The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-10-15
LITERARY LIFE.
Conditions O. Literary L:te in England
md America,

The conditions of the literary life in
America are less determined than they
are il England. The only organization
within which authorship may bc said
! TO fad substantial shelter is journalism,
| and this profession is so eSacting and
/ SO ininlicai 10 most forms OF literature,
| that those who have most serious
thoughts OF the literary life arc rather
desirous of escaping from journalism
| than OF using it rs vantage ground.
! L might seem at first blush as if the
universities and colleges would offer a
desirable faStncss from which to send
! out ventures in literature; but the
, academic life is a somewhat sterile one;
it is with us SO identified with the peda-
gogic that the energies of the profess
sor, if they move the production Of
books, are most likely TO be occupied
with the tools of the profession. Text
books in abundance issue every year
from college faculties. but very few
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 may
comment His attitude toward the
subject of his teaching is too critical tc
allow him much freedom OF mind, and
he is besides SO conscious of his posi-
ton that he is undermined in his resc-
luton, and rendered abnormally sensi-
tive TO the criticism of others Us well as
of himself.
The constitution OF the English uni
encourages ami sustains the 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 viii.
make it possible for him to lead
literary life, free from fret and carking
care; and also that tho prizes for
scholarship offered by the universities
distinctly suggest to the student liter
ary occupation. A man, in other
words, With fortune enough to secure
him a university education, may hope
to win Fellowship which will demand
only slight academic duties. leaving
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 uniyer-
sity, by provision which enlargas the
scope of university life, is more than :.
training-schooi for immature minds; it
is society of sc:o.urs, and as such,
directly encourages and suStainS the
literary lie.
The university, however, is not the
Only English organization which fosters
literature and makes . v;intage-ground
for the man of letters. As il is Demon
strabiy more efficient in this respect
than lis american congencr, SO the
civil service OF England has offered
more convenient shelter for the littera-
teur than the same service IN America.
Our government, indeed, has not been
slow to recognize authors, but it has
been chiefly III the way OF rewards in
diplomatic service for those who have
aireSdy wen certain distinction. Now
and then, notably in the case of the
New York Custom House. government
Offices have served rs means 10 bard
working literary men, but the general
insecurity which has hitherto attached
to this employment and the peril to
ones sclf-respect in seeking appoint
mants have h!ciercd siicii meu from
counting upon this resource. One of
the probable results OF !. service organ
ized upon the 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 busi-
ness mind, like az office coat, when
the clock strikes three, and don the
literary habit. is especially necessary
TO the calm and cheerful pursuit OF
literature. Such i state Of things ex-
lists ir London to-day. and may be con-
fidenty predicted OF Washington, New
York, ani other cities, il the near fr-
ture-.!u.y .iHtlst.c.