The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-27

The subject Of the seven best books has
awakened great Interest among the lovers
OF good literature in this State. II is sur
prlslng too, TO note how many there are Of
them. 1t is likely that the standard will he
selected within few weeks. Meantime
those who have been asked to contribute
their views are sending in interesting mat
ter from day to day.
Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Stetson is afraid
that there will be included in the "seven
best too much that is not really the work
of Californians.
Mrs. Stetson Is not inclined to be liberal
in her definition of California writer. or
Californian writer" as she prefers to
call it,
She writes as follows on the subject:
There has been some discussion lately In this
State OF whether or not California can lay claim
TO a literature. Much warm feeling has been
aroused; Tor The sentiment OF State pride grows
mere rs nhgey as our other products.
AS general thing where there Is dlssension
there Is misunderstanding, and this case is no
Those who deny that California has yet
literature do NOS deny that there have lived and
sun i've here many able writer's; but those who
are most ciamorous In their assertion of the
IN ITS OF these literary lights forget that the
point at issue Is not whether their literature is
good, but whether It is Californian.
What constitutes local literature?
What. for Instance. would be Iowan literature
or vermont literature, or the literature Of Hin
doStan?
Ii mus be one OF three things, either that the
author OF Inc literature be native born, that the
literature ITSELF deal exclusively with the local
lily, OF that the literature as an art has special
distinction.
But while This triple claim Is allowed to the
literature. it does nor belong tn the writer.
EDWIN Arnold and Rudyafd kipling have con
trlbuied, IN certain sense 10 Indian literature,
but that does not make them Indian authors.
No claim OF Hindostan could alter facts. An
Indian author must be All Indian before he Is an
author; and Californian author must DO a
native S0a or a native daughter first.
Pride Is noble feeling, natural feeling and
a yely useful and yirInous feeling when i, is
founded en- iaci and M de a slnuant 10 high
action. But pride must be legitimate 10 be even
respectable.
TO be proud OF a thing which does not honestly
belong 10 US Is paitry sentiment.
mat tie distinctive features OF Californian
history, climate. botany zoology geography and
lie have drawn tie attention OF writer's aud
created a literature which is In so far CaIif0r-
MAN cannot be denied; but that distinction is
not The KIND which gives logical ground for
pride. Au lnhabtant Of Yellowstone Park might
De pieased 10 see literature provoked by The
wonders aud beauties OF his dwelling place. but
ne would nave no Legitimate reason for being
When Yellowstone Park had produced people
VINO wrote well and especially, when they.
moved by Their noble surroundings. had pro-
dueed works Of high distlnci ION not ike any
other existing, then indeed m ght the inhabitants
be proud Of their literature and OF their authors
lniS HfHlly DeiieFS VIII yet De The case IN
California.
THIS rich and fertile land draws to her noble
men and women
III eir Children growing up under the Cailfor-
ma sun. IN the wide freedom OK our fertile val
leyS aud grand hills. viii grow into ever nobler
manhood and womanhcod. So may we hope, as
part product OF their genius, literature OF rare
distinction and high power; so that The students
OF American letters would be abe 10 distinguish
al once The work OF lie Californian.
his time has not yet come
IN Inc IN edutlms need gharDen our liter
airy CRITICISM most thoroughly. Iu our haste 10
hail the coming writer we must not foTget the
Irsi Tequlsiie-that liz shall be able TO wrlte.
SO lar there Is a tendency TO accept and pfaiSe
Tie work Of CaliIornans because they are sucn.
not because IL is good Work. Moreover, we 40
not wan for them 10 be born here even but
hastily claim as Cailtornlans whomeYer so much
as visits us.
This Is an ignOminlous position for great
State. We do not wish 10 manifest our lack OF
aui hOfs by claiming every passeIby.
III we want authors We must raise them, ana to
DO that we must encourage good literature by
Offe:ing inducements to genus 10 come here aud
by Keeping sharp lookout Tor it when IL is born
among US.
But remember also Thar genius cannot thrive
10 a community OF low tastes. Money Is good
but appreciation is better, aud genius, like
misery, loves company
An artist would rather starye In Paris than
live Ike loFd$on Cape horn; real writer Won ID
rather be appreciated by beggag than paid by a
fool.
II The people OF California are longing for
literature let them cuIigaie their taste by read
Ing The best. check The stream Of poor sun that
Hoods The market by demanding the best. pay
good pre- when thew yet tie best, aud so In due
time We shall have a Californian literature
CHARLOTTE PERKINS STETsON.