Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-09-27
SKILLED IABORIN LITERA-
TIRE

IL Is difficult to understand why the
average young man with n literary turn
Of mind should imagine that mediocre
I. poetry or clunsiiy constructed novels
alone worthy his effort, aud alone cal.
culatcd to give him that reputation rs
a writer he has been so ambitious to
achive ever since he read Addison and
Wordsworth 1t is equally difficult to
convince him that he will not succeed
as n novelist for he knocks YOU down
with the citation of some novelist
whose first works wholly failed of re-
cognition, arguing thercfrom, that his
own day of glory will come if he shall
but persist. There is no answer to be
made to this cheerful plea but immc-
diate concession. At the risk, there
fore. OF divcrling some struggling gem
ious from the path that leads to bril-
liant exploitation in the realms of fam
cy. the writer would offer a suggestion
that may not be without benefit to some
who have not yet decided to what pur-
pose they should employ their pens.
There are many men-men of serious
minds, of great esponsibilities-wh
II called upon to name the greatest
literary man Of the American Repub-
lies first century would not hesitate to
give the honor to Henry George, though
they might not endorse his views.
There are also many men of the same
consequence in society who, If interro-
gated to similar purpose, would de-
eide IN favor OF Carey, the economist;
bancroft or ParkmaD, the historians.
Hamilton or Chase, the financiers; Gar
rison. the abolitionist; or Greeley, the
publicist. And upon what basis? Be-
cause they are or were writers who
have concerned themselves with mat
ters intimately involving the fundamcn-
tai and most vital interests of the peo-
pie. The works of these men glow with
the splcndors ofnoble styles and abound
in the graces of rhetoric. To a man
who wishes to know how to vote-the
highest duty of a citizen of republic
the books for these hands have a
practical value and immediate interest
that appeal to him as do the writings
Of no poet or novelist. They illuminate
the important questions considered and
the lines of thought pursued, and make
attractive the approaches to their con-
clusions, employing all the means
which the literary art embraces They
use their skill in writing for practical
purposes.
Ought not the dignity acquired by
writers of this class appeal As strongly
to the emulation of the young men,
now in our colleges learning to use the
tools of literature, as the station of
Longfelow or Poep Ought not the
,yh, kna gl,
the perfect Indictment of a triolct or
the clever translation OF later master
pause to consider if that same accomp-
iishment might not be better employed
in the effective discussion of some prob
lcm-political, social, scientific or NOR
al-upon which the man at the bench
and the man in the bank are hourly
thinking? 1t must be admitted that too
many painters and too many writers,
in these days, allow themselves to paint
and write Tor no other purpose than TO
show their skill with their tools. Too
large Il proportion of the current art
product has simply technical excellence
10 commend it. 1t may be said that
the exhibition Of skill as skill is edu-
eating in itself That is true enough,
but the same skill may be shown in the
education Of some useful work and be
just as educating. The student of rhc-
tUrlc can lind rs much instruction in
the decisions Of the great judges of the
American bench rs ne can IN American
moves or poems The writing of the
great American novel is not the sole
business Of the literary men and wo-
men Of the time. There is more I'M
pOrlant work than this to be done.
There are thousand questions, iuti-
matcly involving the general welfare
or closely concerning particular classes
OF men, which are worthy of profound
study and exhaustive research, the re-
suits OF which viii require the rcsour-
ces OF The highest literary art to ade-
4uate.y present. The demand for such
sludcnt-writcrs is more imperative than
TIE demand for nUvcIi,ts and poets. In
all branches of literature competent
specialists are needed, specialists who
have acquired knowledge from person
al investigation. specialists who have
something original to offer and new
light TO afford There is abundant room
for them. The fields of the noveliSts
and poets alone are over crowded. The
men who can write books which en-
body facts of value, and who can at
tractively collocate facts, exercising in
the collocatiOn the same degree of care
and skill that competent poet does
In metre and metaphor are the literary
men who are needed. All the works
OF such writers will stand quite as fair
chance of living a long life rs the
works of those who WOllu ride pepasus