Richland beacon., 1881-07-16
EU0LlSH APPRECIATION OF AMER
ICAN LETTERS.

EHGLlSH APPRECIATION OF AMER
ICAN LETTERS.
American literature has now become
90 far English that it has supplied us
with more household words than the
literature of any other country. except
France. Mr.. Lowell's own "Biglow
Papers" have lent us some-nOtably the
skeptical criticism of John P. Robinson
on the culture of Palestine, and the
warning as to the necessity of early ris-
ing when one is attempting to circum-
vent the Absolute. From writer much
less frivolous than he is commonly
thought to be, Mark Twain, We have
derived not only by-words, but oppor-
tunities for that inextinguishable laugh
ter which seems to refresh and renew
the whole system. If Mark Twain had
written nothing but the account of his
purchase Of the celebrated Mexican
plug, and his account of how he once
increased the circulation of IN agricult.
ural paper, he would have made his
mark among tho humorists who have
used the English language. Mr.. Bret
Harte hos supplied us with the immortal
economical reflections of Bill Nye. and
has formulated the doubt which we all
feel in the presence Of the Monaghan
race, the doubt whether Aryan man is
not played out, has not had his innings,
and Is on the point of following the Tol.
tees into the grave of vanished peoples.
But these are only the first names that
occur. Our fiction owes its most refined
and elaborate pages to Mr.. James and
Mr.. Howells, our anthropology is under
. heavy debt to Mr.. Bancroft and Mr..
Morgan, our criticism is sharpened by
contact with that of half dozen brillian,
writer's, and perhaps it is only in poetry
that We still venture to think, if We may
use an appropriate expression, owe
have the inner tracks," The American
Caucasians are certainly not played out
and We may perhaps expect from then
the poet who is to succeed our foremos
living masters. Ncua
an EDITOR'S DEBT.
In the years sgone, when De Witt
Clinton county, was the county seat and
q right smart village in the woods, OF
on the way to be, the editor of its week
ly paper had some subscribers who paid
in wood, others in produce, others in
fur, and others yet who didn't pay al
all. One of these latter class was named
Lemon, but to squeeze anything out Of
him was next to impossible. He had
excuses at his tongues end for not pay
ing, and the longer the debt stood the
moro reasonable his excuses seemed tc
his creditors. One day the editor met
him on the street, and. after q genera
greeting, began on him with:
"Mr. Lemon. you have been owing
me for two years."
eyes, but had bad luck in mysugar
bush"
"But you might have brought wood.
$50 1 should, but I broke two new
axes and couldn't buy another"
II offered to take it out in turnip.
andcorn."
II know, but the crows ate my corr
up and the Injuns stole all my turnips.
"Well, how are you getting along
now ?" asked the editor.
First-rate."
"Havo you good run OF sugar
eyes"
"Corn doing well ?"
"Splendid."
"Wheat all right?"
"Yes, all right"
"Well, il corn, wheat, potatoes ant
turnips turn out good, and you keep vel
and you have no losses, will you pay nj
in the fall?"
The farmer scratched his head ani
took full minute to think over it before
he replied:
"That's an honest debt and orter bt
paid, but I won't positively agree te
square up this fall until I know wha
sort Of q corn season We are to have >
It is needless to say that he never
SQUARED. Free Preas.
TORGETFULNESS.