The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-08-10
I'm THE CORRIDORS.
Interesting Chat Heard at the
Different Hotels.


Prof. S. D. Swink, of New York, stop.
ped over q few hours in the city yester-
day on his way home from vaca ton
in the mountains of East Tenn essee.
"Yes," he said, "this is my first trip
South. In every way 1 am delighted
with it and only regret that my time
will not permit me to see more of it.
AS boy / gathered my idea Of the
South from books, and unfortunately
there were few of them, and am salts
fed that they did not delineate the true
life Of the people if they described the
physical aspects OF the country accu-
rately. l am told that in Evangeline
Longfellow drew Louisiana true to
nature, but the Louisianian of that day
wss Of course different from what he is
to-day. Cabell has also given us pic
ture of life in the Pelican State, but
am afraid that it is marred by the mans
innate prejudices,
1T is, indeed, strange that you PEG.
pie OF the South have so long neglected
to use the materials OF literature that
nature has so bountifully bestowed
upon you. have never been able to
quite understand it. That the better
classes of the Southern people are edu-
Gated is not to be doubted. Indeed, the
single State of Virginia has furnished a
number tf scholars that would have
stood in the very front ranks of science
or literature had they turned their
talents in that direction.
My opinion is that for true apprecia-
ton Of literature the Southern scholar
stands pre-eminent, for he is not only
critic, but he is by nature O poet No
error, however subtle, escapes his keen,
scrutinizing, analytical intellect. Yet,
Notwithstanding all this in the realms
OF literature, you have not only failed
to produce the fruit that the world has
expected Of you, but you have actually
neglected your men of genius, leaving
them to leke out precarious existence
as best they could.
"Your immortal Poe regard in
many respects as the greatest genius
that America ever produced. yet the
first substantial recognition of his
genius came from the North. Even
after his position as writer OF I'M
doubted ability vas thoroughly estab-
lished and many III his articles deemed
worthy OF trauSia ION into foreign
tongues, you tr ar'.d him with not half
the consideration tnat you would have
extended To Il ~"aisny planter.
81 am NOT sure. hut my impression is
that Thoma1 Nelson Page first received
| recognition for mis- genius in Northern
city. But find that Page is very pop
ular ev. in The South. 1 see his books,
and especially his latest, in the hands
OF many readers, and everywhere have
heard for him nothing but praise One
reason of this is, / think. that the sub.
| jects which he treats never fail to strike
responsive chord in the Southern
hoart. There is, however, one hopeful
| indication that the South will throw of
its Indifferent and INDECENT spirit and
assume the position in the field OF lit IT
| ature that should have been heirs years
ago.
MANY of your scholars are contribu-
ting articles TO magazines and occasion
ally you hear OF Southern man who
has written good book or poem that is
receiving it's full meade of attention and
praise, not alone from the North. but
from the papers and people of tho
South. am glad to note this. You
should be not only appreciauors but pro-
ducers of good literature. America has
yet to produce her great poet.
ut Is only matter OF time when she
will do so and IL she follows the ex-
ample of almost all other countries he
will come from the South" Prof
Swink left on the noon train for the
| North
At the Ponce de Leon Hotel yes.er-
day was gentleman who has recently
made tour of the State of Illinois and
has studied the political situation there
with some degree OF care. lie said:
my opinion is that Illinois will cast
her electoral vote for Cleveland Steven
son is very popular man in that State,
which is of itself strong first step. In
the next place the Democratic party is
going to concentrate every energy TO
wards carrying it. Campbell, the old
war horse, will take the field for the
cause of Democracy. There exists
among the labor unions Of Chicago and
| other places in the State feeling that
the Republican party's professions of
protecting the wages of the laborer is
all cant.
The Republican party of the State,
by making compulsory education, has
arrayed against it the Lutheran Church,
which is by no means an uncomfortable
factor. Considering these things care
fully it can but seem to candid person
that Illinois is bound to go Democratic
in November if the Democratic party
does not make some fearful blunder be-
tween now and that time"
OCTAVIA HODGES,