The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-08-08
Books and Authors
,.stiTARKINGTON,s. BILL

Booth Harrington, the bright and success
full Indiana author, who is a candidate for
election to the Indiana Legislature, has
charged himself with the championship OF
a bill, In the event of his election, providing
for an annual state literary. prize contest, the
state to name the judges and award the
prizes, which aggregate $500 annually. In
Indiana the woods are now full of embryo
litterateurs, who need only such state stimu-
lus as this to unburden their pent-up genius
upon Indiana. 5-s. E..4
The literary productivity Of that state is
really remarkable Few states, indeed, can
boast of as many writer's Of fiction who have
written books whose sales may be numbered
by the hundred thousand. How many states
have brought forth such a poet of childhood,
of the home of the farm, of the plain peo-
ple,"" as James Whitcornb Riley? Is it Mr..
Tarkington's idea that Indiana genius can
be bred and developed like sugar beets, by
the payment Of state bountfes -
1t appears that General Lew Wallace thinks
bill like this would be better disposed OF
by legislative committee pigeon-holing.
Charles Major, thinks that literature itself is
the strongest. stimulus to earnest literary ef-
fort-stronger than any the state can pos
,siblyt offer. Riley and Mrs. Mary Hartweil
Catherwood are enthusiastic over the Tar
kington BILL believing that it is right to Sc
cure for literature recognition by government
as in other countries. No.
| What do they mean by recognition?
| In England government recognizes literary
merit by comforting title. Every now and
| then some man deemed worthy of the honor
! is made poet-laureate, with few hundred
dollars salary and a cask of wine. In France
| seat in the Academy is deemed the supreme
/ literary recognition Occasionally one hear;
/ of some distinguished litterateur receiving
/ large gift Of money from the state for bool
on a specially of extraordinary excellence
/ There is a Hall of Fame in New York, will
vacant slabs left to be inscribed with TIA
/ Eames Of Americans who make themselve
4 famous by their literary or other intellectual
/ achievements. Indiana would be doing NOR
rational thingsif she built hall of fame 70
/ the benefit of her Indigenous persons of ge
MUS Government literary Judgment Is ia
/ from infallible. Pope, in his "Dunciad,
points out the fallibility Of the British crow
| in designating the poets-laureate, such
Shadwell and Nahum Tate and poor Collie
| Cibber, and it does seem as If government
is incorrigibly errant when 1t appoints Alfre
j Austin to succeed Alfred Tennyson in tn
I English laureateship.
j On the WHOLE Mr.. Booth Harrington, even !
i he is elected to- the Indiana legislature an
i succeeds in pushing his little bill through t
j statutory effect, will have only fired tn
8 hearts of competing host, SO per cent Q
4 whom are very likely to discharge at tn
i state award committee intolerable weigh
and mass of mediocrity. Indiana Is dom
remarkably well as producer OF e llterar
4 genius as it is, and the introduction OF
i forcing plant might prove disastrous Genius
4 indeed, cannot be forced under glass