Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-02-18
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LITERATURE AND LIFE.

i LITERATURE AND LIFE. /
i A.. j. N.
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Time was when the literary culture
of the country was in BOSTON Then the
field widened a little and took in New
York. The field has been widening ever
since. The two most distinguished men
IF letters in America today are w. ID.
comb Riley in poetry. Howeis IS from
is still widening, and today the maya
zines are looking to the NEST and south
for their new and vigorous wtiters
Western people are not sufficiently
appreciative of their section, nor awake
20 their possibilities. The west has seen
hard times in the past ten years, but
that is largely over now and new era
is opening before her In the terlitor.
west of the mississippi. lies the nations
future. On her prailies and i'll her.
mountains is to be Seen the greatest de-
yelopment of the new century. ON the
prairies of Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska
can be raised more food stuff than in
ANY other six states of the union. In
these western mountains is enough
mineral wealth-gold, silver, iron, gran.
lite, oil and coal-to make Pennsylvania
look like a pigmy. The west is only on
the threshold of its possibilities has
Only begun to develop its soil and un-
earth its treasures. Western men have
always been loyal 10 their country. Let.
them be as loyal to their section and
STATE. Each one go toswork build it
up and make it great.
There is IA mistaken sentiment in the
east that the west is iireiigious. Not
true. The west is deeply religious. but.
~ is not creedbound. I,lt country where
nature built so Internationally With the
wide sweep of our pTairies and the
grandeur of our mountains, it is inn
possible for men to be narrow The
west is religious in broad. big hearted
genuine way. 1t has no use for any
thing that smacks Of cant and hypccri-
sy. 1t is not ostentatious in worship,
rreferring to show It's faith by deeds
rather than by words. It possesses a
big -hearted hunanitarianism and that
is the best basis for all religion. In
proportion To its Wealth, perhaps, Iowa
has built more colleges, finer churches
and schools. endowed more libraries and
given more to charity and philanthropy
than any other state in the union.
The west is a busy section. yet it has
time for the finer things Of life. 1t
Iloyes the beautiful in nature, art and
life ltioves also. good literature and
bit is not only appreciative. but is be-
coming creative as Welt. The west has
already had some part in literature IL
gave us Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Joa-
ouin Miller Eugene Field Bill Nye, ey.
Warman Barton Adams, James G..
Clark, Charlotte Perkins Stetson. VIII
Allen White. Hamlin Garland, Octave
Thanet. together with q host Of others
some of them from the extreme vest
BY the way, notice new many humor-
lists come out of the west. Hutnor be-
longs to the broad and genial soul which
grows on expansive soil. predict that
During the next generation. in the de-
lvelopment of the worlds literature, the
west Will have a Yet larger place.
Apropos 10 this theme % western cul-
ture two books have recently core from
the press which ought 70 have great in
terest for all Who are proud OF the u
erary successes achieved by the middle
west. and will 80 far TOWARD proving
that the literary center shifts With the
center of population. both of which are
row Engaged in taking Horace eis'stl ley $
advice
study Of Indiana literature BY Meredith
Nicholson by The way this work
belongs to the National series Of
American Letters; edited BY 'Seorse e
Woodberly Is a thorough and noble
study OF all the forces that nave n7sia's
the state famous II literature, Not only
is due attention given tlsr present
authors, but also me carrier writers 81
whom little y hhoWii.-7liiN pioneers ~
culture who blazesi the Nay and be-
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