The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-11-02
LITERARY RICHMOND.
a rlT,e THIS CITY MAY SOME
TIME POSSESS.
,,...a,s 40 be Derived From Great Pub
lie Library-who VIII Be Its Founder
ReadIpg Clsbs-signs of Mental Ae'

Looking back over the past his'oi.
Richmond IL would Dc clearly inappropriate
10 speak oft as the Athens Of the South, fol
IL enters into the biographies Of few men o
letters Of enduring distinction. There ar,
few spots in its confines and its vicinity
when 90 strangers visiting the city would
De- deeply interesting from associations with
the lives OF writers whose genius has giver
flnm regulations which have extended e
every branch Of the English speaking peo-
pie.
The streets in the older sections Of Rich.
m1nd are haunted with memories OF states
men. orators. jurists. soldiers, whose works
OIL whose achievements are part OF the
glory Of their country, but the faint shadow
of Poe alone fingers about the city, as the
panorama Of the age Of slavery rises before
ihc mind. Aud what faint shadow il is
aud how b0yi-h are the linlaments OF the
pale face thai looks az us from that shadow.
with lbs melancholy eyes and cynicaily
curlod lip. 10 j. far more difficult 10 realize
ina. Poe was once associated with Rich
in0ud than that Chattcrton once walked
Che streets Of London. The one somehow
recalls the otDer IN his pride, his dispair,
and the tragic ending Of "a short life.
John X. Thompson was n man OF genius
hnf without a spark OF that unique Orgl-
nalifV which distinguished his predecessor
on the Literary Messenger. In no small
degree his fame is temporary, and must
fade. except 50 tar as his poems have an ex.
tr.n.ic value from their association with the
events of iha war And yet his influence as
editor and writer in this community under
Che old regime was most beneficial in pro-
lnotinx a larger degree Of general culture.
nder his management the Literary Mes
son.cr was "A periodical of great merit that
dill much % foster and sustain asOund liter
arv spirit ~ Richmond. which was but the
indirect impression OF ThOmpsOn's literary
taste and judgement
In spite Of The dcarih Of men OF great
literary distinction i'm Richmond before the
war. the level of general culture was very
birh-indocd surprisingly so, when the lte'
r,ry unfruitfulness of that culture ~ re-
called some Of the ripcst scholars IN ing
lsh belle letters 10 be found anywhere now
can Doe discovered among the survivors OF
fhr best social circle that existed here be-
fore the war-men who have brought down
ID Tins ace that interest in the old English
classics that minute and accurate Know
ledge OF the famous English authors OF long
ago which il far rarer among the members
Of The new generation than II should be.
Nor il this interest or this knowledge con-
fined 90 Shakespeare and J)nsOn, Con
grcve and Dryden, swift aud Addison, Gold
smith and GibbOn. but extends with equal
Newman as well a 10 Byron, shelley, and
Iplcridge.
This IS true culture in every sense Of the
word! because true culture signifies simply
au ability to appreciate the good in the lit
,rltgra of every age. TO it, nothing that Is
excellent i'm literary way is Cld-iashi0ned
or ont Of date. Ia such culture as this, the
Richmond Of the period before the war was
f.r from being deficient. Nor is II today.
r may Doe Justly said that, outside of Mas
-lrhu-etts. which has been largely affected
LOS the extraordinary literary spirit which
prevails in Boston. the level Of culture
amon, the classes in Richmond enjoying
rl. best opportunities for literary improve
uanf. il a. high now as j. 10 be observed IN
fh. General run Of American communities
of fine same size. The probability is that 1t
il much higher. as Richmond is long
established city. with all the transmitted
Influences Of social culture, which IS always
Intimately associated with large degree
uf literary culture.
The level of culture here. however. is not
a- hi.h as 10 should be, aud as il is in time
certainly destined to be. The reason OF
this is not far 10 seek. There Is no circulat-
i'm. library here on great scale, 10 Whlch
every class can have ready access There
.,n Doe mo- strong reason for hoping that
fnis CITY can become distinguished
a- a centre OF extraordinary literary cub
fur, until some liberal citizen OF large lOi'
time shall initiate the noble example Oh q
Iilte- i'm Boston. an AstOr in New ork, a
Franklin in Philadelphia and feaDouy
and Pratt in Baltimore, and FOUND a
library that will not only furnish the
aunle-f opplrtunitics for the widest reach
of study aud reading, but will stimulate the
exercise of the very taste 10 which 1t affords
the LARGEST degree of qualification.
The fact that this city has no library OF the
spacjal character referred 10, donated 10 the
people iu the period before or since the war
j. due probably 90 the strong disposition
which has ALWAYS prevailed among the class
of iuiuern people who have been IN Inc
endowment of fortune, % leave tbelr posses
SION. fn sustain aud enhance the dignity OF
th.fr families. The preservation of this kind
of dignity being held in the South IN a
bi,bsr degree 0f consideration than IN the
Northern states. because the latter nave
been from their economic system less uhueI
th. influence Of inherited English social IN
HIeucc-. \ large number OF the great
architects of their own fortunes AT the
North have sought % perpetuate Their
u4mes i'm the form If magnificent pubic
institutions such az colleges or libraries.
gul-r fhe conditions that formerly pre-
vailed iu fhe south. the man who accumu-
Dated "A great property was content TO trans
mH Do t0 bis heir with the general result OF
u.rle,uutng his memory IN a new family
alrt,1 social prominence. 1t rarely, II ever
occurred tD him 10 leave large sum Tor pup
L.u..- 90 be always associated Win hls
name. ~
uler the far-reaching change that ha.
t...n place ion the economic conditions Oh
t.. south. a like revolution may be expected
rf-.a..ll spirit. This is already most
Observable. A. the wealth and population
U.IsrhmUud increase. the general influences
tar govern it, social life are likely 70 DC
.....r.f, those that have long controlled
f.-.c.ai liir + similar communities IN the
N..r.rn states. With the expansion III
r.-.l.ofprlNate fortunes, there VIII .aller
awhile -lring zap iu this city an inclination
.nt... .4ft Of ou~ more liberal capitalists
.d...fea part Of their fortunes to puOhc
urIII Vanity il not philanthropy no"
r.t bride DOB perpetuation oil family names
Inns ...lu.l. viii induce some 10 give last
Don. H.tl mc 90 their memories by puOic
ol.nm.n's " striking proportions.
h..n. This probability IN view, II may
t. .4.Yaally anticipated that not many
y..r. must elupse, speaking comparatively,
I.-.. public library like those when
Il4... Inferred 80 much benefit upon all lht
leading Northern communities VIII nc
among tle most conspicuous ana NNu"o,c
IND.Iii.. oi this city. In Inc lhteiNaIi lh'
d.. I.Yf Richmond have access only 10 tue
n De ~
sic. t9 OUT people at large, because 1t IL not
a circulating library. The library OF the
luu. Mems Christian Association, Delng
limited iu volume. is necessarily restricted
In OBJ. scope of its usefulness to The gel era
commit nifty.
ln the last twelve months an enort ha'
l..u made. chiefly through the instrument
Dlt,of Thomas Nelson Page, Esq., TO es
tsI-h local reading rooms, when, II eX
t,I.r ,,t,.bt ,yeli hapOne the nucleus Of
lr.. circulating library. These reading
Iulms are designed 10 afford our working
men and their families an opportunity 10
r.taine. which would otherwise be entirely
out 0f their reach. The general idea is
most excellent one, and capable OF large
degree of development than that 10 whici
uU,-s Tar been carried. II should be takel
unby ail Of our citizens who are interested
ln tb. utilization Of every influence that ha
tendency 10 improve the tone ana advance
the general moral as well as intellectual IN
arsaHf