The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-29

Let us PASS to the chapter In which the au-
thor considers the four national characters. to
wit. tho Anglo-Saxon. the Celt. the Dane and
the Norman. which were blended to form the
beginnings and to continue tho life OF EnRlish
literature. 1t is Mr.. Brooke's conviction that.
in certain features. the AnRlo-Saxon spirit en-
celled that OF either the Colt or the Dane. He
finds these TEXTURES exhibited In the making
and science Of government in the establish
mont Of law and organization OF order: in the
consolidation OF a village. a town, a State: In
the creation and development OF freedom in
the founding Of national life on home life: in
the sense OF duty in the capacity for obedience
to a leader: In the power OF holding together in
unity In the willingness to sacrifice individual
aims to n collective cause: in perseverance
and endurance; In the conduct OF war; in
the love OF adventure. and. finally. In the
passionate desire to discover and seize
new worlds. These. it is submitted. are the
powers which construct, sustain and expand n
nation. They do not. OF themselves. however.
create a great and varied literature. such as
England evolved at last. The Anglo-Saxon by
himself was capable OF producing good prose
on all practical subjects. excellent and accu-
rate history. practical works on science. close
criticism. religious moral or philosophical dis
COURSE. a tender. deeply felt religious poetry
and narrative poetry Of disproportionate
length. He also had a happy turn for love
songs. BY himself alone. however. tho Anglo
Saxon was entirely incapable of producing the
literature Of England. and. in Mr.. Brooke's
opinion. those who proclaim that he has done
80 cannot have looked into the facts of the
matter.
Two important things. no doubt. he did
secure. By his dominance in the qualities
which make a free and settled national life he
assured to us as the vehicle of literature the
English language, the most capable and lexi-
bic instrument OF literary expression which
exists in the modern world. After a long
struggle against French. In the course Of which
1t annexed a large French vocabulary, and.
after putting under contribution both the Dan
ish and the Celtic languages. the English
tongue. enriched from many quarters. estab-
lished itself as the most fitting means OF rep
resenting the thoughts. emotions and magma
tive work of the mixed people OF England.
Another great thing which the Anglo-Saxon
did for English literature may be regarded az
the outcome Of the strong nation construct
ing powers to which we have referred above.
These powers made n sure and steadfast foun-
dation for all thought they laid on all emotion
a restraining and directing hand. under which
its fire ceased to blaze. but grew white hot;
they acted on the work Of the imagination so
ms to purify. chasten. educate and guard it
from extravaganza. They did for English
literature what training does for the runner.
Again and again it ran wild. but again and
again the English national powers brought it
back to the dignity. simplicity and temperance
OF true art. Those powers have from the be-
ginning passed through our literature as
strength given it the faculty OF continuance.
and. by their mastery. enabled it to assimilate
and transmutc the excellences OF other litera-
lures. Mr.. Brooke consequently deems it fair
to call the literary result not Celtic or Danish,
much loss French or Italian. but English. The
note in the literature Of the British
islands is the English note.