The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-04
MIR. HOMELESS WALL.
Injustice of His Assertion Concerning
the Position of Literary Men.

New York Letter in Philadelphia Press.
A recent comment of Mr.. w. ID. Howells
has caused almost no end Of contradictory
discussion in literary. and even in other
circles in this city, and perhaps 1t pas been
quite as much discussed in those places as
have the political or financial questions or
even Theodore Roosevelt. Mr.. Howells
writes: II have found that literature gives
no one certain station in the world of men S
ary folk try to believe that 1T does. but
that is all nonsense. AT every period OF
life among boys and men we are accepted
when they are at leisure and want 10 De
amused; and at best we are Tolerated rather
than accepted
This is looked upon here as a most sur
prisingly pessimistic statement from a man
whose vocation II is to study the world
and human nature. However. it is quite in
accord with much that Mr.. Howells is re-
ported to have said in desDairing way
of his profession. Theodore Roosevelt does
not hold this view. and amid all the discus
sion which has been heard there is one
point upon which almost every one agrees,
and that is that IL depends upon the man
whether Mr.. Howells be right or not Mr..
Roosevelt has had no other vocation out
side OF politics than that OF literature, Tor
his ranching in the West is a recreation.
vet he has been accepted as powerful
force and many persons here regard MN
as likely TO become one or the great inIu-
ences of his party, and perhaps 20 gam It's
Mr.. Howeils himself, had he beer willing
TO share in those activities or which ne
them according to his worth. ana IL is
thought amazing that the man who wrote
this should also have recently written OF
his intimacy with John LothroD Motley,
who had no other claim than literature
for such recognition as made him American
minister at the Austrian court and later al
the court of St. James, and with James
Russell Lowell, whose life was devoted TO
literature and because of his pre-eminence
therein was named American minister 10
Snain and later to the court of st. James,
and who was also chosen presidential cleo
tor Hildreth and Howells himself, were
nominated for American consuls because
of work which they had done with their
zen. and George Bancroft and James X.
Paulding became members OF President
Cabinet when their only fame W TO that
time had been such as was gained by liter
arv work Professor Matthews and Pro
fessor Royesen were called TO chairs in the
faculty of Columbia College mainly be-
cause OF their literary achievements. and
Pref Harte was named as consul TO Glas-
cow and before that to Cracow, as having
no other claim than that which literature
furnished him. Mark Twain would have
been named for Mayor OF Hartford at one
time had he consented. and one Of the
Younger generation of humorists. John
Kendrick Bangs, was accepted very much
i'm earnest by his party in the city of Yon-
kers and made for II vigorous canvass
for the mayoralty. The wonder here is
whether Mr. Howells is beginning TO feel
disappointment In his own career and is
disposed TO lay the blame where 1t really
does not belong.