The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-20
Can a Journalist Write Literature 2

Mr.. WI. STMLAIAN has written good
deal for newspapers. and 1t is apparently In
the assumed capacity Of an expert that he
propounds in the Atlantic Monthly the ques-
ton whether journalist can produce lit
erature. He answers it In the negative, on
two grounds: first. that there is not room
enough In any man for both journalism
and literature: and. secondly. that the two
occupations are mutually exclusive and es-
sentially Incompatible. That is his copvic-
ton. the outcome perhaps Of personal ex-
perience: but the relation Of Journalism
to literature is too complex and elusive to
be exhaustively discussed and definitely
settled by one man in single essay.
No one disputes that every man has only
a limited amount of time and q limited
stock Of vitality available for head work Of
any description during single day. The
limits are soon recognized; and II O man
transcends them one day he will pay for the
excess upon the morrow. It is. therefore. Q
truism to say that II all q mans available
time and energy are devoted to the produc-
ton Of newspaper copy. he cannot attempt
any other kind Of literary work. We by no
means wish to tax Mr.. STI11MAN with q
truism. consequently we suppose him to
have meant that. granted q sufficient time.
man would be unlikely to combine the
different qualifications needed for newspa-
per writing and for the making OF books.
That is to say. his first assertion that there
il not room enough In any one mind for
journalism and literature was only another
form OF stating his second proposition that
journalism and literature ara In their es-
sences mutually exclusive.
Before accepting or rejecting this aver
ment we obviously need a definition Of liter
AZURE. Does an accurate and attractive
style constitute its distinctive feature. its
specific difference from other kinds Of writ
ing2 Or mustit also have theme Of abiding
interest and point Of view not transitory.
but Of comparative permanence Most
men would admit. we imagine. that oil three
elements must enter into definition Of lit
erature. There have boon State papers
which were models Of lucid and persuasive
diction; but most of these. contemplating
o fluctuating state OF things from tenn.
the exigency which called them forth. It Is
probable that some Of the chiselled sem
fences Of ADDISON might be discovered In
the English archives. for he was once Sec
rotary of State. and there is no doubt that
the dusty files Of the Colonial Office contain
many an example OF Sir HENRY TAYLoR's
admirable command Of English. What is
true Of public documents Is true Of news
paper articles. A large part OF VoLTAIRE's
writings. although they bear the stamp OF bis
inimitable style. are virtually journalistic
in respect Of occasion and of treatment;
and he did not expect for such productions
the longevity challenged for his compost
tons in the field OF literature proper. Few
readers Of the Ancient Mariner" and the
aids to Reflection" know. and perhaps
they lose little by not knowing. that during
the first two years Of the present century
CoLRRIDoE wrote great many leading arti-
cles for the Morning Post. OF his brother
in-law. SouTHEY. 1t may be said that II
literature was his wand. Journalism was
his staff; and during the greater part of
his life he supported himself and his family
mainly by newspaper writing. None OF
CoLERIDGE's newspaper illusions have been
reprinted. and but few of SoUTHEY's. for
the very reason that they were precisely
adapted to the purpose Of . newspaper.
which 10 meant not for all time. 'bAt for Q
day, and which usually aims to treat the