The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-26

terested in reading about the places they
have seen, when described by some one else,
than those who have never made any vOy-
ages. Mr.. Howells said that he no.
tieed that In any great transition
period In literature there was
some loss. I'VE are gong now through
a transition period. Ii is a most interest
ing one. There is great literary activity
throughout the country. New writers are
constantly coming to the front" In this
change and activity the loss. Nh. Howells
thought. Law in the direction of literary
nicely and in forms of expression. Per
haps," SAID he. "as we grow older We become
more fastidious.
real character from life for any of his
stories. or did he take vsrions elements.
various cbaracterIstics of people he knew.
TO group them into a composite character
TO represent a ~ pc.
He said: 81 never copy the character of
any one individual. What Is taken repre-
sents a " pc. The study of an actual per-
son would be simply a portrait, and
1t would have no more life than
q portrait. Every character created by an
author comes from his own individuality.
Within every one lies the potentiallty of
every character known TO literature. The
man who has hated knows what it would
be to murder. The beginning is there.
the control which is exercised which
determines the character found in
the individual. When a type is
sought the author finds within himself
the materialst to give this type life and
form. 1t is the authors knowledge of life
and of nature which enables him to make
his characters move and to live as they
would under natural circumstances. In
his work be must constantly study. Is
this naturef IL this possiblei To subordi-
nate personality, to keep as simple as pos
sible and to avoid avery thing IN the way
of affectation or exaggeration should be the
constant aim of the literaIy-worker."
Mr.. HOwells, In speaking generally of the
writer's throughout the country, said that
he thought that the Western writer's pos
sessed the most vigor and originality. He
thought that some of the Western newspa-
pers showed equal ability with the best
metropolitan dailies. He was particularly
impressed with the literary excel
tions. de had very strong words of COM
pliment for the writings of Hamlin
Garland. He cared the loast for the work
of this writer when he entered the field of
politics. i asked Mr.. Howells why il was
that not one of our novel writers had yet
been able to write an interesting story of
American politics. He said that it must be
because the writer's were not familiar
enough with the field. 1t was no answer
to say that politics was not interesting.
that its contests were vulgar and
that Its movements would not afford
as legitimate subjects for a novel-writer,
IT correctly portrayed. as any other phase
OF life. Ii was a very serious and impOr-
tant part of the life of every country, and
consequently afforded strong subjects for
literary portrayal. Mr.. Howells thought
that In time American literature would be-
come more and more individual. In short
stories Americans were now wholly differ
ent and occupying q high place. 1t would
not do to speak Of the Anglo-Saxon as the
prevailing element IN this country Our
models were not to be found in
the English schools. 1t is a mixed
race in the United States. and the Anglo
Saxon element Is q very small percentage
of the whole. This mingllng of the various
races of the earth 10 gradually prod ucing
intense individuality. and with the devel-
opment of the country. the universal
spread of education, there was coming a
rapid development in the direction of new
lines in literature. Il. G. CRAWFORD.
fCOpyright. 1892, By Bachelor d JohnSon.l