The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-09-10
LITERARY LIFE.
Conditions OF Literary Life in England
and America.

The conditions of the literary life in
America'are less determined than they
arc in England. The only organization
within which authorship may bo said
to find substantial sholter>is journalism,
and this profession is so exacting and
80 inimical to most forms of literature,
that those who havo most serious
thoughts Of the literary life arc rather
dcsirous of escaping from journalism
than of using it as vantage ground.
1t might seem at first blush as if the
universities and colleges would offer a
desirable tastness from which to sond
out ventures in literature; but the
academic life is somewhat sterile one;
It's with us so identified with the peda-
goglc that tho energies Of tho profess
sor. ii they move the production of
books, arc most likely to be occupied
with the tools OF tho profession. Text
DOCKS IN abundance ISSUE every year
from college faculties, but very fow
contributions to humane literature.
The academic life again is so special
lied that even the professor of English
literature rarely produces work upon
which his successor or associate NAV
comment. His attitude toward the
subject of his teaching is too critical to
allow him much freedom of mind, and
he is besides SO conscious of his posi-
ton that he is undermined in his reso-
luton, and rendered abnormally sensi-
tive to the criticism of others as well rs
of himself.
The constitution of the English uni
Vorsitics, ON the other hand, directly
encourages and sustains tho literary
life. This is not to say that literature
In its freest expression is not there, as
here, outside the walls of the college,
but that man of literary taste and
ambition may deliberately possess him
self of academic situations which will
make it possible for him to lead q
literary life, free from fret and carkine
care; and also that tho prizes for
scholarship offered by tho universities
distinctly suggest the student liter
airy occupation. A man, in other
words, with fortune enough to secure
him university education, may hope
to win Fellowship which will demand
only slight acaI,mic duties, IeayinS
him free to devote himself to literature;
and student devoted to learning who
falls into such place will, by the very
force of his own nature, be urged into
literary production. Thus the univer-
sity, by provision which enlarges the
scope of university life, is moro than a
training-school for immature minds; it
is society of scholars, and as such,
directly encourages and sustains tho
literary life.
The university, however, is not the
only English organization which fosters
literature and makes q vantage-ground
for the man of letters. AS it is demon
strably more efficient in this respect
than its American congcner, SO tho
civil service of EnSlat1d has UffosoI o.
more convenient shelter for tho littora-
teur than the same service in America.
Our government. indeed, has not been
slow to recognize authors. but it has
been chiefly in tho way of rewards in
diplomatic service for those who have
already won certain distinction. Now
and then, notably in tho case of the
Now York Custom House, government
offices have served as means to hard
working literary men, but tho general
insecurity which has hitherto attached
to this employment and the peril to
ones sclf-rcspcct in seeking appoint
ments have hindered such mon from
counting upon this resource. Ono Of
the probable results of service organ
lied upon tho merit system is the at
traction to it of men capable Of clerkly
labor, but chiefly ambitious Of literary
fame. The freedom from concern
which enables one to lay aside his bust
ness mind, like an Office coat, when
the clock strikes three, and don the
literary habit, is especially necessary
to the calm and cheerful pursuit of
literature. Such state of things ex-
lists in London to-day, and may be con-
iidcntly predicted of Washington, New
York, and other cities, in tho near fu-
turc-Ju:y atlantic.