The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-15
NEW BOOKS.

AMERICAN LITERATURE, by Lorenzo
Sears. l.. ii. d.:
published by Little, Brown & Co. For
sale by Preston and Rounds.)
One may count with confidence on OPEN
Ing BIT OF writing by Prof. Sears OF
Brown University. that one is to be en-
tertained while being nightly informed
nay, one Is TO be charmed. Here Is a
volume about American Literature In
the Colonial and National Periods" the
title OF which Is somewhat awe inspiring
until we note the name OF the author
when We promptly count upon good read
Ing and real entertainment as we'll as
abundant information. We should esteem
IL an imposing task TO assimilate proper
ly the material for the production OF such
work as this. But the marvel is the
greater upon sensing the placidity, the
prevailing good humor and the quality OF
sparkle with which the work once assem-
blcd Is here invested.
We repeat. the mere collection strikes
us as big job. But we suppose lots OF
literary professors might have made IL
quite as comprehensfveiy But In the dis
eliminating quality and the delightful
presentation we know of no writer, un-
less perhaps DIR. Donald @ Mitchell, who
could match this work. Both operations
distinguish the scholar. but the latter is
a tremendous essential II It's hopes to
senfed to the not too eager student and
general reader who swallows as small
doses as possible of what fails to tickle
his mental palate.
Prof. Sears has fine fancy and
lively imagination. These faculties were
probably inborn and they seem TO have
been luxuriantly nutured rather than dis
couraged. by long contact with college
student mentalities that. on the face OF
IL, would not be credited with affording
stimulation. but rather the reverse.
There is no wfthering with age OF his
humor and good fellowship, no dimming
OF his Catholic vision. no dulling OF his
finely appreciative sense OF the good in
things. Literature must be a rarely en-
toyable study up on the Hill with Prof
Sears 10 pilot and elucdate. He is a rare
first folio himself. with edges still uncut
and the binding az fresh as though just
from the bindery. And this newest study
OF his is convincing proof OF the superb
condition thus indicated.
Professor Sears In this authoritative.
Informing and wholly readable book--a
book. indeed. that is quite as entertaining
TO read as are the works OF many OF the
authors he reviews-divides his subject
into two periods the Colonial and the Ma
tionai Briefly this division Is Indicated
from the fact that, before the Revolution,
and vaguely after II. American literature
was more than anything else a part OF
Engl .sh--na tiorally speaking-litera ture
''The manner Of life and thought was that
OF British colonists." rather than ot
American citizens. To be sure Il ls not
possible 20 draw the line where n strictly
American literature began. James Fcni-
more cooper's fret essay In literature was
a novel or English society life a trans
planted piece OF English authorship, that
fortunately failed drearily. And wasn-
ington irving had not then begun to
quarry the wealth OF material close at
hand In American life tradition and ro-
nance. But for convenience the date OF
the Treaty OF Paris marks a division that
is intelligibie.
From Captain John Smith, OF the Nn-
g.nia colony. 90 Mr. Dooiey, OF Chicago.
II a long stride. however short Il may
fell Of the length of the histories OF
the iteratude OF old countries. n Is
proud fact that there really was an es-
tablished American literature within an
amazingly short time after the ACCOM-
plishfrent OF independence, although IN.
literature OF the mother country was not
thrown overheard az n standard and "A
type with the tea in Boston harbcr. lu,
that II was not narrow and prov,n-
'ial thing 10 testified TO by the favor with
which the literature OF the eariiest days
N what Professor Sears Identifies as the
National period" was received abroad.
~ q new product. a rev literature fror, A
iew country ard By all the literary stand
uds. great deaf riper product than the
lountry Itself was az the tins.
Prof Sears method IL comprehensive
1ther than categorical and critisism II
empercd and brOadened by an appre-
nation OF every Intelligent readers right
pass judgment as 20 what profits or
Gesses him. With numerous selsction
authors that By general agreement,