New-York tribune., 1895-12-22

Some interesting statements made by Owen Wis
ter concerning the East and the West are quoted
by Mr.. Arthur Stedman in a sketch OF the young
author. "One thing l have noticed" said Mr. Wiz
ter, regarding the East and the West. II can 10
expressed briefly. although IT will require explana-
ton afterward. In saying that the head Of the
country seems to be in the East while the heart
seems to be in the West, / may perhaps that
the West seems cruder although / never phrase
1t to myself in just that way. but in travelling
about out there one Is struck continually with
the kindness of everybody and with their interest
in al people who are in trouble. Their knowledge
and good feeling also confired 10 their own
part of the country and what is going on there.
whether 1t be prosperity or adversely but their n-
terest extends to the East. That is TO say. II you
go to Chicago or San Francisco. wherever the
centres OF population are. you will nnd that most
people you talk with familiar with things in
New-York and the East and are interested 10 know
what New-York and other large Eastern cities
doing. while the other hand. when you re-
turn from Western regions to New-York and Phil
adeipha. peop.e in those cities seem very muen
less concerned with other parts OF the country
and concerned with their own immediate
surroundings and life, almost | should say the
least National. although far more civilized.
The service which Miss Grace King has recently
rendered TO the Observation-Disclosures wing OF
American literature by publishing a book ABOUT
New-Orleans which Is neither history nor anecdo's
but deft combination of both, is a service cacu-
lated TO start the readers mind on through pleasant
channels We have little enough OF this KIND OF
writing ard IL is always worth having. II mas
been said that history is worthless unless II ~
written with prejudice. Similarly, 1t Is wor'hless
IL the human element is left out, II the authoT
writes historian and not as a sympatAe"'
entity, personality with likes and dislkes' inns
personality in critical matters Is essential TO ths
h,tb hp
his subject II he is to move the reader. Mss hhs
has long been In love with New-Orleans. ana nes
book shows the result. IL inspires the hos 'h"'
Boston may find It's similar ceeorant, ana o'"'.
important American cities meet with equal gov
fortune
MIR Theodore Roosevelt wrote an excellent. COM
pac, little volume about New-York. and Literature
has gathered abundantly about nearly every d"
toric town OF the United States. bat rarely h'sa~
ture Of the sort that is mos, wanted. A "orH h"'
lrving's on New-York Is unique. Ana WINE Wv
guard his "Kn.ckerbocker History as inVaiuao'
We want something even more seriously se''"
able than that something which will give an AZ
curate account OF each town. ana, WIN 'ie
curacy. much warm and friendly feeling for ''e
homely individuality OF the place a. thous" "
not city, but village and the wr-ter N'e
every one in It. Felix Oldboy made some cha'n"s
contributions 10 this kind OF a history OF wv"
York. but died before some far-see.ns puplshe' nav
set MIN TO the definite task Wnlch woulu h~'N
HIM famous In the completion Why does ho' -"
authoress OF Colonial Days and Danes a"~
Through Colonial Doorways" set about w''s
such a book on Philadelphia as Mss KING mas W. -
ten about New-Orleans? Miss Wharton couu "
tas admirably And readers who scarcely e'.,
dream OF turning to Bancroft's huge works "Vu'N
eagerly use a monograph on San Francisco "''"s.
by some historian who IL half a noveiist-oy n".
woman, that Is. who might read all the a
thorties In Chr stendom and yet never torsrt snsi
enthusiastic love OF the town Itself is the only nns @
authority TA.s seems threadbare ma'rs esrs
Gayarre himself IN Ncw-Or'eans set the pace y,uv
before Miss King bu, when the field is cateivtsIl
looked she Is be the first 10 haVs Vpsarr
lowed IN his footsteps anywhere In America rs ~
man. In the same epoch with Gayarre. had soHs ,,s,
the same gifts But he never applied theIn 20 ia
the task We have n view-the task 81 nlsNhxx
conspicuous cities OF the Unio"-Bcs,oo, New-llus.I
Washington. Charleston and the resi-v.Vd, i,,rs
nating themes TO readers Tor whom mere h'S'''
has no charm