The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-10-09
AIltorarr Phenomenon.

The study Of literary history is one that
profoundly impresses thoughtiul persons
with the uncertainty of human ehorts;
Every prolific period presents ITS speclai
students with great galaxy OF various
orders of talent, stars OF many degrees
of magnitude; but OF these only lew
attain that recognition from posteIllF'
tbat pornanence of fame. which is sup
posed 10 be the object of all literary am
iition. Perhaps. indeed, these secondary
tertiary or quaternary lights nave not
lived i'm vain. since by certain sort OF
literary absorption. not paraleled IN the
stellar world. they contribute TO the hsht
and the hrilliancy of the few bright par
tcular stars whose rays reach posterlty.
A Shakespeare gathers into himself the
intellectual wealth and greatness OF an
era and is its greatest plaglaust by
right of being its greatest genius. a MIL
ton o1nbOlies the essence OF the moral
and intellectual activity Of forty OF the
most stirring and stormy years OF Eng
liSh history. and superadds TO II the spirit
of aH the literature of preceding ages
A Homer reflects. as IN the shleld OF MS
Achilles. the manifold and varied life OF
his whole people. The old dream OF gath
eriug the essence of library into SIN
gl. volume is no barren fancy; 1t is the
very work of those whom we call men OF
genius. and who reflect the intellectual
and literary life of their generation. me
permaucut literature of the world, that
which is produced by minds of the FIRST
order. embraces the wealth OF all
NOW. the phenomenon of the English
Bible is this. that it has superadded TO
the genius of ages that produced the
original the spirit of the intellectual and
reli.i ous life of the most intense, the
most creative age of the mind OF the Eng
N~h-sucal,inc world I'm other words,
There is for those VINO enter INTO the ieel-
liz, of the English speaking races more
I'm the accepted version of the bible than
there is I'm the original for any modern
race. and more than there Is IN any YER
sion i'm a contemporary tongue Tor any
modern people After the English, the
Geluans follow next with a version OF
The Bible that is really impressive. But
the Latin nations of Europe have no
natiCual tran stations of the Bible mat
produce a real impression upon The Ire
OF the people. That is. neither rance
nor Spain nor Italy has Il Bible that is
really national work
What do these facts indicator Mainly
that the Eille is what the mind and
spirit Of people make II. The Engllsh
mind has i'm "a remarkable degree one
side Of It's development from the germ OF
Semitic thought and feeling. The lsola-
tiOn OF England during long ages pre-
ser, ed this growth from corruption and
extinction: and il passed on from Eng
land during the period of geographical
discovery and colonial growth TO nearly
aU parts of the world. Every student OF
literature sees the origin and development
Of tlis phenomenon. The thought OF the
Notwithstanding world is no longer the
nrodud of isolated conditioS, aud no
longer needs protection from cxtrHneous
Influences Ii is becoming Worldwide
and. therefore. is losing much that was
merely peculiar and characteristics but
fine landunrhs of its liter lture remain
and fine English version of the Ihole
maintains its chief place among them;
and il owes this position perhaps nor
more 10 the sacred character attributed
10 in than. TO the fact that the received
version. through the genius OF uTnissla-
tors. expresses the soul Of the EngilSn-
spcaking race. That is. the spirit OF II
was i'm the language and IN the people
and this brOueh; il out wrought II INTO
expression. and added, through the pc
culiarities Of the language that express
the feeling of the modern race, lnuch
that even the ancient race never felt III
It's experience. Thus il is that the ing
Nsb version has made the book say more
10 those who speak English than the
original made it say 20 those who spoke
Hebrew and Greek. Ii Is n curious ana
Impressive phenomenon of literary MS
tory Portland Oregonian.