St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-06-22
to detect QUAY's fine hand in the whole
LITERARY LIuI

Does literature move in cycles, or why
is it there is such paucity of literary
genius at this time? There is literary
lull all over the world. There Is not one
great book in existence but was written
by some one identified with former
generation. Take horoscope of all the
world where literature is cultivated, in
Guiding England, America, France
and Germany, and we find but
one living author Of the first
rank TENNYsoN and he belongs
more to the past than to the present.
There are no ELIsHAs to- catch the
mantle Of the departed ELIJAH, no one
to succeed DICKENS, BROWNING,
GEORGE ELIOT, CARLYLE or HUGO.
We have idols of cults like ToLsToI,
and few possible promises, but there
are no living writer's Of the first rank,
with the one exception we have men
toned. Is it because the spirit of
literary genius has voluntarily taken its
departure, or is it because it has been
expelled by or forced out by innOya-
tionS?
The latter cause is suggested by re-
cent news item announcing the death
Of JOHN F. SMITH. The chances are
ninety-nine readers out of hundred
will ask who Is JOHN f. SMITH, any
way? Of the numerous members of
that popular branch Of the human fam
lily, he is perhaps the one SMITH whose
identity is most difficult to recall. And
yet he was the most popular of all the
English novelists; having ten readers to
where SCOTT or DICKENS had one. He
died the other day at the age of eighty
six, and when the London papers re-
ferred to him as the author of "Smiles
and Tears" and "Minnie Gray" there
were some who could place him.
Mr.. SMITH was the originator of the
serial story, the Observation-Disclosures
week style of literature, which held
spell-bound the hundreds of thousands
of readers of the London Journal or
CasselPs Family Paper. His style be-
came so popular that other writer's.
adopted it, and it has grown in popu-
larity until nearly all fiction literature,
from the trashy dime novel staff up to
the best of modern fiction writing, goes
on the JOHN F. SMITH style. Even
DICKENS fell into it, GEORGE
ELIOT aud HUGO followed suit,
while In our own country MRS.
BURNETT or GEORGE w. CABLE
would not think of publishing novel
in book form until it had serial run
in some magazine.
Mr.. SMITH is described by his biog
rapher as being a typical Bohemian of
fifty years ago, genial. 1ed-cheeked,
with thick, curly hair, loud, happy-go-
lucky creature, wearing a baggy blue
oyercoat. He would appear in the
Office on the morning when his salary
fell due-never before; would send out
for a bottle Of port, and call for boy to
bring him writing paper and last weeks
copy of the journal in which his novel
was running. Hastily glancing over it, he
satisfied himself as to the exact predic
ament in which he had last left his
lovely heroine, and then, unbuttoning
his overcoat, and choosing from pocket
full of stubby quill pens, he wrote like
a mailman for two or three hours. AT the
end of this time he had completed an
other installment of the exciting
story which was thrilling the souls
Of literally million readers. Mr..
SMITHS checkered life of three score
years was spent as pretty much
every Bohemian's life is passed, In
lodging creditors and in hunting for
unfrequented spots where he could Oc-
casionally dash off novel without being
dunned to death while at work.
When Mr.. SMITH died his mantle fell
on thousand shoulders. The world is
! full of his successors, and they are all
plodding along, the road he pioneered
| simply because it pleaSes the literary
taste of the age to have them do so.
1t is law of our natural being that
genius must receive inspiration from
it's surroundings. The Shakespearean
fires would never have blazed with
glory but for the popular demand for
good play acting during the Elizabeth
an period. 1t was in the pleasure he
afforded the masses with his songs that
HOMER found inspiration. And so it
has ever been, and ever will be-the
| popular taste will fix the standard of lit
erary genius.
If we now have literary lull, it is
because of the popular inclination for a
rest in literature. We are too busy
building a monument to JOHN F.
SMITHS memory to ever think of pro-
viding successor to TENNYsoN when
he is gone.