The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-05
Trinity is Charmed
By Doctor Van Dyke
Continued from Page One.)


er. his charming personality made the
address one of the most notable ever de-
livered in the State of North Carolina.
His theme was Literature and Life,
and for an hour he held the undivided
attention of the great audience, causing
them to believe by reason OF the suave
and charming manner of presenting 1T
that literature was one of the most vital
forces in life of the world. 1t was in
spring to hear q man who is himself a
creator of literature speak so penetrat-
ingly and wisel, of his art. The final
impression gathered from the address was
that of the personality of a man who has
touched life at all points, and who was
himself the incarnation of the spirit man
ifested in his address. Tt may be said
that the address will become one OK those
forces in the spiritual life of this section
that are making for the developments OF
the people.
The speaker first called attention to
the intimate relation existing between
literature and life. Life may be useful
and beautifu, witko great literature,
and yet one does lot attain the highest
of which ne is capable unless he is in
spred by literature. On the other hand
literature without life is of no avail
Many books are vain because they do
not touch in vital way the life of hui
msnity. I library is not museum cf
fossils. but garden of living plants and
an aviary of singing birds. The new
library at Trinity College should bring
health and strength, cheer and courage
TO the coming generations, because the
living spirits of great men are inspired
In books.
lie would conflne the discussion to
English literature which includes both
British and American literature. Ore
of the things We need to realio, he said,
Is the kinship of all parts O: the English
race. Shakespeare and Milton belong to
America as Well us to Egnland. and
Emerson and Kiplhg are the common
heritage of the English speaking world. |
Our traditions and aims are the same
and the strongest national friendship in |
the world should be between England
and America. American literaturs will |
be the product of the English race under !
new conditions. Not barbaric or bar |
barous, but a literature born out of the |
of freedom and democracy. |
The speaker said that he would consider |
especially the English literature of the |
nineteenth century, which had fulfilled !
the three ideals of all literature, to re-
veal life. to cheer and console life and |
to guide life. There is no genius of the |
highest nank. such as that of Dante or
but splendid group of |
men who have interpreted life in new
av,I Id g.
of the world.
Dr. Van Dyke then discussed the most |
otable forms of literature of the nine
teenth century calling attention first to
fiction. He paid a glowing tribute to
Walter Scott the great romantic writer,
who had portrayed the character and |
lite of his native land. His character |
iZatiOns OF Thackeray, Dickens and Haw-
thorne were especially good. These and |
other writer's of stories have revealed to |
the world the different types. of men that |
are found in the world The novelists |
has become as powerful n force as the |
preacher, for through novels many i'm |
portant reforms have been carried to |
Above all fiction tends to widen |
the sympathies of men, to do away with |
sectionalism and to contribute to the |
fund of human life, showing |
us how people in different sections work, |
play and suffer and rejoice.
He referred next to Carlyle, Emerson |
and Ruskin. as men who had been the |
heralds of new order. critics Of life, |
preachers without a pulpit, concrete phi |
losophers. Carlyle came like a thunder |
cloud from Scotland, bursting upon the |
g
world. His most characteristic message |
was. Work" don't dare to die unless |
you have left permanent work Emer- |
sons most characteristic contribution is |
the gospel of the individual while Rus
kin's has taught us that the My true
wealth is the power to enjoy, to admire, |
to love. and that the richest commun-
ity is that that grows The best men and |
women. All of the men fought against |
shams. they We're the sentinels of the
spirit keeping watch over the light of |
their age.
lie referred next to the literature of |
nature, those books that have made the
world new world to the modern man,
and have brought him into companion
ship with nature. A man who has his
eye set on the other world so much that |
he cannot see the beauties of this world |
is an unfortunate man.
The last form Of literature discussed |
was that of poetry-the finest flower on |
the tree of human life. 1t is better for a |
man to be ignorant of faith than to be |
insensible to ideals. He characterized |
i'm luminous and inspiring way the |
most characteristic work CT the three
greatest poets of the past century,
Wordsworth. Brokning and Tennison all |
of whom had written not for arts sake, |
but for art and mans sake, and ,yho
were alike in their lifelong devotion to |
art and to the highest life of the world |
Wordsworth might be compared to the |
mountain remote from men but sublime |
in its majesty, Browning to the plains. |
crowned with human life and Tennyson
to the river, owing full and clear to the |
sea. Wordsworth brings to a busy age
the gift Of tranquility, Browning, a recog- |
milton of the glory of the imperfect. an |
incentive to courage and action, while |
Tennyson has presented life under law |
or spiritual symmetry, showing us mans |
relation to woman. to his fellow man and |
TO his country DIR. Van Dykes reeita- |