The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-22
HARTE, HAY, MILLER
Three Typical Representatives
Of Western Literature.
DR.. ". a. sHANkllN's LECTURE.



out honor save in his own country" does
not Apply 10 DIR. Shankl.n. nor to the
authors of whom he spoke last night At the
First Methodist Episcopal church. The
audience accorded hearty applause to both
the speaker and the men Of whom he
spoke. and came away feeling that the
West has equal cause 10 be proud Of her
writer's and her speakers
DR.. Shanklin, In his lecture on Western
Life and Literature has selected what IL
At once popular and dimcult theme:
popular. because 1t appeals to local pa
triotism and personal loyalty; difncult,
because the field OF Western literature il
comparatively untitled soil. and accord
ing to the cauons Of literary criticism too
new to gain access to the highest places
In the worlds literature. In dealing with
the popular phases OF his subject, and in
surmo1nting the difficulties with which the
treatment is attended, DR.. Shanklin show
ed the tact and research necessary 10 rem
der his lecture q success
In his Interpretation OF the authors
cited BY him. he was greatly AIDED last
night with excellent readings by Mr..
Charles r. Clary, whose rendition Of Bret
Harte's Bows Fiat" and ''Jim," John
Hays I'm the Freight" and Joaquin
Ailier's Kit Carson's Ride" were thor
oughly enjoyed The programme was still
further enlivened by music, which Of itself
would have made up a good programme.
Mr.. Frank W. Clayton sang "The King
and the Miller so well that the audience
insisted on hearing him sing again. Mrs
Jessie Hilton Farreifs sweet voice was
heard to fine advantage in Bonnie Sweet
Bessie, the Maid o. Dundee" and In Then
Is the Time 1 Miss You, Dear" with
which she responded to an encore. Mrs.
G. A. c. Rochester and Mrs. ". H. Whit
tlesey were charming in the Flower
n rb IA .fr,rx to- - 40 hat b.
ers Ionged fer more of the blended melody,
but the singers would not heed the call.
Neither would Mrs. H. c. Taylor, whose
Il Dreamt l Dweit In Marble Halls also
drew a cordial encore. Mrs Rochester's
Kathleen Mavourneen." the closing num-
Der. left her just as high in the esteem OF
nusic-loving people as ever, and that Is
saying a good deal. Miss Abbie Drew, the
faithful and sympathetic accompanist of
the evening. deserved all the many words
Oh praise that were spoken Of her playing.
DR.. Shanklin began his lecture with a
far-reaching analysis Of the sources of
power and attractiveness in Western life
and literature. 1T is characteristic of
human nature" said he, Ito be interested
and fascinated by the unknown. Especial
~ Is this true OF new lands and far-off,
unknown shores. What wonder then.
that for three centuries our great West
should have been a source Of intense in
terest to the world?"
Then he rapidly traced the early explora-
tons OF Western America, down to the
discovery OF gold in California which he
dweit upon at length as the genesis OF a
new life. distinct type of civilization,
and ultimately Of new form of literature.
He gave vivid description of the wild
excitement and the picturesque scenes
OF 'As, nor did he conf1ne his attention to
the brighter side. He spoke OF the miser-
{Ao hrp 1oAi ~x~ a
HE. too often accompanied by excuses
and designations more than even an iron
frame could endure" and of the days
Of sickness. when unattended by gentle
nurse or the soft luxuries Of life. the miner
tossed on his rough cabin floor. He spoke
Of the death scene. and Of the wife and
loved ones waiting in vain for news Of the
absent one.
His picture Of the wild rush to Cali
fornia was one Of those pieces Of e,oquent
word-painting which must be heard to be
appreciated. After depicting the various
phases Of mining life. he showed with skill
ful touch how out Of the roughness and
wildness Of those days many elements of
strength had come to the West. elements
which were to be faithfully rejected in
Its native literature ard in the future
greatness of Its people and its states. Not
the least among these he mentioned the
shaking OF Of conventionalities. ard of the
freedom and largeness Of life which the
new corners moved out into when they
came West.
In speaking of the marked absence of
woman from the early West the lecturer
took the opportunity TO pay a beautiful
tribute to her character, and to speak OF
the wonderful reverence felt for her among
the rough miners. who would travel long
distance for the privilege of looking on a
woman's face and who looked on the COM
angel"
The speaker maintained that the litera-
ture Of the West has been doubly influence
ed by the physical characteristics Of the
country. in that these characteristics have
humanized the people and inspired the
poets. Each miner, as he toied at his
task. began TO see in the magnificent land
scape about him some glimpse or hint OF
familiar scene. and by these reminders
was brought into closer and holier COM
munion with nature. The story Is IA
miliar of the miner who. working in the
midst OF rich claim, for days left a
promising spot untouched simply because
upon II grew a wild flower. And IL nature
thus spoke to the rough miner. what OF
him who was drawn closer to natures
heart.
Apart from the mere elegance OF die
ton, the value OF this portion of the lee
:ure lay In its giving sort of key TO
Western literature. Underlying II was the
thesis that literature is the outgrowth Of
life. and that In unfolding the character
istic features of that i.fe the critic will
End the true secret Of Interpretation for
the literature. Accordingly, when Dr.
Shanklin proceeded to select Bret Harte.
John Hay and Joaquin Miller as the three
typical and representative Western writ
ers. his audience could without an effort
view them as characteristic literary prod
ucts OF new and distinct literary atnsoo
phere and soil. He gave a brief sketch
OF each OF the three men, according TO
Harte the highest position, both as a lte-
rary artist and as true representative OF
the West or the Poet of the Sierras"
the speaker thought he had written moth
ing noteworthy since abandoning local
topics and seeking to write with studied
care.
Another writer to whom DR.. Shans,in
devoted considerable attention was Theo-
dore Winthrop. of whose life and work he
also gave an interesting sketch A horn
scholar. Winthrop visited the West before
the days OF the 'forty-niners" and his
letters from Oregon. California and wha.
is now Washington were deepiv irr,bueS
with a refined appreciation OF the rare
scenic beauty OF the country and abound
ed with lofty inspirations Of poetic sug-
gestionA
Mentioning only the names OF some an
thors who have touched Western utera-
ture casually. and of others who belong IN
a new school. DIR. Shsnklin took occas,o,
10 pay a general tribute TO the wor,, ~
the founders OF Western literature who
have given the Mississippi aathoatman
the plainsman. the miner and the mount.
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