Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-03-15
American Authors and their Productions,
(HOLIANDl 'A
Paper Read Before the Association
of Belmont County Teachers, by
Miss Mary c. Bundy, at Bridge
port, March 3, 1883.

f human life, showing not what tina,
life should be, but what in hundreds OF
cases it actually is-yet in the midst OF
all he builds temple, which in the face
of infdelsm is dedicated to Christianity
and from which perpetual light shines
forth to guide the wanderer safely
around life's Charibis. The first feature
of his writings, causes the reader To
pause and look into the workings of his
own life, and see if therefrom he is te
have harvest of weeds or fruit, while
the second awakens new and live
thoughts of truth within him, as With
renewed trust he rallies to the Chris.
tian's standard. These two features are
not to be seen in each book, but in his
writings as whole they are seen inter-
linking each other and accomplishing
their work harmonionsly. E
Seven Oaks" contains but little il
any true light, though in it is shown life
as many know it. And all who read it.
can but feel most forcibly the wrongful
power that wealth holds in our midst,
yet how certain that power is to be
overthrewn by the mighty hand of
justice. By well-drilled minds only
should this book ever be read, and only
a glance at his similar productions will
yield interest to any one on time spent.
"Gold Foil" Lessons in Life" "Plain
Talks on Familiar Subjects" and Let
ters to the Young" are brilliant coun-
terparts to the above, and instead of an
occasional glance, they merit rereading,
and parts might be studied. . All chill
dren at the age Of twelve should read
Letters to the Young" and reread it
each year until they are twenty. Among
his most valuable letters to young la :
dies is the one treating upon slang
words and phrases. No thoroughly re-
fined and well-bred lady will ever be
guilty of the use of slang, yet in the
present day such phrases are so numer,
Gus that many girls who think they are
ladies, seem to feel no besitancy in using
slang freely. Such persons should read
"Titcomb's Letters" No young man
should miss reading his Fifth letter to
them, though in all his council is surely
good.
"Gold Foil" is another of his books
that will bear studying. for exeryvas vassfd
proclaims truth, and its power to
strengthen many and turn more from
evil is strong and lasting. The writing
of this volume alone would have been
sufficient to have placed Holland among
our best prose writers.
His chapter OH Patience" is peculiar
ly fitted for teachers, and he who wisely
remembers the quotations at the head
of this article will surely be encouraged
as he or she tolls on at their daily work
that is ever To be done "Over and over
again" To use the following quotation
speaks volumes to such 0and as we:
BE patient. If this world of natural
beauty was not made in moment, IF ithad
to 60 through commissions and change
age after age, before the flowers could
bloom and the maize could spring, .hink
you that the little drop of vital power
that is in you can reform the world of
mind and bring out of chaos the reali
zation of the fair ideal thai is in you in
the brief space of your life?" But space
forbids more being quoted here, but will
have each one to read the article for
themselves, and there learn the deep
truths now waiting for their coming.
Pause not at the end of this chapter, but
pass on till you have viewed his bright |
pictures of home, and consider well
and oft" with this deep thinker as your
guide, why you came into this world.
and how soon you must go out of it,
while you learn that "Our birth made |
us mortal; our death will make US i'm
mortal"
lessons in Life" and Familiar Talks
on Familiar Subjects" are equally as |
valuable books as the two just mention |
ed, and give standing proof that every |
thing that DR.. Holland did was thor
oughly and earnestly done; that in his |
library works he has the method of |
man of business, and that his ambition |
was to create in the United States an |
honest and conscientious material liter
ature.
One critic, speaking of his writings, /
truly says, Hollands greatest success
was won in the fields of the distinctly |
moral essay" His conscience was bis
library mentor; he always wrote with a
purpose, and he clearly understood the
needs of men and women in general, and |
the best means of meeting these needs. |
Therefore, although he was the author
of readable novels, full of faithful pic
lures of American life and character,
i ho 70 =, Il,
won universal popularity, it is as an
ethical commentator on the merits and |
defects of his fellows that he did his
best work. and will, we believe, be long
est remembered. His poetry pleases US
more by the truths and pictures contain
ed, than by the real poetry they possess.
His claim, therefore, to a seat in the
poets Walhalla is limited. 1t is true,
his verse is easy, smooth and instructive,
but he seldom sounds thep poets Tyre. He
did what was better, perhaps, than some
true poets have done-he has told a true
story in rhyme, and always with good
moral. In Bitter Sweet" he shows us
that while life has thousands of tens of !
thousands of blessings, yet there is sor-
row closely mingled with every part.
In the stanZas-
"Life ever more is fed by death,
In earth and sea and sky;
And, that rose may breathe its breath,
Something must die"
tells US that our very lives are sustained
by death. He proves the same by stanzas
farther on:
"Sorrow must crop each passion short.
And pain each lust internal,
Or human heartican bear no fruit,
To life eternal.
For angels wait on Providence;
And mark the sundered places,
To graft with gentlest instruments
The heavenly graces."
The whole poem is well writtsn, and
with "Kathrina" and "Mistress of the