Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-17
a TALK W1TR ENERSON
His Views ON Proustaeue LITERARY

writer in Frank Leslie's Illustrated News
paper hsd a conversation with Ralph Waldo
Gently, obtaining from him the following opin-
ions upon the leading lights In literature
lie ssid this is the Sge OF science and encycIo-
edge will bed ropped in the future. Literary su-
premacy may be transferred the same As poliuca
supremacy England has held it longest, bait
has now left her. ami become the property OF
Germany. Yet who knoSs but IL NAV belong 20
the United States before long. de said one can
not read too much OF Goethe's writings; bat, re-
speeding Faust" he thought IL was unfortu-
nate that this masterpiece, the representative
literary product of the nineteenth century,
should be merely negative IN its intent. he
drew contrast between Faust" and ShAks-
peare's plays, in this respect, 70 tue advantage
OF the latter; while he remarked that Arthur
hugh Coughs poems were faulty toS the sane
reason as "Faust." he thought Margaret Full
Ter was great couyersatlouailst and A inc let
ter-wTiter, but her published works are not re-
msrkable. Wordsworth Is the great English
Ioet. IN spite Of Peter Bell Baine?). His ode
on immortality touches the high.water mark OF
modern literature. In this connection he said
nat IN order 10 really appreciate nature one
s st oe poor and live in the country, a. did
w ysNoih AZ lS-the most susceptible age
anu nave no other means of endowment eNsept
standardization with the physical world arouud.
30 ~ Sas sse Lahlor will always be read by
Ins eelcct lev. Matthew Arnod i growing too
dlnuslVe. His sweetness aud Ugbt'' has he
come heavy as lead with too much repetition.
he liked Arnlod's critical essav very murh- hnt
was not partial TO his poetry -Saints- Panys -
the Great French writer. lie sai4. - 5onit
needle with August COmte,' in reply 10 he
tive Philosophy.
He condemned Swinburne severely a. per
feet leper and a mere SO1Omite, which criti-
CiSm recalls Carlyle's SCathiuE description OF
that poet-a man standing up 10 his neck in a
cesspOOl and adding TO its contents. Morris the
author of "The Earthly Paradise" is Just the
opposite OF SwiHburne, and Will help TO neutral
ize his bad influence on the public. Perhaps
Morris may he ranked second 10 Cuaucer FOR
tmpidity and sweetness Of verse. "But them"
he ADDED. cit is bad to be only second in any
thing Alcott he aptly described a. a man who
reads Plato without surprise When mention
cd having written 10 the OTphie Sage without
the letter reaching him, MIR. Emerson smiled
and said: THE Post-oftiCe authorities don't
know anything abOutsuch men as he.n
Ihoreau was true genius, and 50 great was
his mastery of the phenomena OF Nature, that
II would need another Linn.pus, as well a
poet, properly to edit his writings. Matthew
Arnold's appreciation of Mscaulsy he thought
was just, while he praised Bancroft highly,
rating him tormost among American historians.
lie was an excellent scholar and an exact
writer. ThoTeau, who was deeply read IN Ca
madam History, told him that in that depart
mept Of American history Bancroft was beyond
criticism, and had not made a misstatemeut
OF Buckle he spoke with admiration, com
pairing his eTudition with Gibbons fulness Of
learning, and cited his chapters on France in
particular as a splendid contributiOnOf history
OF Herbert Spencer he apparently did not
have a very exalted opinion, styling him "a
stock wtiter, who treats all subjects equally
welL' Carlyle being mentioned, Emerson de-
Tended him from Margaret Fuller's criticism in
her letters, and said that Carlyle PurpOsey
made exaggerated statements, merely 20 aston
ish his listeners. His attitude toward America
during the war was unfortunate, but no more
than could be expected. Emerson mentioned
meeting John Stuart Mill, but he thought the
after cold and formal. which is strange, a. Il Is
said thar, IN conversation, Mil always spoke
with admiration OF EmersOn's writings. 1
asked Mr. Emerson which was the best Of the
Sc - - 4.
lie answered with a smile, that he felt as Lin
coin remarked OF himself. that they each took
away all the natural beauty OF the original,
Speaking o foreign authors, he said that The
ocean acts ar a sieve iOT Us, and il sits well.
he inquired with much interest who we're the
Promising young literary in New York who viii
IN time succeed the present leading authors,
and listened with attention to all l had 70 tell
about them.