The morning call., 1893-01-12
HzSEVEN BEST BOOKS

What are the seUen best books by Califor-
mia writers, judged as productions of lite
'a'y genius as scofks of literary art?
increasing interest is being taken in THE
CALLS inquiry into the comparative merits
of the literary productions of California.
The many who have pricked up their ears
at hearing the timely and novel query and
turned to look at the literary treasures of
the Golden State, may enjoy some compe-
tent discussion Of it within two or three
days,
One somewhat surprising fact the inquiry
has already incidentally developed is that
comparatively few people of literary taste
and intelligence here know much about Cal
ifOrnla literature aside from that Of current
fame. They have but slight idea Of the
amount and nature of what has been pro-
duced by more than a half dozen or dozen
California writers ana Of the merit that
characterizes much that has remained COM
paratively obscure.
The principal exceptions are few men
and women who were welding their pens
on this side of the Sierras generation, per-
hapS, ago, and who have had a contemporary
interest in all the literary work of the State
almost since its life ana lis scenes first in
spired efforts to portray them in prose or
rhyme They are not surprised at the
statement that nearly GOO books may be
credited to California writers. They can
give comprehensive glance at the mass
and perhaps give the most appreciatiye es-
innate of its value.
Few Californian3 can tell off-hand how
many billions in gold and silver the noun
tains of the State have produced. but when
they hear it stated and connect it with
other elements of CALIFORNIA; greatness it
makes them rather proud.
There is more gold in California litera-
ture than it is generally credited with.
Like the treasure-stored mountains and the
wondrously fertile valleys of the State, its
men and women OF genius have produced
more and better things than any part of the
Union west of the Mississippi
While we are cataloguiBg our products,
compiling startling statistics, boxing up
thousands of illustrations OF the fruitfulness
Of California valleys and foothills, and gen.
orally spending half million or more that
the State may be glorfied before the world,
it is quite appropriate 10 see how proud we
may be Of cur brains and genius of the sort
that works with ink.
This is a grand idea," said one gentle,
man yesterday. You will see how tastes
and opinions differ. and it may be that few
people competent to judge will agree very
well ON what is really The best, but it will
bring up a literary pan orama of which this
State may well be prouder than Of its State
building at Chicago, its big trees or its an
nual twenty thousand or so carloads Of
fruit.
THE whole world knows Bret Harte,
Mark Twain and Joaquin Miller, and there
are half dozen more whose names are
familiar from the Pacific to the Atlantic,
but there are others who narrowly missed
as wide a fame and yet who produced one
or two gems that flash more genius than the
bulk of the work done by more famous ones
who wrote a few things of unusual merit
and many little above medioerity.
81 would not off-hand give a list of the
seven best books by Californians that
would want my name appended to, but
when l made ore it would probably include
some books that not everybody is acquaint ted
with
81 would name Joaquin Milers Song of
the Sierras' or his olive Leaves Bret
Harte's poems. and Ina d. Coolbrith's "A
Perfect Day and Other Poems Bret
Hsrte's stories and Mark Twain's Prince
and Pauper' would leave room for two. [
would want to study awhile over the rest
Joaquin MiiIer's novel. One Fair Woman
and j. Ross Brownies 'Yusef' come to my
mind first. The stories by w. II. Rhodes,
who wrote under tile nom de plume of Cax-
ton, are unique aud almost equal to the
work Of Bret Harte. That novel by John
+. Swift, Robert Greathouse,' that was so
thoroughly called in because it portrayed
living characters that a copy cannot be
found, was a skiilfu thing, because it was
so true picture of the times, and there are
several other works so striking in some
quality or other that they press themselves
for consideration, al least when iha seven
best are in view.
III there was TO be second best seven
chosen it would include perhaps some
have mentioned and Charles Warren Stod-
dard's South Sea Idyls' and Ridges poems.
Some critics might place the poems of John
Vance Cheney and Edward r. Sill among
the first seven. There is Gertrude Ather-
toms Los Cerritos,' which is not so we'll
known as others of her works, but which [
consider her best from a literary point of
view Flora Hauies Loughhead's Gold
Dust Stories Anna NJ. Fitch's Bowed
Down. and many more pop into mind, but
the list of good things 10y different authors
soon becomes a long one. There are many
old things which are gems in their way that
will provo treat TO hundreds if THE
CALLS discussion will get them reread.
Yes, bring out our good things and let us
see what we have to be proud Of"
While discussing California literature
generally list of twelve poems selected By
Ella Sterling Cummins, who is superintend-
ing the collection of the State literary ex-
hlbit and preparing an historical sketch of 1t,
may be of interest aud recall some favorites.
1t is list of twelve poems, not the best or
greatest. but the most popular-.hose touch
ing the ordinary intelligence and magma
tion. They are:
Bret Harte's Heather Chinee," Edward
Pollock's Through the Golden Gate"
Frank Gassaway's Pride of Battery B."
Edward r. Sil's 'The FOOLS Prayer"
James I. Goodman's abraham Lincoln"
Rolln 2. Daggetts My New fears Guests"
Daniel O'ConnelPs Sing Me Ringing
Anthem" Ina d. Coolbrith's California"
Emma Francis Dawson's ''Old Glory"
Bruce Wallace's ~ Yosemite" James
Linens 'I'm Growing Old. GUIDE Wife,
and John Il. Ridgel's The Harp Of Broken
Strings"
David Lesser Lezinsky is collecting
twenty poems by different standard.
By the way 1t appears that the job of get
ting together literary exhibit from Cali
fornia Is a harder task than those who have
attempted it anticipated. After months Of
persistent labor. the publication of lists of
books wanted, appeals TO many individuals.
the ransacking of many libraries. only IT'S
volumes have been got together besides
the files of periodicals aud the scrapbooks.
This is only one quarter of what is needed
to make the showing complete. The fruit
exhibits get along vastly easier. The ladies
have little money to buy books. the majority
are not for sale in bookstores anyway. and
individual contributions come very slowly.
Even authors living here have in several