The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-01
MR.. CHENEY LEAVES US.

The selection of John Vance Cheney to
be Librarian of the Newberry Library at
Chicago is an event which conveys a CON-
pliment 10 the literature of the slope. Con-
sidering the importance of the post, and
the number of Eastern bbliophiles who
must be looking for such a berth, it is
flattering TO our pride that the Chcagnans
should have come here for a successor 20
DR.. Poole. And the incident points
moral which 1t may be worth while to i'm
press on the public mind.
Mr.. Cheney is one OF q large body of
men and women of literary distinction
who were either born here or won their
first successes here. Leaving New York
aud Massachusetts out of the list, no
State has contributed to American litera-
ture of the day so many excellent writers
as California. The soil has been fruitful
of literary merit in almost every branch.
In poetry, fiction, history, law, science
and bellies letlres California has con-
tributed more than its share to the literary
product of the nation. The circumstance
Is the more remarkable as the atmosphere
is not particularly literary. and the facil-
ties for the study of letters are not as wide
as they are, for instance, in Boston or
New York; while the distance which
divides San Francisco from the great
centers of literary thought naturally
isolates our writers. and compels them 10
rely more on their inner consciousness than
their brethren in the East and in England
have to do.
1t has been observed that California
curiously illustrates the truth of the old
dor hot Il, b. L
country. The Overland Monthly is an ex-
cellent periodical. each number contains
matter that's entertaining and instructive ::
but the measure of support which IL re-
ceives is very inadequate to its deserts.
There Is not single publisher in CaIifor-
MIA who would take the risk of publishing
a native book, unless he were guaranteed
against loss By he author. When a Cali
f1rnia writer wants to lberate bis soul in
print be must appeal to a publisher ia
New York. The very bookstores do no,
think 1t worth while 10 keep California
books in stock. There is probably no lead
ing bookseller in New York or Chica 90
who has not full sets Of Bret Harte on his
shelves; book-buyer who wants them
here must send East for them.
1t seems as though we have not the
courage of our provincialism. We insist
on doing our own thinking, and we resent
fiercely any attempt Of outsiders to force
their opinions on us. But when Califor-
niaEs loom up who can express our opin
ions, and superadd to them a garnish of
WI and fancy, we treat them with such
Indifference that they shake their wings
and take Hight as soon as they can. Mr..
Cheney is mar whose sonnets and bit,
of verse ale welcomed by Harper's and
The Century. Mr.. Rudolph, his assistant,
who accompanies him to Chicago, is an
ideal librarian, or born philOlogst. who
knows more about books than most
sayants will ever learn. California has
shown the creative faculty in science aud
letters. Perhaps she is still too young and
too much occupied with her material de-
velopment to be largely appreclative In
that direction. 1t will come later. Mean
time, if she does not keep all her bright
men and women, she must remain intel
lectually the pc rer for their flight.