The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-29
THE INDIGNATION OF SOUTH BOs-
ION

A few years ago it used to be said
by those having authority that what
American literature required was a
needed not only the literature of the
North, the South and the West, but
the literature Of Rochester, Cincinnati
and Omaha. Local color and fidelity
of detail, accuracy to the spirit of Sec
tional and local life were the first es-
sentials out of which a great national
literature should presently grow. Put
into practice, the theory worked well.
The admirable growth of what may be
called sectional literature in the last
ten years has been observed by every
one having any familiarity with the
fiction Of the day 1t is a growth that
has been triumphant and inca eeked
until very recently, when, in a par
the misfortune to excite the wrath Of
South Boston.
The Century magazine last month
contained a very charming story by
tie Fool" The heroine, who inhabited
some happier suburb of the Hub. had
occasion to go to South Boston to look
up servants reference She felt that
she was adventuring into a wild and
unfamiliar country, and her misgivings
about going to South Boston alone
were very amusingly described On
the publication of the story the South
Bostonians waxed hot The Citizens
association held a public indignation
meeting on the ground that the story
in question was a reflection upon the
character Of their part Of town. The
magazine was denounced for printing
the story, and a letter was dispatched
to the editor demanding an apology.
According to the correspondent of the
New York Press, which prints an ac-
count of the matter, Mr. Glider replied
courteously that there was not the
slightest editorial intention to give pain
to the inhabitants of any neighbor-
hood, and that his own apprehension
was that the writer of the story de-
signed, not to discredit South Boston.
but to satirize those who scoffed at it.
AS matter of fact, this intention was
quite obvious, being visible not only in
the title of the story, but also in the
fact that the reluctant 'little fool"
who was forced to explore South Bos-
ton, found there her life's happiness
This, however, is not enough for the
indignant South Bostonites who are
stubbornly blind to the compliment i'm
piled and still clamor for a public apol-
ogy from the Century.
From all this it would seem that the
search for local color can be carried too
far Literary artists should be re-
specially warned that the roads Of
South Boston at best are DANGEROUS
passing for folk of their craft. It is
marvellous, of course, that any consid-
cradle body Of people can live so near
Boston and remain such monumental
idiots as the South Bostonians have
shown themselves in this controversy.
but evidence is evidence, and South
Boston has proclaimed it's mental de-
ficiency in very large letters for the
world to see. South Boston's indigna-
ton is worse than a crime. 1t is a
blunder even from the standpoint of
civic pride For Miss Poor's story in
vested the locality with haze Of ro-
nance, which the Citizens association
has torn rudely away. Intending set
tiers would never have been driven
Century published, but it is tolerably
certain now that all persons with a
sense of humor looking for houses to
rent in the suburbs will avoid South
Boston. Their surroundings would be
too homogeneous.