The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-05-25

Among our American writer's. who
are not q few IN number, there are
poets and nOvellsts in plenty and OF
varying degrees Of excellence. but few
who have made serious effort TO do
substantial work in serious essay-writ-
ing. Ii The younger generation OF
Americans are wise IN their busy and
progressive day. they will not fail to
turn often t. the genial times when Sir
Roger dc COyeriy was born, in one Of
London's most interesting periods; and
in going among the Euglish essays Will
not fail to discover that the art Of tho
essayst is reputable aud proiilabIe
one now, though Dc Quincy and
Lamb have long been gone. IL Is true
that We have enjoyed Whpple and
Lowell: but with tho former gone aud
the latter a llteratus emeritus the field
is an open and fair one, offering To
Young and ambitious writers oppOrtu-
mites # rare achievement. While our
literary people are thus idle or indiifer-
ent there is "A thriving school of young
English essay lists who are not only do
ing careful and valuable work, but,
m oreOver. are IN tone with the time,
and write inteliigently aud interestingly
upon matters Of present impOrtance.
There is Frederic Harrison, who
had 50 many Tits with Nat
thew Arnold; he could fight that son
OF Oxford with his own weapons.
which few others wero able TO do.
There is Walter Pater, who has mar
velOus style and an understanding or
the value Of words that is rare. The
author Of "0biler Dictan sits in Com
mons. but continues 10 write essays that
are brilliant in thought and execution.
Andrew Larg does so many things
well. that his essays are lost sight OF,
aud the same is true Ct Stevenson,
whose racy English Is acceptable in
" whatever i0Im no chooses 20 give II.
The q says on reii gious matters OF w.
s. Lilly are not duplicated on American
soil, so our only review that has dignity
borrows him, as it does others TO fur
nish occasional papers.
EmersOn's work Is so peculiarly alons
that students will be likely more and
more to consider him in the light OF
moral teacher aud less as a maker Of lit
terature; a very engaging and fascinat-
ing teacher, 10 be sure, ana ore whom
literary patriotism has given an exalted
place. There never will be another
ike him, jus. as there can be 10 more
Shakespeare. but the safest Judgment
that his thousands Of friends can pro-
coed upon is that he was not our great
American literary character. but our
most inspiring instructor. Coventry
Patm0re, another creditable English
critic, thinks that the best we may say
Of him il that he WAS a brilliant meta
physical epigrammatist. Looking in
this way at our field OF literature
il is apparent that we have had men
Who might have been ossayists IL
tiey had tried. But it may be said. we
can not 20 back 10 the days 81 the ions
and stage coaches where tobacco and
! ale inspired Addison and Steele. True
enough; let US not 20 back. Let US go
forward and have essays IN the dlrec-
ton Of our progress in the arts aud
sciences, greeting our men like Henry
George, John Fiske, Professor Ely, and
Edward Atkinson. who are full Of the
genius and spirit Of the time, and not
only have IDEAS that are in the interests
OF humanity but literary facility that
! will make our age appear well % those
who come after Us. But even with that
il we could only produce one Lamb Ter
quiet Sunday afternoon reading what a
! good thing it would be for American
, letters.-IndisDapolis News.
4 The one hundred aud seventy-ffth
anniversary Of the founding OF the
Graaf Valley Church the second Pres.