The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-03
Provincial Literary Centres.

We are more or less in the habit Of of &C
cepting as the true impression that literature
is a product OF great cities. 1t has been said
that in Literature Paris is France, London is
Great Britain, and we once thought Of
American letters as bubbling out of Boston
bung. A little careful examination, how
ever, disspates large part OF any general
impression OF the sort. IL is true of the past
that the publishing business thrived best in
metropolitan places, and this fact has made
great cities very attractive TO literary folk.
The metropolis when il monOpOlizes printing
becomes cOngregatlng centre for the makers
of literature, rather than a centre for pro-
ducng them. Small towns that still pre-.
serve the bucolic flavor and whose streets are
full of fresh air from the fields are neyertne-
less the cradles OF literary art, and it is TO
them we must 90 if we would study the in
1uences which shape the character and give
the initial impulse OF artistic ambition. A pro-
vincial by birth, metropolitan by adoption,
is the biography OF much genius. The en-
chantment OF distance is nowhere greater
than in the views taken of art and the art life
by the isolated and unsophisticated youth in
whose Imagination the dream OF Parnassus is
beginning TO arise. The great, iar-Oh city is
to him the New Jerusalem OF romance. There.
he fancies, dwell the muses. and the gods.
Provincial life on account OF Its limitations
and restrictions confines the activities OF in
diyiduals and congresses, as it were, the ex-
periences out OF which the rare wine OF origi-
nality drips drop 10y drop. We could name
half dozen poets now Just beginning 10
make themselves heard in America who are
isolated and insulated geniuses scattered al
wide intervals Overy the country far away
from ali OF our great cities. In the South and
West voices strong and clear arise with just
that peculiarly of timbre which leaves nc
doubt Of their orininality and their indie
I'll.
tered points where our literary activities
originate seem to be independent OF each other
10 a degree. We might call them the gang
lions of the nations genius. Doubtless they
are fertlliZed in some way from common
source OF energy which belongs to us as a
people, for, say what We may, American
literature has IA distinct flavor racy OF our soil
IL il is as yet scarcely national II Is at least
diferential from the literature OF the OlC
World by q well-defned bouquet and by a
smack and zest all its own. A moments
thought will show the wel-read inquirer thai
the distinctive Americanism of our literary
art Is due almost wholly 10 our provincial
writers. We do not mean TO say that the
greatest examples of literary productions are
provincial; but we do say that the best de-
fined Americon SAVIOR has TO be looked for III
the works OF those who may be properly
called provincial writers.
What has been we'll characterized as the
urban influence is recognizable in the writ
ings Of the clty-trained author who lives I'm.
der the caves OF great Libraries and is in con.
slant touch with the literary crowd. To him
striking originality is out OF the question as a
rule. as is also notable national bass Of
Imagination. Your metropolitan is always
more or less cosmopolitan. The proyincla
lives close 10 nature, aud If he has genius he
absorbs from the unshorn. migrated forms OF
life the true secrets OF passion, ambition and
sympathy. lie is in the circuit and holds
the live wire OF universal aspiration. We
think too much Of mere workmanship. per.
haps 10 give the untaueht bucoic genius its
full dues. What we call art is of small value
when 1t IN but cunning bauble or mechanism
without the soul which appeals 10 soul. TIE
quasi maxim which declares that art can
make anything ana everything divine is a
dicium Of decadence. Freshness and origi.
haiitx even though the chords be somewhat
ciuoely sounded, are what furnish the true
figoI OF literature. II some one with turn
ior the TASK should make d list OF the Ameri.
cans distinguished In literature who fedged
the wings OF art in lonely places far away
from me Literary crowd 1t would look as Il