The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-28

ine realistic studies, but our Angeles and
our Raphaels sit idle and mournful
amidst the wrecks of their art. In litera-
turs, as we'll, have not our vast horde of
soribbIsrs-rushing in where angels fear
ed to tread-so silenced the rare: voices
that there seems snme justice in recent
remark of one OF our ablest critics when
asked to speak upon late literature.
How can / talk about that which does
not exist?'' he asked severely.
Possibly one of the most hopeful signs
of the times is in the fact that We are
mot satisfied. We have met Max Nor
dsau's sweeping accusations with wrath
full GENIAL. but we, nevertheless. look at
our present literary predictions with
tacit disapproval, and we can not help
hoping that the coming generation Will
not imagine us to have been as bad as
our books. 1t is said that human pro-
eress follows the spirit, now retrograding
and descending, now advancing and ris-
ing to heights unknown before; and that
our age lies on the lower cur7e. the up
ward movement having but commenced.
Certainly the environment OF the pres
emit generation has been any thing but
encouraging to genius. We have been
rushing after material gain and material
istic knowledge. 1t is rightly said that
no two decades can show such progress
IS do the two just past. put the progress
has all been along single llne-that OF
COMMUNICATING and controlling physical
forces-and mainly for the purpose OF fat
tenine the purse. With money for our
motive and the physical realm for our
field OF action, can it he expected that
We shall create a sentiment, from which
. Milton or Shakespeare might draw
INSPIRATION? Great men are but the
greatness of their times personified. And
the greatness OF our times does not lie in
the suhtlsty of thought nor in the deli
cscy of feeling that would produce a last
ing literature. The fact that tire classic
essay, once the delight of leisurely
world, has dropped out of favor entirely
to rivs place to fction-and that fiction
of the briefest, breeziest, most catchy
kind--shows how completely the spirit OF
the times has modified the literature OF
the day. AS to the general tone OF our
novels, it is undoubtedly safe to say that
20 much EMBELLISHMENTS, so much in
excusable nastiness, has never before
been allowed to overwtf helm an unoffend-
ing populace. And yet, even for that We
are not wholly responsible. for this is
transition time when old ways are being
questioned and new views are being
tried Doubt with regard to the finer an d
more tplrltuhl eluH VI llic Is iuNarlabiS
the mental attitude of O mercenary anu
matsrialistic age and it is, for that rea-
son, no wonder that our writers besm;rch
our fair ideals of home and woman or
plunge us into the slough of religious
despond.
But let lis hope that the depth has been
reached. The advanced" woman, who
has unlntsntlonally been responsible for
many Of the social qusstioninss Of the
day, is beginning TO discover that she is
after all q woman still, with human feel
ings and human instincts, and is gradu-
ally taking her place in her sDhere-wid-
er, perhaps, than that of the old wo-
man, but not the less sphere" And,
with the woman question settled, many
of our literary temptations will vanish.
But the root OF the matter will not have
been reached until the greed of gain be-
comes secondary and the spiritual side of
our natures once more gains the ascen-
dency. That belief in God and man is
even now waxing more firm is evidenced
py the wide popularity of such strong.
wholesome. old-time books as Barrie.
Crockett and Watson have lately put
forth-bsoAs thatsappeal to human ma
ture in America as we'll as in Scotland,
and that will appeal to human nature for
years to come as we'll as now. Tine weak
pessimism that trails it's serpent length
from page to page OF maLy popular
novel has no real response in the average
human soul. 1t is hope and faith that
are strong, and the CHEEKY whole-hearted
ness Of few of our latest writer's cannot
help striking a response from readers of
another century, Conan Doyle, in sum-
marizing the books of the past decade.
prophesie that not ten of them will live
because, he says, they have no buDor.
They ars earnest, many of them are
written for high purpose, but they can
only subserve their times and must die
l. 10 h1,, hat To- boil
upon the best and nobest and happiest
In huamn faith and human life, will be
loved as friend for generations.
CLARA EDDY HAMILTON.