Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-05-10
SOUTHERN LITERATURE.
Theory Regarding It's Relations
tn the White Metal.

written for the Dispatch.)
From the Potomac to the Rio Grande
Del Norte there are few periodicals
Of southern literature worthy OF the
name. The exceptions prove the rule. To
say that this Is discreditable ~ a very
mild way Of describing The situation.
Europe and the Northern States OF this
Union furnish our chief literature.
What IL the reason for this condition,
and what IL the remedy? II Is certain that
our people lack neither talent nor educa-
ton. The columns OF the old Southern
Literary Messenger conclusively prove
the ability Of Virginia people. single
handed. to edit and conduct a magazine
second, perhaps, TO none in the world;
for the fame OF that Justly eminent
periodical grows with age.
Why Is 1t that for more than thirty
years ", have fallen So far behind I'm
the race? I, will at once occur 10 many
that our poverty has been the chief
cause. and this undoubtedly is true. Lite
nature Is n flower which basks and
fourishes In the sunshine OF prosperity.
The best writing OF Greece was done
when Athens was rich with the spells
captured from her enemies. and when the
trade Of her ships brought wealth to her
doors. The AuEiistan age OF literature
hourished AT Rome like green-bay
tree" after Augustus Caesar had adorned
it, temples with the trophies OF his vic
tories and when her citizens possessed
all OF the benefits OF bimeta'lism- sol!
and silver then. for the first time in the
history Of the world. constituting the
basis OF her money.
II was then that the charming egotism
OF Horace delighted the noble men and
women Of that great empire. and time
has proved the truth of his proud boast.
"Exegi monumentum perennins acre"
must digress long enough to state that
he was the most magnificent freedman
who ever enjoyed taste Of liberty.
There is something quaint and delight
full in his writing the words
lodi profanum vulgus ct arceo."
But. alas. alas, what could he have
done without the aid and patronage Of
Macaenas? As a question OF speculative
inquiry. one would like TO know how
much Macaenas gave him for that splen-
did ode dedicated TO him. Is IL true that
literature is avaricious. and fourishes
only when fat bank accounts furnish the
inspiration?
HOW THEY RECUPERATED.
/ will not make such reflection. albeit
there is strong ground for II. certain IL
It.. long : the Roman empire ilourished
In wealth IL continued TO add a priceless
literature TO the world. One signs now
to think Of the splendid system OF re-
cuperatlon the Roman leaders possessed,
IT, perchance. the free use OF Falernian
wine and noble literary banquets had
too strongly depleted the purse: II was
only necessary To- acquire A consulship
or, better still. the goyernorship OF
province. and all again was we'll
As long as bimetallism existed litera-
ture was I'm the height Of her glory. 1t
was not until the reign Of Julian, in the
year 800. that silver was. for the first
tirne in the history Of the world. demOne-
tized Then literature ned far away into
oblivion. and showed not her head again
until the Bank of Venice electrified the
world by a system of banking which
brought n glorious prosperity TO the
fair fields Of Italy.
1t was In the year 1893 that the Cru
sa1ers stormed Jerusalem AID the Franks
were brought In direct contact with the
great markets of Aleppo. Damascus, Bag
dad, and Cairo. and that trade which had
always enriched the world first flowed
towards Northern Italy. and in li01 the
Bank OF Venice became a reality.
The effective power of money was multi
piled tenfold by this means. II was then
was then that the cathedrals OF Paris ana
Rheims. OF BOurges and Charters. glad
dcned the vision Of the lovers of artistic
beauty. il was then that the old masters
made paintings which were immortal.
and which are worth to-day ten times
their weight in gold; IL was then that
the dawn OF new civilization burst
upon the world. When prosperity began
to wane. and literature. true TO her
nature. was slowly going away again
into retirement and oblivion. Christopher
Columbus discovered America.
Who can appreciate the feelings Of the
Europeans when this stupendous fact first
became widely known? y new and SPLEEN
did era had burst like meteor upon N
world! And when the Indian. TO save
himself from falling, grasped the bus'
in 1915. and exposed the hidden wealth
of the great silver-mine OF PotOsi. an
other magnificent era dawnel again upon
mankind.
MINES AND GENIUS.
Literature enrolled in her best attire
came again upon the stage Of action. and