The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-08-13
LITERARY LIFE.
Conditions of Literary Life in England
and America.


The conditions of the literary life in
America are less determined than they
are in England. The only organization
within which authorship may be said
to find substantial shelter is journalism,
and this profession is so exacting ans
so inimical to most forms of literature
that those who have most seriou.
thoughts of the literary life are rather
desirous of escaping from journalism
than of using it as underground.
1t might seem at first blush as if the
universities and colleges would offer o
desirable fastness 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 profes
sor.. if they meve 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 to
allow him much freedom of mind, and
he Is besides SO conscious of his posi-
ton that no is undermined in his reso-
luton, and rendered abnormally sensi-
tive to the criticism of others as well as
of himself.
The constitution of tho English uni
versities, on the other hand, directly
encourages and 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 will
mako it possible for him to lead a
literary life, free from fret and carking
care; and also that the 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
10 win Fellowship which will demand
only slight academic duties, leaving
him free to devote himself to literature;
falls into such place will, by the very
literary production. Thus the univer-
sity. by provision which enlarges the
scope of university life, is more than a
raining-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 4 vantage-ground
for tho man of letters. As it is demon
strab1y more efficient in this respect
than its American congener, so the
civil service of England has offered a
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 in the way of rewards in
diplomatic service for those who have
already won 4 certain distinction. Now
and then, notably in the case of the
New York Custom House. government
offices have served as means TO hard
working literary men. but the general
insecurity which has hitherto attached
to this employment and the peril to
ones self-respect in seeking appoint
mentS have hindered such men from
counting upon this resource. One of
the probable results of 4 service organ
lied 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 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-
sts in London to-day, and may be con-
fdently predicted of Washington. New
York. and ether cities, in the near fu-
tHre--.Jt1iy atlantic.