The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-15
OUT OF THE WEST.
Facts showing That Literary Merit Has No
boundary Lines.

boundary Lines.
Especial Correspondence
NFw YORK. Jan. s-Two articles OF con
siderable interest both 90 publishers and q
those who earn living by literature hav,
recently appeared in one OF the greater
magazine, each of them sounding note
of complaint, one somewhat threatening
and the other Respondent. One OF thes,
articles was written by a writer who ha.
gained some repute, although no great
fame, by some lifelikc sketches OF western
life-Mr. Hamlin Garland. The other was
written BY an able lawyer, an eastern man
a. Mr.. Garland Is n western one.
Mr.. Garland complains that there is d
conspiracy or something like it-tacit and
unacknowledged perhaps-by which 10 is
understood that the east shall not rocor-
nize or give any considerable support TO the
writers Of the west. and he intimatcs that
great reading public will spring mp ia
the west which will repay these writers
with fame and fortune so that IL will make
no difference TO them however much OF in
difference their works receive in the east
Mr. Stevens, the lawyer, goes much far
ther than Mr. Garland, claiming that there
are influences at work in this country which
have prevented any commanding writer Of
literature TO appear Ia America for many
years, and 10 seems 90 be his opinion that
until these influences are overcome the
United States viii not keep pace with Eng
land in showing TO the world great masters
OF thought expressed In powerful prose or
poetry. Al recent gathering ia an east
ern city where there were publishers, writers
OF great ability, although OF no particular
public fame these two articles were dis
cus~ed with interest and something Of ex-
citcment. and in the course Of the conversa-
tion 10 was shown that the point Of view Of
each Of these writers leads them to wholly
erroneous conclusions.
One OF the publishers said that il had
been his experience that there was no sec
tional discrimination in favor OF or against
true literature, and going back 70 his own
recollection he instanced some striking facts
IA proof of his assertion.
First Of all, he mentioned Mark Twain. a
western man, born and bred in the valley
OF the Mississippi and doing his first writ
ing In the region Of the Rocky mountains.
Although he now Is an eastern man-al-
most a cosmopoltau-yct his stories are
for the most part of western life. They
have been accepted by the English speaking
world. and some Of the greatest critics, like
Andrew Lang, believe that bis works are
destined 20 longer life than those Of any
There was no sectional recognition or in
difference 20 Mark Twain. Then again Mr.
Howells was referred 10 as a proof Of the
statement that Mr.. Garland has been mis-
taken in his assertions Howells received |
the literary training In his impressionahle /
age in the west, where he was born and /
where he lived until he was - years Of age. |
The works which gave him his first fame |
were written before he had ever been in the /
east, excepting on a brief pleasure trip and |
on his way 70 Venice. He is always spoken |
OF as an Ohio man, Notwithstanding his /
long residence in Boston.
Then again IL was said that the most sue |
cessiul book in recent years was written by /
a western man in his country home In the |
west-General Lew Wallace and his ro- /
nance entitled "Ben-Hur" The first recog- /
milton Of a very remarkable book. so unique /
~ written and printed that the work upon [
IL was done I'm the evening and il was actu- 1
ally set up and printed in the Office of a |
country newspaper, fell fiat when il was /
first published and received its recognition [
and fame In a faroff city upon the Atlantic |
coast. That was Mr.. Howe's STORY Of a /
Country Town"
Octave Thanet's readers are bounded by /
no sectional lines, although she lives ia |
Iowa. Miss Murfree, hidden for many years /
under male nom de plume, had gained /
recognition as one Of the most brilliant of /
American novelsts and Miss Evans stO- 4
ries, written in the far southwest, were ac-
cepted with delight by readers all over the /
country. Bret Harte gained his fame by 1
writing western stories, from which pur-
suit he has never deviated. So that IL was /
the opinion Of this experienced publisher /
that If the stories appealed TO the people /
they would be welcomed without any ref
erence to the section which they portrayed 1
or in which their writers live
Mr.. Stevens complains that the mighty
rush Of Immigration. beginning somewhere
about $3.50, has choked American litera-
ture. and that America has produced no
giants OF literature born since that year.
Yet American literature has been enriched
by immigrants and the children of immi-
grants. Mrs Burnett was born IN Eng
land James Parton was Of foreign birth.
Miles o Reilly-better known by that nom
de plume than by his real name. Charles g.
Halpne-of Irish birth, was pre-emiuently
the poet Of the war O'Hara, whose line,
beginning "On Fames eternal camping
ground are immortal. was of foreign birth
Agassiz was OF foreign birth. Brady. Cock
ran, McDougall. Baker and many other
orators whose names are traditional were
not native Americans. So that DO was said T
that, whatever may have been the effect OF
immigration, American literature has been
greatly enriched by the WORKS Of those not F
born iu this country.
10 was the opinion of the publishers and .
some Of tine writers who were there TINT F
one Of the chief reasons why pre-emineut T
literary genius is not recognized now IS f
that men who might have The capacity for /.
such pursuit have been distracted by the /
more exciting aud profitable Opportunities +
which the development Of the wealth Of
the United states has been Offering. and 10
was Chauueey VI. Drprw who said thar
there were 90 dozen men prominent IN great
Affair of business or finance who would F.
have been able, had they turned liberation F.
ton 20 literature. 90 match the ablest that .
Great Britain has produced
T. j. EDWARDS