The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-04
TriCp>'s school of \Oyclists.

Prof. OSCAR LOWELL TRIGGS, an ar
tesian well Of wisdom in Chicago, pumps
up another refreshing thought Last
week he spoke a piece to the Literary
Department Of the Chicago Woman's
Club on The Effect Of College Training
on the Literary Faculty Is the Critical
Developed at the Expense of the Crea-
tive Power" The title is long, but the
talk was great. Having swept away lit
erary impostors and weakings like Mr.
WHITTIER and Mr.. LoNGFELLow, Prof
TRIGGs now wishes to build a litera-
turc worthy of the name and of his en-
lightcned patronage. The problem Of
naming his baby has been solved and
his energies are free once more What
shall be done to raise the standard of
literature? Found professional school
for the purpose of giving thorough
training in authorship" answers our
TRIGGs He dcplores the present cpl
demic Of bad literature. The phrase
is severe and almost impolite. No small
part Of the literary plant and output be-
longs to Chicago; but our TRIGGs cam
INll Ildl ~" HlS ' lfMS III 'l'ItltD'f 10
Cook county. He belongs to the world.
He is willing to think for the world.
SO he would have an authors training
school. Indulging his genius for para
dox and irony, he even recommends that
law similar to the one governing the
practice Of law, medicine and other pro-
LESSONS be passed, 10 regulate the prac-
tice Of literature. The suggestion is in
genious and we are not prepared 10 say
that it might not be beneficial, if it were
pract icable. Unfortunately it is not
Literature al present Is the art Of pound
ing out novels on the typewriter For
the most part, it il skilled labor We
don't see how it could be organized into
a union still less do we see how appren-
ticeship and the passing Of examinations
could be required. Still, in some State,
blacksmiths have to be examined by a
State board The analogy is in favor
Of the Triggsian plan.
Let that plan be disclosed in Prof.
TRIGGs'S own precious words:
There would he several departments IN I'M,
school. each department TO be conducted by Spc.
cisstS In their particular lines OF work These
departments would comprise poetry prose ,rl,l.
clSn, Journalism and publication, Every detail
OF literature and the making OF novel would h.
specialize d. There would be special Instructors
for the development, Of plot, experienced instruc.
tors In love scenes and. for tho hcncnt 81 the his
torical novelist. there would be special obstruction
In fencing would also add dramatic art to the
lis, OF departments"
Presumably instruction in poetry is
already given in the orthopcdc hospital;
and why does Prof. TRIGGs distinguish
between poetry and prose? Most poetry
manufacturers don't There are schools
of journalism, and dramatic art, and
Prof. TRIGGs is sufficient school Of
criticism. Publication is a simple matter
if an author has the price" But these
are futile details. Woodworking is the
chief business, 4 proposition TO limit
the amount of production smaclS Of
the evils Of trusts and cannot be ap-
novewriters waste a part of their lives
in studying, when they might be pro-
ducing. but he rithlessy asserts that
the first three books brought out by
an author represent merely apprentice
work; and they should be- destroyed in
the school" Political economy stares
and gasps at such plan. Do the di-
rectors of new cotton factory destroy
the cloths which it makes in the first
three years after it begins business?