The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-01-14
OUT OF THE WEST.
Facts Showing That Literary Merit Has No
Boundary Lines.

Facts Showing That Literary Merit Has No
boundary Lines.
Especial alCorrespondence.l
NEW YORK, 1sQ. Two articles of con-
siderable interest both to publishers and to
those who earn living by literature have
recently appeared in one of the greater
magazines, each of them sounding note
of complaint, one somewhat threatening
and the other despondent. One of these
articles was written by writer who has
gained some repute. although no great
fame, by some lifelike sketches of western
lfe-Mr Hamlin Garland. The other was
written by an able lawyer, an eastern man
as Mr. Garland is a western one.
Mr. Garland complains that there is
conspiracy or something like it-tacit and
unacknowledged perhaps-by which it is
understood that the east shall not recog-
nize or givean considerable support TO the
writers of the west, and he intimates that
a great reading public will spring up in
the west which will repay these writers
with fame and fortune, so that 1t will make
no difference TO them however much of in
difference their works receive ia the east.
Mr. Stevens, the lawyer, goes much far
ther than Mr.. Garland, claiming that there
are IuIluSiiCHS Eb WOTk III tuls
have prevented any commanding writer OF
literature to appear in America for many
years, and it seems TO be his opinion that
until these influences are overcome the
United States will not keep pace with Eng
land in showing ia the world great masters
of thought expressed in powerful prose or
poetry. A a recent gathering in an east
ern city where there were publishers, writers
of great ability, although of no particular
public fame, THESE two articles were dis
cussed with interest and something Of ex-
citement, and in the course of the converse
tion it was shown that the point Of view OF
each of these writers leads them 10 wholly
erroneous conclusions.
One of the publishers said that it had
been his experience that there was no sec
tional discrimination in favor OF or against
true literature, and going back to his own
recollection he in5tanced some striking facts
In proof Of his assertion.
First Of ALL be 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 cosmopolitan-yet 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 his works are
destined to longer life than those OF any
other American Of his generation
There was no sectional recognition Or in
difference TO Mark Twain Then again Mr..
Howeils was referred 10 as a proof Of the
statement tsat Mr. Garland has been mis-
taken in his assertions. Howells received
the literary training in his impressionsble
age in the vTest where he waz born sDd
where be lived until lie was a years Of age.
The works which gave him has first fame
were written before nc had ever been iB the
east, excepting on a brief pleasure trip and
On his way 70 Venice. He i always spoken
of as an Ohio roan. notwithstanding his
long residence IN Boston.
Then again Il vas said that the mos. ssie--
cessfal book IL recent years was written bv
a western nan ~ his country home In the
west-Cjens-1i Ley Wallace ard his TO
nance entitled Ben -Hur F" The first reccg-
milton Ct 8 7eTT zer srkable book, 50 unique
Is written and printed that the work upon
IL was done n isis @ye1jug and Il Was sctu
ally SET up AID printed in tee Office Of ,
country nefTspaYer, feii fat when i vas
first publisaesl and received IT. recognition
and fame ia fsreg c5sr upon the Atlantic
coast. Th2; vzs Ar. Howe's story of
Cogntry Tow
Octave ThRuet's s rea5srs ara 'soandsd hy
no sectional linss. althonEh sis lives n
Iowa Miss Ain~tree, h5dd-u for nsany years
under male nora de plume. Rad Gzirsst
recognition sS oue of the uao1t brilliant os
American uDyeIiErs. and Miss Evans sto-
ries written II tAe far So1lEsast. were se-
eepsesi wiki deiignt ~ raaaeTs ali oTsv the
COUNTY, Bret Har5e gained bis fame By
writing wester1 ssorsss. from wascn szr-