The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-12

THE CALLS discussion Of the merits Of
California literature. which hangs on the
question Of what are the seven best books
By California authors has awakened quiet
but deep interest In the minds of some
whose literary work and taste have made
them familiar with the field.
It has aroused much wider but perhaps
q merely curious interest in far greater
number of people-even among tie few
who are proud of California's literature as
little as Chicago people are now proud Of
their art.
THE CALL has received several cOmmuni-
cations on the topic, some OF which will be
published One of them, from a writer
whose name would be generally recognized,
is as follows;
Tie brief articles which have appeared in The
columns OF The CALL relatlye 10 the seven best
boss by California writer's. and which | pre-
sumo ale bur preliminary 10 a more extended
and critical discussion OF the subj CT. have ie-
suited In recalling 10 my attention many literary
gems with which / have been familiar, ana many,
too, which were all but new 10 me.
The question, " hat is California author? Is
al once suggested. aud Il il one that would be
answered IN a variety Of ways. Inc differences
OF opinion will mainly be In the degree Of ideul-
6estlOn with California necessary 10 Glass a
writer as Californian.
one OF tie women writers OF the State protests
IN effect that there is 10 California literature
worthy OF The name, because the abiest authors
OF sWhat are claimed as California literary pro-
ductlOns are not native sons or daughters.
veil, with many their literary birth WAS here.
Here their genius was awakened, and here they
found The suggestions aud The inspiration for
their best work and the work that has given
them their fame. II was the Inspiration they re-
ceiYed from nature and lie human iiie by these
shores that started their fancy aud nOurlshed
their ambition, and here were he scenes HEY
portrayed a writer who has been for many
Ait va Ia md Frrfn fHrrFe a.
material aud bis eooring wholly here, - rs
much or more, California writer as AgassiZ
was an American scientist.
So we may without apology claim Bret HaTte,
Mai Twain, CbaTt-s Warren St0dasfd and j
number OF other writers who have attained dis
tiuctiOn In The field OF literature II they did not
first see The sun on this SGe oi the SerraS.
] presume that your leading query means
"NhaI tie seven best books by seven Cali
fOrnia wTliers2' The eBdeavOr 10 name seven
works by writer's who VIII De generally Claimed
as CaifOTnians is perpexlng, for IL Involves d
comparison Of very dlsslmllaI things. Joaquin
Miller believe 10 be poet. bis best work Is
not destined TO be transient, and 10 him un-
doubleday belongs the nTst place among those
WHO have here written verse. His "Songs OF he
Sierras" gave him his fame, aud they are equal 10
anything lie has written "A Perfect Day and
Diner Poems" by Ina ID. Co0lbiith, aud the
poems OF John Vance Cheney deserve the dis
Junction Of place with the best.
In tie realm OF fiction the Incompatible
stories Of BTete Harte are easily trst IL We
may claim Mark Twaln's name The Gilded
Age" is his strongest work. South Sea Idyis,"
by CHARLES Warren Sloddard, fauclful, dreamy
and of exquisite literary finish, viii, think, hnd
2 place among Tie seven bsst that majo1ty Of
critics viii select. Perhaps among all that re-
mains 10 select from Robert Greenhouse" by
John Franklyn Swift, and "lusef," by j. Ross
Browne, may be btJlngly taken 10 complete the
list. The former has been suppressed aud Il
copy would be hard TO 1Bd because The author
portrayed living people With too much fidelity.
Bu The work Is a vivid picture OF California life
as IL existed when the book was written. "Hu-
al. sHraYG rffF arrAF .f
2 versatile ana polished wilter who possessed
unmIstakable genius.
l deem This list fairly representative of the best
that can be classed as lie works Uf California
rHrifers- i. l.