The morning call., 1893-05-28

times during my trip to the Coast last winter.
Nothing" | replied. "At least nothing In the
way of novel. could only treat the outside;
you must deal with this life. No outsider can
do it for you"
This is a settled conviction with me. Each
locality must produce Its own literary record.
each special phase of life utter Its own voice.
here is nc other way for true local express
sion o embocy Itself.
The sun oftiuth strikes esch part CT the earth
al little different angle. Ii Is this angle which
gives light life and Infinite variety to literature
Ii is Tie subtle differences which life presents
IN California and Oregon which will produce
and justify Pacific Coast literature.
The mere iact that writer happens to live In
California or Oregon will not make HIM part
of that literature any more than Stevenson's
lie In Samoa VIII make him Samoan author.
In the early part of nations literary history
1t is too apt to sweep together ali thai can. by
any construction, be called its literature. But
as 1t grows rich in real utIerance, IL elimlna ates
one after the other all those writings which its
clearer judgment percelves to be exotic.
The Pacific Coast is almost like another
World. Its distance from New York and Bos-
ton, Its semi-tropic climate and plants, Its
strange occupations, place 1t In section by
itself just as the rest OF the nation falls natur-
ally into four large divisions: New England,
the South, the Middle s. ates, and the North.
west. And in the same way from the Pacific
STATES win continue TO come a distinct local
literature. Its vitality depends, in my judg-
ment, upon this difference in quality.
l say, "S!ill continue to come" because We
must never overlook The great work done by
Joaquin Miller and Bret Harte. They were the
pioneers in this movement.
They came to this strange. new land, young
and impressionable. They became filled with
It's life and landscape almost to the same de-
gree, as If they had been born here. Miller
especially, In his verse, got far below super fl
cial wonder and attained the love for his sub
ject which is essential 10 lasting art. The best
Of his work could not have been produced any,
where else. 1t was as indigenous as Shasta.
But neither of these men must be taken for
models. Veritists, must repeat, put aside ali
artist may do unconsclously he must consciously
stand alone before nature and lie. Nature ana
life have changed slnce Harte wrote. The Cal
ifornian OF to-day is quite different, and the
finds himself Interested IN other subjects, finds
himself believing in different treatment Oh
even analogous material.
There is no necessity OF treating the same
ma eriai however. Vast changes already In
progress invite the young writer. The coming
in OF horticulture, the immigration of farmers
from all the Eastern States, the mingIing of
classes and OF races, the rise of caste. the feu-
dallstic ownership of land, the nomadic life of
workmen, the growth of cities, the passing
Spanish civilization. these are few of the sub
jecis which occur to me as worthy the best
work of novelist and dramatist.
Being farmer by birth and a novelist by
occupation see most clearly the literary possi-
billy OF the farmers life 10 the valleys Of Call
fornla and amid the stupendous forests of Ore.
gon.
saw children moving along 10 school in the
shadow of the most splendid peaks. l saw a
youth blowing. Behind him was row OF
palms. against which he sood like figure of
bronze in relief. l saw young men and maidens
per rees, and the aises led to blue, silhoue tied
mountains. / saw men herding cattle, where
the sun beat wi b hot radiancy. aud strange
cacl held out wild arms. l saw children play.
ing about cabins. setting a. defiance with their