The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-07-20
INDIANA GENIUS EXPLAINED.
A Hoosier's Theory of the Phenomenal
Literary Activity of the state.

Literary Activity of the state.
New Albany Correspondence New York
Sun.
Returning TO our literary pawpaws-"The
HOoster SchOol'-it seems apparent that
every courteous and considerable Hoosier
should endeavor, as far as may be possible,
to throw light upon the theme which seems
so distressfully perplexing to the literary
world outside of Indiana. To such Eastern
people as still consider Indiana geograph-
ically ''out West"-of course, no argument
is offered; their density is past penetra-
ton. But TO those who place Indiana in
the middle West" amiable elucidatiOn of
the supposable mystery should be attempt
ed without cessation. Let us have no mys-
terry about the literary arrival of the
Hoosier-mysteries are odioUs and sensa-
tional-they are Observation-Disclosures TO
speak.
Personally, I hold New York responsible
for the prevailing idea that there exists
any mystery whatever concerning the liter
airy unfolding of the HoOsier. In 1S43 a
Brooklyn clergyman and Princeton gradu-
ate-the Rev. Baynard r. Hall-after an
eight years residence in Indiana, where he
operated a tanbark mill and taught in
young Bloomington University-published
through Messrs. Appleton a wild book on
his life in Indiana, entitled The New Pur-
chase" The book was a jumbled, inco-
herent mass of notes on early Indiana,
thrown together with utter disregard of
literary style or unity, and calculated TO
disseminate the impression that Indiana
was peopled by a crude and curious race of
tll6S viz lOl pIlN CUulu MO az VI
write, but could never be taught to read
and write. AS The New Purchase" edi-
ton of 1000 copies sold almost entirely in
the East, DIR. Halls caricature of the State
which gave him a livelihood for eight years
saturated the Eastern mind with such per-
manence that the Eastern mind has never
since been able to regard the State of In
diana with clear and unbiased vision. AS
many British people still expect all Ameri-
cans to look and act like Indians, so the
Eastern mind continues to marvel that ma
tives of Indiana should emit any ineligible
sounds except warwhoops. Any such mys-
terry which exists is a spot on the Eastern
lens, and by no means a blemish on fair
little Indiana.
In differentiation must be traced. row.
ever, to account for 1ndiana's alleged liter
airy supremacy over adjacent States of
equal age and opportunity, let us seek ii
in a few Hoosier characteristics All sue
cessful and abiding literature springs from
se~nuineness, and the Hoosier. by reason
of his pioneer ancestry, is nothing if not
genuine. Literary airs and pretension are
not for the men and women who love to
remeber that their great-grandfathers
swung the ak and titled the soil. On this
same honest basis, too, Indiana has had a
wonderfully good education in clean jour
nalism. No sensational newspaper has ever
thriven long in Indiana soil. The few
Hoosiers who desire yellow journals i'm
port them from Boston, New York, St.
Louis or Cincinnati. This holds good Of
goes hand in hand with common sense; and
no Hoosier author has ever perpetrated
a book for which his State has had to
\ blush.
Partly, too. it may be. the literary fer
tility IF Indiana is due to geographical
situation. A Boston woman who once Wis
tied Indiana announced her belief that In
diana people were a remarkably happy
admixture of all good national traits; that
they had the breeziness of the West, tenn
pered by the inherited culture of the East,
the energy of the North combined with the
open-heartedness and sentiment of the
South.
Acknowledging your State, then, on ex-
ternal assertion and internal manifesto
ton, to be q center OF astounding COM
mon sense and a garden spot Of astonishing
literary achievement, on all points logical
and in no way uneXplainable, let the daZ-
Zling claim be further upheld by the asser-
ton that the Hoosier, even the literary
Hoosier, sees things as they are. While
we lovingly fan the fame" of our men
and women who have won literary and
commercial success. we are deceived in re-
gard TO them-they do not deceive them
'selves-they do not deceive each other. In
diana knows that "Ben-Hur" is a classic,
that James Whitcomb Riley's work will
endure while interest in nature and homely
human nature endures. OF Maurice ThOmp-
son Indiana is justly proud. and of Mary
Hartwel Catherwood. Meredith Nicholson
is a true poet. William Vaughn Moody is
a true poet, and Evaleen Stein is another
true poet. When Poultney Bigelow felt
called upon to pronounce Booth Tarking-
ton 'the monumental darlington" In
diana did not like it, and Mr.. Harrington
doubtless regretted the overenthusiastic
phrase. Charles Majors vitality of narra-
tion is recognized in Indiana, as elsewhere,
as the main quality which gives his novels
POPULARITY.
There is not so much "gush" in Indiana
over Indiana authors as outside reports
would seem to indicate. Our enthusiasm
may be great and beautiful" but it is al
so discriminating. An old Indiana news
paper man never would let his wife criti-
else his work, because, as he stated ii.
Eliza is so foolish that she likes every
thing I write" Not so Indiana. Possibly
her restrained regard for her younger au-
thors is another 'miz-maze of mystery
She admires them heartily, but tentatively.
for her good. and for thsir own good:
somewhat a Ia Mrs. Todgers in Martin
/ Chuzzlewit." who viewed her boarders with
heartfelt affection beaming out OF one eve
and honest opinion "giaring out of the
other \ BORN HOOSIER.