The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-22

four such excellent papers, and so nearly OF equat
merit those from the pens of Guy Peifon. Nfckle
Green. Georgia Martin and Ina Wright, felt That
they had q delicate'fask in deciding which was oil
the greatest merit. After careful, deliberate study
the committee the award to Miss Georgia
Martin, Louisville, Ky
(Signedl Amos L. Seaman, Chairman:
Emma K. Martin,
II. Earl Cowdin,
Kate B. Sherwood, ex- ofticio,
THE NEW SOUTH.
By Emmett Sedrcy.
When we remember the trying ordeais through
which the South has passed-first, the curse of
slavery, then the ravages of civil war-we should
be enient in our criticism of the literary part she
has played.
Her literary growth has been retarded on ac-
count of her people being occupied in developing
her resources and overcoming tue effects OF the
war.
Since the golden-tongued orator of the South,
Henry w. Grady, made his famous speech i'll New
England the New South which rang from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the Lakes TO the
Gulf the term - New South" has been on all lips.
Mr.. Grady represented tile South rs new IN the
discoveries of her wealth, and the bringing
freeing herself of The rancor, hate. ana bltler
prejudice which so characterized her during and
just after the rebellion. In fact, lie represented
her in her Ideas of nationality.
This era Was gladly hailed. and again do we hail
with delight the era when she dons her new Liter
AIRY nrantel
The South has always considered herself high
toned and aristocratc, and now that she mas
awakened into literary activity and can boast OF
the nativity and actual presence of talented men
ami women of letters it seems that she has gone
beyond the measure of even Southern aspirations.
From the North we have ever been prone to
look for our higher grade of literature bUt Dlost
gratifying - II of tise South that the light Of q
better day has dawHed upon Us. and that nov ne
are returning the favor the North in furnishing
her as Interesting reading matter as she has gwen
TO U.s.
SOUTHERN WRITERS.
Considerable has been the advance of our Iitera-
ture in the last 10 or 10 years. will be seen when
the names of those who have acquired prominence
are mentioned. Geo w. Cable had then written
but few of his charming stories which established
his fame. Joel Chandler Harris had attempted
nothing more than the mythical adventures OF
" Brer Fox" and 'Brer Rabbit" The talent of
Chas. Esbert Crnddock unknown to the
world "a the beauties of the Tennessee mountains
now ma'ie famous by her beautiful pen pictures
The literary sensation of 1888. THE Quick or the
Dead lay dormant in the fertile brain Of Amelia
Rives Chandler. William Hay ne, Robert Burns
Wilson, Maurice Thompson, Miss Baylor. Bliss
King, Miss McCeilaud, and number of others
had never been recognized in literary circles.
The South has led the way in tise now very popu-
lar dialect stories. Irwin Russell the frs; to
adopt tue style of writing in the negro dialect. and
we have some clever followers in Thomas Nelson
Page and Joel Chandler Harris.
RUssELLs INSPIRATION.
Russell, in giving account of how he first be-
gan writing negro dialect. says it almost
Inspiration. One evening, while sitting in the
backyard of his old Mississippi home twafgug
the banjo, lac heard their old colored domestic, an
of those outiandish camp meeting hymns of which
the race Is SO fond.
She was extremely 'ligious character and al
though seized with the impulse to do so, he hes-
tated to take up the tune and finish il.
He did so. however, and in the dialect he has
adopted, and proceeded as one inspired to- compose
verse after verse of the most extravaganza, absurd
and, TO the old darby, irreverent rhyme ever in
vented all the while accompanying it on the ban
aud Initiating the fashion Of the plantation negro
The old darky was so exasperated aud indignant,
that she predicted all sorts of dire calamiiies
young RusseIl's head
He WAS then about Is, and soon afterward had
inclination To versify. and his verses being accepted
by publisher he continued TO work the vein in
definitely. while many think the vein a limited
one, Mr.. Russell said i tell you il is inexhaust-
ibIe."
OLD PLANTATION LIFE.
Thomas Nelson Page has also achieved marked
success In this line of literary work He has
adopted n his method the RECITAL of events OF
times and plantation life by some old-fashioued
darky.
One TO read his stories would doubt whether the
haired mics and uncles of the old planta-
tion ever realized the happiness in their freedom
that had been theirs with their old masters when
they never had a care thought for the NOR
row.
One writer has said as Mrs. Stowe was the DO
tent chroncier of the harsher side of slave lie In
- Uncle Toms Cabin" Mr.. Page is the faithful his
orian OF the kindly relation of master and servant
under the old regime.
His stories in demand by all publishers, and
it is said there is not dull d clumsy among
them all.
STORIES OF THE GRAY.
Among the first Southern writers to gain prom-
Bence was John Esen Cook, of Virginia. He wrote
considerable before the war. but his success was
not declared till 1860. when his Surrey of Eagles
Nest" appeared. In this he recorded what he heard
Lee, jackson aud Stuart say, not what lie bad heard
that they had said. This book was followed by
" Mohun, Hit to Hit ~ " Hammer and Rapier"
aud " Wearing Of the Gray" -; nil, it is said having
more or less the war atmosphere about them.
Although i Southerner 10 the hilt rs lie said of
n md isad in AR hata and
while his stories were Vrg!nian to the core it is
said that he never magaified a cavalier at the ex
pense Of Puritan.
Mr.. Cook said of himself that one TO Judge from
the relics lac possessed OF the late war and the tinge
of his writings. would think he unrecon-
structed and still rebel, but declared he thought
of il without bitterness, and did not indulge in re-
pnngs or reject with rancor upon the issues of the
struggle.
the Blues and the Grays were opposed to each
other the stirring adventures the brave voices, the
gallant faces: even in that tremendous drama he
could find something besides blood and tears.
TENNESSEE AUTHORS.
In this review of Southern literature would not
forget my own State, Tennessee. While size has
some brilliant young authors who are rs yet un-
known To fame, she can boast several whose books
find delighted readers wherever they are read. The
most famous Of these Miss Mary NJ Murfree
(fanliarly known as Charles Egbert Craddock)
and Miss Will Allen Dromgoole, both mailing from
Rutherford County, Tenn.
Theirs is "a style altogether their own being the
recital of stories of romance and life In the Ten
nessee mountains. written in mountain dialect
Their descriptions OF the varied mountain scenery
are beautiful and inspiring. They have mingled
with these mountain people, picked up their
phrases learned their ghost stories strange super-
siious and religious ideas and woven them into
stories so charming and thrilling that when we
have finished the book we lay il down with reprat
at there not being more of il.
Craddocks most famous books are The Prophet
OF the Great Smoky Mountains" n story of ro-
nance delightfully."- told aud "In the Tennessee
Mountains" "A collection of stories all thrilling In
the last degree.
Miss Dromgoole is best known as a short-storv
writer for newspapers. She has issued one book
however, On the Sunny Side of the Cumberland ~
a romance in which blended Northern and
OF the skirmishes of the late war in Ten
LOCAL CoLoRIN0.
We will see by the above review that our soutb
authors delight in shaping and Furnishing
stories in which the South tells of the Lost Capse
1t is well for her TO tell the story of her own life
her aspirations. her failures and her achie yements
Where brave thousands met in fierce con
fiict halo of peace now reigns supreme The
thousands are now engaged in pursuits indicative
of "A thriving prosperous people.
Several along with John Esten Cook have laid
which were the nIightier of the two Verify IL
seems that The time has come when we as "A Ma
ton. lave beaten our swords into plowshares and
our spears into pruning hooks.
G. C. PATRIOTISM.
BROTHER AND SISTER GUARDS: As Americans
as citizens. as reemen, we proud of country
and its flag.
We love our country because it is "the land of
the free aud the home of the brave but we must
not forget that tile bright jewels in the coronet
which decks Colunnba's fair brow In all that
makes up our National greatness, were placed