The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-20
THE EDITORS LIBRARY.
Running Commentary on contemporary
Literature.


WE have recently expressed the
opin,on that there would be IN the
course of the next twenty years an ex-
hibitlon of a very high. If not the very
highest. order Of literary genius in the
South. Looking back over the interval
since the civil war we discover a stnaff
number of authors, who within certain
limits can stand the severest test that
can be applied. They fail to be counted
among the creates: writer's because tue
scope of their powers ~ restricted.
Their veins Of gold are apparently
pocket VEINS. but they are surprisingly
rich in the quslliy of their literary ore
however small the quantity, compare
lively speaking.
TIE two authors whose works 10 our
mind are fullest of the perfume OF our
Southern life, and most instinct with
the raciness Of our soil. are Miss Muir
free and Thomas Nelson Page. The
tales Of both have the unmlstakable
flavor Of genius. which is an essense 50
subtle as To elude analysis.
Miss MURFREE has portrayed the 30
cal life Of the mountains with a rug
ged yet resonant power OF descrip-
ton that is worthy of those ethereal
peaks. frowDiDg precipIces, and dark
forests that cast their shadows over her
pages. To see how profoundly the at
| mOsphere and scenery Of the noun
tains enter INTO her stories. we have
only TO compare them with Niles Nc
| Clclland : "OOlivIOn. Over that beau
tifui idyl the mere locality 81 IFS
scenes has little important iLiuence'
We know that these scenes are laid IN
the distant fastnesscs of the mountains.
but we are not kept constantly aware
that the latter are always looming ny
ina the background. Tnls is because the
charming authOres- refers to them duHt
rarely III her descriptions. and they are
sui more rarely Introduced into the
conversations Of her characters.
Ga the other band. Miss Muifr'e II
never uled of directing our gaze TO 'h'
sublime scenery that rlses around III
ana tx ends far above Us. Never Tor
mosnent does the reader or the cbarac
,ers iOse Consciousness OF Inc mlGhl>
chaius that rear themselves 20 The sh,
and slope away Oh fall IN vast spurs an'
precipIces 10 the plains below. Int
.nadONs Of the mountains seem 10 ehtc
into every side OF The life and though
# their lonely inhabitants. Inei
son. Urenes.. ruggedness. isJlaton' ana
to me extent. their very gfatdeuf. al
+, n cied in the dispD-itiOn and cOnduc
ol the mountainous VINO pass before Il
IN "A picturesque procession thdt llngeI
long IA our memory.
There is somt ching strangely roman
tic aud fascinating ABOUT TINS iocai III
nupnce. Wh Gin Is Inlrudet 80 cOntihu
ou-lv. Auart from il, there IS cruz
bat glowing power IN Miss hufiree
J lb3aks that makes the deepest imprt'
-iOn on the imagination. In many q
hvr dial CUES she reminds Us Oh some c
, the most notable scents IN GeOfg
! Eliot. but there Is al abruptness ~ he
Transitions. a certain nn-teadlness {
, lrxpfts-lon that detTacle from the su
tanned en CT of al her cOuyeIsati d
anu descriptions. At one moment 1t
. literary spirit scars as high as Chl
b novice ltself, and the next, perhaps
sluks as low a. one 4 the valleys thi
=, nestle in the r,cesses of the foothills
Inthe "Despot Of Broom-edge Cove.
b. the last work we have from her pei
she gives evidence of having worke
ont hcl rich. but limited. VEN OF gOld