The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-27


to be expected that literature, that most
mobile OF all accomplishments, should escape
an influence so general in It's application aud
80 potent in its results.
The whole style Of the works published by
our leading printing houses to-day Is different
from that which issued from their presses
few years since. 70 prove the assertion il is
only necessary TO glance at tho column upon
column of advertisements announcing the
publication Of new works. Two-third5 Of
that which flows from the pen Of an American
author has reference to the war. Novels, his
tories, accounts Of adventures, biographies,
and political text books alike abound with
descriptions OF social condition, military
ability, future prospects, or daring adventure,
which relate TO civil war The demand for
such works is inordinate. From the dime
novel up TO the standard history, each devotes
It's space TO military questions. The romances
oil to-day have stereotyped plot; no more
" 81 ent horseman" wind their solitary ways
DER distant hills" A soldier, of dashing
appearance, who has Just escaped from puer-
rillas, is the hero Of Che tale. ESCAPED
Southern damscls, seeking protection under
the Union flag, supply the melancholy
maidens of bygOne times. All talent for
fiction Is devoted to such writing, until a vast
amount Of worthless trash has flooded our
reading public, and threatened to engulph all
literary taste beneath It's encroaching biliows
The masses are affected not so much by the
standard works as by the cheap publication
OF lctions. This is the channel through which
Tie common people are reached. APPLE
TOMS Encyclopedia" has not the influence on
the greater part Of our population as have the
dime novels which are weekly published. It
is therefore to be regretted that the tastes Of
all our people are becoming so martial. War
loses its horror beneath an inspection through
colorcd glasses. The red Of the blood is neu-
tralized, and a glowing picture of fame and
fortune succeeds the bloody aspect which in
reality it wears. Renown and position appear
20 be the fruits Of battle, and forgetiul of the
long rows Of unmarked graves, youth points
to the few who have succeeded, and calls the
reward Of val social advancement and
enduring fame. Our people are deceived by
these false pictures. Ii is but right and Just,
and necessary that tue evil thus produced be
counteracted.
There is another class which, though harm
less in its influence, has become inspid IN its
nature This class consists of narratives of
adventures in tho Sunny South" Every
escaped prisoner, every exchanged captive
thinks it necessary to aiilict the public with
narrative Of his adventures. However enter
tainng such a tale might be to the family and
friends OF the author, the general public take
no interest whatever in their ordinary incl
dents Of captivity. One work is a type Of the
class. The "Stars and Bars" may be taken as
an example Of this lungous growth No par
tiCular adventure appears to have occurred to
the writer; in fact, we doubt if the production
is not work of fiction. Time spent in the
perusal of all such works is time wasted.
Many OF them make no pretension to literary
merit, and not only vtiate the taste but also
degrade the style of the reader.
There yet remains another class which
threatens to work a much more permanent
detriment to our literature. Our best authors
are beginning to write entirely on the war
an war matters. Histories of our contest,
pamphlets in bound form on future prospects,
and a large number of political productions,
all of which are lasting in form and influence,
are daily appearing. Such works as these are
read not by the reading public, but by the
uriting few. Their minds are influenced in
that direction and their works in turn bear
marks of the prevailing epidemic. Hence the
public are assailed by the original Ork in a
thousand different shapes, and it does its in
jury in as many various channels.
But although the literary prospects of our
land look dark, yet the future may clear the
horizon Of the lowering clouds which now
darken it. The fever for all such works NAV
be but temporary, when the occasion for their
births past then the interest which keeps
them alive may become exhausted. The
public mind, sick of war matters, may return
with renewed zest to the perusal of works of
peaceful intent. The arts and sciences may
again be cultivated the pen be again taken
up by the hand so long accustomed to bear
the sword, and the whole of our literature
come out of the contest purer and more re-
fined by the ordeal through which it has passed.
The mind advances through blood, and let
us hope that the great Improvement which
viii follow the war in our civil society, may also
extend to our literary worth; and that re-
newed and regenerated American authors
will surpass the mighty minds which have
lent their pens to enrich the vast store of
Britain's literature.
OH Leases and stamps.