The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-30
SOUTHERN AUTHORS.

The Atlanta Constitution, IN recent issue.
was disposed to take us to task for having ex-
pressed the opinion that the slightest cater
ing on the part Of Southern authors TO the
prejudices Of those who grossly exaggerate our
faults and overlook our virtues is q crime
against the South.
1t is difficult to see how so plain PROPOSE
ton admits of serious dispute. We are our
selves unable TO discriminate between liter
airy apostacy and political apostacy. If any,
thing literary apostacy is more open to repre-
hension than political because more insidious
and more permanent. Gable is very prop
erly regarded by the Southern people rs q
more dangerous enemy Of his native section
than a dozen Southern politicians Of promi-
nence who share his perverted sentiments.
The mercenary and fanatical Southern writer
of his stamp appeals to countless readers
whom the political renegade never reaches
and his influence in consequence inficts a
proportionate injury.
We believe that we made a statement that
has the universal support Of the Southern
people when we said that the South had al
ready too many slandsrers abroad TO regard
with patience Southern writer's wLOrely upon
unfavorable pictures Gifts society % win popu-
larity at the North Al untavorable picture
may DO drawn consciously or uncorsciously,
but in either instance an injustice TO the
South would be committed
There is no society in the annals Of the
world which surpassed that of the old South
in charm. refinement or elevation. 1t had its
faulis-what society has not.-but in the main
these faults were not those which were attri-
buted to it by the envious perversions Of
abolition sentiment. And yet it is these
perversions which certain Southern writer's
have accepted il q modified form, their
knowledge Of that society not being derived
from actual experience or careful study, but
from the fluctuations Of alien and hostile
observers.
Paint me with my warts" said Cromwell.
when the painter who was taking his portrait
would have avoided the transference Of such
blemishes to his canvas. Paint the South as
1t was by all means, but paint it with the pro-
found sympathy, the loving tenderness of
loyal son who can add charm even TO the
DitIltAto Ol tue VI l4tdA dLO uDt Will AAAdl
subtle touch which shows consciousness Of
New England sentiment as a thing to be pro-
pitiated as the prerequisite of financial sue
cess As long as all the publishing houses
of the country are to be found in the North
ern States, so long will a certain degree OF
this weakness be displayed.
We may search the literary productions of
the South since the war; and with the excep-
ton Of few short stories there is not single
fiction that adequately or Justly describes
the social life OF the South IN
der the slave system. That field is still
untouched The soil is still unbroken.
What State III the Union, indeed what
commonwealth in the world, except England.is
distinguished for more varied and dramatic
social history than old Virginia? It's annals
furnish more stirring incidents for another
Scott than the history Of Scotland. For the
appearance Of such man thousands Of South.
ern men and women are anxiousiy waiting in
the proud consciousness that when he does
arise his wand will summon from the clouds
of tho past, the nOblest. the most heroic
figures. the most charming the most exalted
social life that have yet been remarked in the
career OF mankind.