The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-21
Literary Men and Public Life.

Literary Men and, Public Life.
Germany killed one of her greatest poets
the other day by celebrating his birthday
with too much enthusiasm. American poets
and other literary men are exposed to no
such danger They sometimes get rich, but
the people bother them very little about their
birthdays. Mr.. Bryant was, indeed, the sub
ject OF little notice when he reached an
age ten years greater than that of the Ger
man poet Grun, but the enthusiasm, except
ing the friendly greetings given him by the
newspapers, took the quiet form of a vase,
which was many months in the making and
which was presented to him by few of his
brethren of the literary guild. The "ova-
tlon' is not, however, unknown in America.
1t is here reserved almost exclusively for
great political heroes. They do things differ
emily on the continent. Not long since when
Victor Hugo went to the funeral of friends
wife, his admirers, mostly of the artisan
class, crowded about the old man with such
aggressive zeal that the police were obliged
to use violence in order to rescue him from
their hands. He entered his coach with pre-
cipitate haste and with the feelings of a
man who has escaped from mob. Voltaire,
when he went up to Paris in his old age, had
such reception at the theater as no con-
queror had ever had. 1t was an apetheosis,
and shortly afterwards he died, leaving the
French revolution perhaps, rather, the
French revolutions-as his legacy. The world
was much moved during the last years of
Hans Christian Andersen by the accounts of
his relations with his people. He was the
Danish grandfather, whose home was at the
fresde of every house, rich or poor, which
he chose to enter. The people almost built
altars and paid worship to Goethe when at
the height of his fame. In England literary
celebrity is less warmly acknowledged, but
its rewards are even more substantial. A
man may get into Parliament or even the
ministry by writing books almost as quickly
and surely as by devoting himself exclusive
ly to politics. Tom Hughes, John Stuart
Mill and Professor Fawcett, like Thiers, Gui-
zot and Lamartine in France, became legis-
lators and rulers because they were first au-
thors. And how much less does Disraeli-or
Beaconsfeld, if we must call him so-owe to
his high-toady novels than to his political
strategy?
If anything, there is too little expression
of sympathy and respect for intellectual
greatness in America, especially if the pos
SCISSOR of it happen to be a native of the
country. Dickens came nearer to creating
an excitement here than any other person
of his profession ever did. but he complained,
particularly during his first visit, that popu-
lar interest took the form of impertinent
curiosity. But an American author would
have felt almost complimented even by so
questionable tribute as this. For unless he
can make political speech he is likely to
never get a cheer in his life. A shout like
that which more exctable Europeans give on
recognizing favorite writer in the street or
in public assembly would quite confound
and alarm any American writer, except, pos
sibly Joaquin Miller.
American apathy toward authors is all the
stranger because our people are the greatest
readers in the world. A good English au-
thor like George Eliot, often has two readers
in the United States where he has one at
home. No doubt it is the highest compli-
ment you can pay writer TO read his books
and one who is thus fattered need not very
much envy the politician his hurrahs and
''receptions." But would it not be better
for the people themselves if some other kind
OF nerit than partisan activity or even emf
nent political service to the nation were re-
warded with personal popularity and public
demonstrations? How would it do to elect a
few literary magnates to high offices as they
do in Europe? Hitherto eminent American
writers have held public positions, mostly in
the diplomatic service. only by appointment.
They have been sent abroad apparently for
the sole reason that a knowledge of foreign
languages is not commonly one of the accom-
plishments of the cable politician" A stray
professor is occasionally seen in Congress,
but he soon goes home and sometimes with
out the good reputation he carried with him.
1t seems possible that if few of the good
men who write our poetry and history were
to be sent to Washington they would be a
decided reinforcement to the right side Of
things. Or, if it be necessary to take an am
ateur politician as an entering wedge, Mark
Twain might be sent on as pioneer. Mark
would no doubt be exceedingly proud and
happy as an entering wedge and Sunset
Cox's and B. F. Butler coarse and boisterous
wit would be less appreciated when more
expert master of humor had raised the STAN
dard. If the funny fellow did not make a
very industrious Congressman and model
worker" on committees he certainly could
not be inferior in this respect to some other
Connecticut members, s,-Barnum for instance.
After Twain had opened the door for his big
brothers, we might soon have Lowell facing
his friend Butler ON the floor of the House.
A mild infusion of Concord civilization might
| take off the rough edge of the barbarism o.
even a Confederate House. If Lowell die
| not answer the purpose Longfellow or Emer
son certainly would. The warhorse in theil
presence would cease to prance. the chival
| rous Southerner to bluster, and the Western
| theorist to harass the science of politica
economy and mangle the English tongue.
| Col. Higgnson too would make noble legis
lator, full as he is of the very spirit of prog.
ress and OF the most enlightened ideas of so.
cial and political reform. George William
Curtis ought of right to be in public life and
so ought several others who wall readily occu
to everybody. All these men are no doub
"doiDg welP' at their own business and ge
paid for their work, but political honors in ad