The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-02


Then hence away, and Northward no!
Where souls ana limbs OF men are stron-
ger;
But. d ye powers OF frost and snow.
Would holidays were somewhat J. ngerl
The Spectator. 4. o.. i.
SOUTHERN LITERATURE.
The recent discussion IN the Nine
teenlh Century Club. in New York city.
upon Southern literature developed an
interesting exchange If views. although
the exchange was more in coin of the
same kind than 10 such as indicated the
melting quality Of intellectual differ
ence. In opening the discussion Mr.
Thomas Nelson Page, the well kr I'm
lawyer aud story writer. Of Richm0nd.
spoke of the literary state of the South
before. during. ard after the war. He
thought that the South never lacked
the ability, the cultivation. or the SUBJ
iects for a representative literature.
but that the conditions were want
ing. The conditions were those of
an agricultural people, without the
stimulation which came by the close
c0ntecl Of mind with mind in cities Of
magnitude and enterprise. He, how
ever. maintained that the South made
relatively as fair q show ing, under in
nuences adverse 90 literary develop
ment, az any equal number of Anglo
Saxon minds would make under the
same circumstances. Dir. Page gave a
most interesting cons deratIOn of the
literature Of tie South during the war.
from the inside. Before the war there
had been no publishers in the South.
During the war there was no possible
access 70 Northern or foreign publishers.
Paper mills had Or be- established. and
all tho mechanical plants necessary
70 the physical making Of books
had TO be provided. This had To be
done by people who knew very little
about 10 and whose resources for doing
il. even if they had the knowledge,
were pathetically few and feeble. The
mechanical result they attained. though
imperfect, was surprisingly credltable.
The mental result was even more so.
The intellect of the South was released
from It's bondage ID old or new English
styles. The desire OF the people for the
expression of their woes and wants,
their aspiration, aud their antiquities,
took the form of song and ballad, az the
cas- u always when "a new literature is
about 90 be born. Quickly the old story
writer's of the South X onedy, Simms,
Thompson aud John Esten Cooke
sought TO adapt themselves % their
changed environments. a new race OF
p.eis and story writer's spraug for
ward, Of whom the work. If not
always eminent. was frequently worthy
and never lacking in sincerity. After
the war came the pargs OF tTansforma-
lion. The era Of reconstruction was
not one OF mental fecundity. because it
was one of social peril and mental dis
tress. But the thought of the South
was active: It's intellect was ObseIvant:
lis will power. It's hOpefulness and faith
in itaelf were pronounced. Ere long
sydney Lannier. Paul Hayne. George
V Cable. George W. Bagby, and many
others. including Joel Chandler Harris,
came 10 be known. along with minor
list of mOyelisls like Christian Reid. who
but preluded the brilliant appearance Of
Miss Murfroe, Amelie Riyes, Miss.
MacGruder and many other excellent
lights. Mr.. Pages exhaus,ing resume
OF the laboreIs in the vineyard OF
Southern literature comprised many
other names. 20 each of which he gave
approximately correct Characterization
and his paper was a fountain OF lustruc
ton TO those 10 whom. as It was read,
came the charming impression of his
gentle. wholesome and fragrant per-
sonality.
The brief essay Of Mr.. Glider upon
Southern literature, old and new, was
his best vein. He started with the
proposition that emancipation wrought
The abO itiOn of the industrial slavery.
OF the black race and of the initiative
slavery Of the white intellect. He de-
clared that, so long as slavery existed,
The South was out of touch with the lit
eratufe of mankind. Her people could
hardly open "a book tina. had IN
il the merit 70 endure without find
ing ia 10 some sentiment perilOus and
obnoxious 20 their peculiar institution
The expression of the thought OF their
men aud women was either warped by
prejudice. growing out OF African
bondage aud of the unjust relations IN
which the races stood TO one another. or
It was restrained by the apprehension
that utterauce might endanger deli
caleiy hazardous economical cOudl-
tions. Since the war the Union had
risen 10 nationality and the South had
been lifted By the impulse. Her seen
cry. her life. her aspirations, her tradi-
lions, the great tragedy Of her Lost
Cause. the pecEliarities of the amiable.
crsdulOus and dependent race which
constituted her la5cring force are all.
IN SIR. elders opinion. subjects as at
trsctive for the historian. for the poet,
FOR the novelist and for the dramatisL as
any the world contains.
Although the symposium OF rot die.
similar views was prOtfacied beNond
the usual hour OF meeting Of he Nine
teeuth Century club. the very large
aud distinguished gathering Of men and
women present received a measure OF
information aud q wealth OF valuable
impression that they will not long for
get. The three paiticIl ants stood oul
as bright, clear, candid thinkers 4
whom the ability 10 see facts aud forces
IN their wholeness ard 10 present then
in their realness has been impaired an,
by whom the art Of expression and thu
gift Of generaliz iiion and Of ideallzi
bad been exQuIsitely acquired. Tn
evening Of Friday was one 10 be carries
in the memory cf all who passed unde
its spell.
:rHE POOR AMERICAN AUTHOR.
Olall the silly supeEs'itlons that hay
lslr,ised out Of the credulohs past, non