The times., 1899-05-22
THE INFLUENCE OF RAILWAYS
Ian Maciaren Says They Are the I'M
periai Power in America.


New York. May 2l.-In an interview be-
fore he sailed for Europe Ian Maclaren
(Dr. John Watson) spoke of the great
West and American literature, as follows:
Il was deeply interested in the great
West. Its immensity impressed me, as did
also the beauty and sublimty of its seen
cry, and the characteristics of its people.
They are big fellows in the West. They
are large and strong. / liked to watch
the men. from the train, as they stood
about the railway station, as their looks
and movements interested me. You will
probably find that the strength of your
country will come from the West. The
East ought to know the West better. New
York people ought to know California.
think it is a great mistake for Amer
leans to travel abroad without knowing
their own country better than they do.
In numerous small Western towns l no.
ticed striking feature. The largest build
ing in the town was most likely TO be the
schoolhouse 1t is good sign for any
country or any section of a country when
the largest and finest building in its towns
can be the schoolhouse. California amazed
rue, and the ability and enterprise of its
people are wonderful. There are districts
1 that few years ago were dry wilder
nesses that are now veritable Gardens of
Eden, with palms and fruit and roses and
masses of greenery. Enterprise and irri-
CATION have literally made the wilderness
! to blossom as the rose danger, as it
seems to me. in the West, lies in the ex-
| pansiveness of its 'booms.' Towns are
doomed and then fall back and there
must be heavy and useless financial losses.
Railroads are the imperial power in the
West. On the treatment that they accord
district the prosperity of that district
and of its producers depends. The power
held by the railroads is a mighty one.
After reaching the Pacific coast l went
from San Diego, Cal, to Vancouver. 1t
was my first visit to the far West and
it was a trip that was well worth the
taking. i must have travelled some II 900
miles since left New York early in March.
l have once in a while considered the idea
of writing an American story, for there is
so much attractive and good material here,
but l have always put the idea aside be-
cause / have felt that do not know your
| country well enough.
Absolute familiarity with subject is
the secret of success. Unfamiliarity with
subject is often the secret of failure. In
my own case may say that I am per-
fectly familiar with farm life, and that on
that account / have attempted stories of
country life with confidence. ! am, too,
very familiar with the details of business
life
Il noticed in California that there is
quite a beginning of literary life and
activity. / suppose it is practically newt
able, when such men as Bret Harte arise,
in newly developed districts, that they
are tempted after a while to remove to
where they think opportunities are great
er.
Il like the work of Hamlin Garland very
much. indeed. Il is representative of the
life and conditions of the Middle West and
shows admirable strength and insight. AS
representative of Creole life and thought
! like the work of Cable. do not. how
ever. put either Garland or Cable in the
front rank of American novelists. Henry
James, William Dean Howells, James Lane
Allen, and Thomas Nelson Page are prob
ably the best four James is literary art
list. Howels does splendid work Page, too.
is an admirable writer. and the work of
James Lane Allen attracts me very much,
indeed