models of architecture"