The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-27
OUR LIBRARY.



Literary Table Talk.
One Of the most remarkable features
Of the literary history OF the present
day Is the almost countless Lumber OF
books that annually issue from the
press. There is nothing to be compared
with this number except the myriads Of
human beings who are being born into
the world. Day after day, year after
year. there see the light volume upon
volume and child after child. and their
respective fates in those different spheres
Of existence to which they are intro
duced are not very dissimilar on the
whole. a noble book is a more power.
tul agent IN doing good than a noble
man. because. being unrestricted as to
space. its influence is far more extern
sive. An evil book makes a deeper i'm
preston than an unprinciplfd man. be-
cause its effect is more continuous. PEN
etratlng. and insidious.
Logically enough, the intellectual az
we'll as the moral character OF books 10
an exact counterpart of the moral and
mental traits Of men. There is the able
book. and there IL the imbecile book.
and between these two extremes. lie
the great mass of contemporary works.
With a stronger leaning, perhaps, to-
wards the imbecile than towards the
able side. There is the practical book.
and there is the theoretical book.
There are books that reflect clearIess or
distortion of vision. There are books
full of eccentric and perverted ideas.
There is the prosaic book and the
poetic book. There is. in short, book
to repre- sent every shade of the moral
and intellectual disposition of mankind.
In this respect, every large library is
an epitome of all the mental and moral
features of character that distinguish
the human race.
REGARDING the history of books, we
find that only too many have issued
with a most pretentious and imposing
flourish Of trumpets from the press to
link forever. like so many men similar
" heralded, into the utmost obscnrify
after brief period OF ridiculous or
contemplate notoriety.
Some books appear to steal from the
press with all the beautiful modesty
and limidity Of young girl entering a
great assembly for the first time only to
fluid herself after little while the most
observed and admired of all present.
Some books are thrown of from the
minds and souls of their authors like
gcssamers from the thistles If the au'
tumnal fields. to float away without
any guiding principle, and to be tossed
about by the breath of passing favor OF
dlsfavOr.
On the other hand, there are many
books that. like robust men. sword III
hand. ard armed cap-a-ple. fight then
way into popularity, or dehantiy take
the reading world by the beard anc
huil defiance down It's throat.
THE length Of time that books live re
calls the differences in the ages OF men
Some are practically dead before they
fall from the press. Some struggle
uuder the weight Of existence FOL
awhile. aud then are converted Int
waste paper. Some, suffering as j
we're from a slow consumption. react
maturity and then quietly perish. SOm'
attain to hearty old age, gradually
lose their vitality and die.
A few. very few. are born TO d.
immortal. TO exist for all time. to sur
yive countless changes Of custom ant
sentiment. 10 outlive great races aut
mighty nations of men, 10 endure
/ longer than cities of marble. or ever
the firmcst.mOnuments of nature. Suci
books are beacon lights upon the LOFTY
mountain tops of the different cen
turtles. and transmit from age TO age ih'
most glorious thoughts and emotion
that elevate and stimulate the hear
aud mind of mankind.
why dc certain books succeed anC
others fail =? No book, however weight,
its matter or just its thought. is iikei,
to survive unless 1t is composed will
the strictest regard for style. Style !
the salt that preserves book from de
cay. Views of life and society, how
ever profound, Information howeye
extensive and accurate. lose their foI c
and aptness IN time. but the subtle fas
cination of style is never lost Ii is a
aroma that never evaporates. Ever
work that has retained its celebrit
from age 10 age. Is remarkable in tn
highest degree for this quality, whc
/ j., after all. originality IA the author
tor as the French express 1t, style
the man.
The absolute necessity for style as
means Of lasting preservation
particularly illustrated in Grafton:
Burke and Webster were probably nc
IS effective speakers as Fox and Clay
and yet upon how much more eDduI
ing ba-is the fame OF the former
founned than the fame of the latter
Their oratIOns a-e remarkable for tbei
literary skill and finish, as well as f.
eloquerce aud grandeur of thought
The reputation of Burke and Webste
is, therefore, constantly renewing itsel
as each generation examines for itsel
the perennial fountains from wnIc
Ibis reputation is drawn. The fame o
clay duu rOA pidCllcdiiy iteto upO
historical tradition. the oratlons trans
mItted 10 us from them not standIn.
the test of the highest literary cano IS
The same is true Of every kind 0
literary production. For such produc
lions to survive for any length OF time
the style and form. as well as tn
matter. must successfully pass the yer,
severes; literary ordeal that can p ,sslbl,
be used There are books that attain L
an astonishing degree of temporar,
celebrity because they give timely ex
preston To some passing sentiment o
fashion. Add but charm of style t
such books. and they will live long afte
their subj ct has lost its interest. Som
books touch with all the felicity o
genius the most permanent feelings aB'
emotions of The human heart-feelIng
and emotions that will endure as lon
as human race. Take away iron
such books the charm of style and the
perish in single generation.