The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-03-15
A PLEA FOR THE OLD WRITER'S.

To the Editor OF The Post.
AS result OF the higher education and
advanced intellectually of our people, a
spontaneous movement has begun in a pa
triotic desire to educate the public taste In
literature. To accomplish this several lit
erary clubs have been organized. and cur
rent literary meetings are being held by
these various organizations.
There can be no doubt that the work ac
complished in these gatherings is of the
most beneficial nature. but an evil has crept
into their midst that is so captivating in
its influence and so wiry. that only to an
outsider and a disinterested party can ii
be realized to its fullest extent This evil
is the ignoring OF the old masters in litera-
ture. Where, among modern authors, can
we find the sublimity OF Homer or Milton.
the eloquence of Cicero, the diversity and
vivacity OF Shakespeare and Dickens. the
creative genius of Dante, or psychologist in
terspection of George EliCt? 1t is Il doplor-
able fact that many so-called well READ
persons are Indifferent TO the literary mer-
its of the above authors ami their contem-
poraries, and are incapable of becoming In
terested in them long enough to be either
amused or benefited. II is not the intention
nor the object OF the writer to wage war
against the present day writers nor the
reader OF modern fiction, for In their
sphere their works are helpful, and no one
can be fully versed in literature without
being acquainted with them. 1t is goon
and proper that we should be posted with
the life and thought about us, but to do so
at the expense of the cid masters is an
error
Literature and art are so closely allied
that what has been true in the progress Oh
one has been true in the other. Tney are
in proportion. The best was given TO us
centuries ago. Before going further 1t Is
probably We'll for us to define the diner
enco between art and literature. Art in-
spires. developss. draws out thought inter-
ature is created thought. Our minds grasp
the idea the author wishes to convey Ar
draws out the. mind, literature ms u.
For example, n dozen persons LOOKING az
fine art will each be carried away by
thoughts purely characteristic of their IN
dividuallty. 1t may recall to one the ne,n-
cries OF childhood. the sweetness ana purify
OF parental love. to another the reHiin's
cenoes OF an old sweetheart: either the pug
sibilities OF future crowned by success
and laurels won by deeds OF noDlenesS "a
dc7pair AMI anguish rend the heart ol "
who finds life worthless and unenduraple
because he allowed his opportunities 70 so
by, All OF these thoughts are possible 10
each man as he gazes in rapt adihirasloa
upon an art masterpiece. His mind is free
to wander as It pleases. for the opJeo'
creates subjective thought. .,o,
In reading 1t is different. The authu'
has an idea. which he desires to impair,
and by his eloquence and force oil enular,ei
we are made to grasp his indniuusi =.
thought. Failing in this, his production 10
worthless, Therefore, since authors ha,s
1t in their power to compel US 70 tn'u ar
their thoughts aud sympathZe Win tn.n
views. We should be doubly carciui III W.
selection, for accordingly as we sow 80
shall we reap We can not become en-
nobled nor strive for the best by associa,ins
with lower ideals than our own.
being the case, how necessary II Is lo' ur
to choose judlciously before we allow ou'
emotions and reason to be rulen oy a.
other Every one. not prejudlced. Is wl''tn ,s
to acknowledge the superiority OF me , Az
noveiists over the modern writers OF ~
ton, Just "a they are willing to ackno"
edge the modern painters inferior 10 '"'
grand and insurpassiblc old masters. a..
The modern novelists fall far short OF tne
old. In that they become over Jealous ~