davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07


The publication recently of a book
upon this subject has brought wildly
to the writer's mind the fact that the
reading world to-day rushes through
the task of reading as it rushes
through all the other voeations of life.
We live in such a whirl of excitement.
keeping the mind in such a vertex all
the time, and few are the hours in the
passage OF year that we can lay hold
of and quietly, calmly read, and med
itate upon the passages read.
1t is a pity that this is true, for the
brightest gems never lie upon the sur
face of the ground, but lie deep bedded
below; and the brightest and most
beautiful realities in a passage read,
but come after the passage has been
thoroughly re-rea,d and digested The
food which we eatTn a hurry is never
as good to the taste or as profitable
when it comes to the production of
health, as that which. is eaten slowly
and thoroughly dfgested.
And thus it is with our reading. The
beautiful andehelpful passages, which
ought to make us better. men and
women, and cause us to be glad of life
with its valleys of shadow and noun
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07
WITH MAKERS AND LOVERS OF LITERATURE
FREE LIBRARIES AND THE SALE OF BOOKS

Mr.. Carnegie's determination to die
poor has led to a number of interest
ing events. Primarily. it has been the
means of opening the doors of the
charmed realms of literature to thou
sands upon thousands of eager read
ers, whose lack of funds and dearth
of facilities inhibited them from pur-
suing lines of study or reading which
mean much to minds cramped and
concentrated, by the narrow means of
work and brute living. 1t has also
precipitated two violently contested
discussions; whether or not the money
might have been invested in some
manner of more permanent and LAST
ing good to the general public, and
whether or not the presence of public
libraries Injuries the sale of current
and standard books.
On the first proposition there is a
sharp and extensive difference of opin-
ion. Some individuals are even so un-
kind as to. remark that it is evident
Mr.. Carnegie, inspired to make atone
ment for his past neglect of the gener-
al veal, hit on the first project shot
at him by some long-tressed fanatic.
This article, however, intends to deal
with the latter question; whether or
not public libraries decrease the sale
of books of long or recent standing.
do not believe that they do. l base
this conclusion on several well-known
principles of human nature las well as
observation of significant incidents in
the book world for the last five or ten
years.
To arrive at a better understanding
of this problem, let us consider,
briefly, another question which is, I'M
doubtedly, a corollary of the one I'M
der considera ton. 1t is the serial pub
hcation of new novels. 1t has been
asserted that this method of publ
cation paralyzes, not only the good Of
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07
TREND OF THOUGHTS
ALONG PATHS LITERARY

have claimed that criticism is an eff
fort to find the man behind the book,
his personality, his life, his ideas, his
mode of expressing these ideas, and
the goal to which he drives. Others
have claimed that criticism is but
weighing in the balance of literary,
qualities by certain given standard
literary measures or weights There
is somewhat of truth in both of the
divergent opinions. 1t is quite true
that the critic struggles to see what
is in the man behind the book, to
grasp his idea, which oftentimes be-
cause of human weakness he falls to
clearly express, but which the true
critic sometimes can gather from what
is written. Then, too, there is cer-
tain literary standard which is ac-
cepted in the literary world; but it is
by no means an ironclad rule to go
by, for 1t is often set aside, and is
possessed of great fleMbilfty. Putting
the two ideas together, we can man
age to get a fairly clear conception
as to what criticism is and is intend
ed to do.
There seems to be a desire on the
part of some literary critics to poke
fun at the humor of the present day,
but whether this is entirely just is
question which is not readily decid-
ed. OF course, we have much to-day
III the way Oh WHICH CAUSES Us
to smile only because of it's utter abb
sence of any humorous quality. But
that there is a vest lot9of good humor
going the rounds of the literary pro-
auctions, 1t is probably not wise TO
deny. We may not have to-day ony
striking productions; and yet, who can
tell but what the things which seem
not so funny to us may not appear ex-
tremely humorous to the people of the
next generation. This kind of litera-
ture is like all others-it takes time to
ripen it and make it thoroughly appre-
ciated.
1t is said that one of our best novel;
lists is living in the slums of New York
in disguise, and that this is his second
year of such life. He proposes to
spend one or two years more in this
way and then to leave the life and
come back to civilization and write a.
novel dealing with the people of the
Under World" giving the subject the
most masterful and detailed exposition
which 1t has ever had. Some time
since was reviewed on this page Rev.
Sheldons book upon the subject en-
titled, THE Reformer," but it had
many weak points. We have no doubt
that when the author, who is now
spending his days and nights in the
very heart of this problem comes from
out of the darkness into the light, he
will have a story to tell that win be
the most interesting epistle upon the
subject yet written.
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07
THE SOUTH IN
HISTORIC LITERATURE.

1t is exceedingly gratifying to loyal
Southerners to know. that possibly no
other, section of the country has been
so thoroughly handled by historian
and historical novelist as the land of
Sunshine and Flowers. And still the
great work goes on. To-day more
than ever before there are numerous
writer's North and South working on
books to appear in the near future
having as their "tramping ground" the
south, so full is it of historic senti-
Inent and va1or.
President Tyler of William and Mary
College is preparing work on South
ern topics which, it is said by some
who have seen part of the manuscript,
is. full of interest and ably written.
Prof. Dodd of Randolph Macon is al
so preparing book on some Southern
theme which I do not now recall. Prof.
Bassett of Trinity is writing an elaD-
crate history of StonewaII jackson. the
most expensive and thorough history
which has ever been written. He has
gained, to assist him in his work. ac-
cess to the celebrated collection of
Jackson papers in Washington, known
as the Blair collection-this being a
hitherto unused field of jackson ma
terial. Prof. Petrie of the Alabama
Polytechnic Institute is preparing an
elaborate volume on the South, as is
also Prof. Riley of the University of
mississippi, and Prof. Garrison of
Iexas. Prof. Garrison is studing with
Gfndanf he
of Texas and Southwestern history.
AS evidencing the care being exer-
Clsed by Southern students and writer's
to nave their country's history appear
correctly is a little pamphlet issued
by the Vanderbilt Southern History
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07

Society, the work of Prof. D. D. Wall
lace, of Wexford College. This little
booklet shows that the tea which was
landed in Charleston in 1913 did not
rot in damp cellars" as the historian
Ramsey has enormously recorded. On
the contrary, it lay in damp store
houses for about three years, after
which, in the year 1916, by order of the
revolutionary Legislature of the state,
it was sold for the benefit of the state
treasury. This shows how acute the
sentiment is in regard to correcting
mis-statements in the history of the
South, even in the small details.
In novel work the South has had al
most every phase of it's life represent
ed and misrepresented; but the cor
rect phase of Southern life and thought
has received quite as much attention
and been as forcibly stated as has the
prejudiced. idea of this life which some
writer's not living in the South have
expressed on paper. However, there
is one gratifying thing to those who
love honesty and fairness in the fact
that though the South has been sland-
cred often by Northern writer's; at the
same time some of its strongest eu-
logisms have come from the pens of
Northern men. Some of its sweetest
and purest picturesso Southern life
are to be found in the novels produced
by Northern writers.
Many persons are at work that can
not be enumerated in this brief survey
OF the field, but 1t is a source of graft
fication to feel that the South has been
so thoroughly worked and that it still
offers, regardless of this fact, the most
inviting field for literary workers to
be found in this country. The deeper
the student and writer dive into South
ern history, the more surely will be
resurrected and shown to the world the
grandest and noblest type of people the
world has ever known, cherishing and
loving a civilization and liberty the
equal of which has never before blessed
the human race.
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07

the simplest language. Now it is a
well-known fact that the highest and
noblest thoughts and the most helpful
and fruitful Determinations and COM
PARSONS cannot be put into language
which is comprehended at a. glance.
Another bad effect of too simple
language or style is that the mind is
not required to make any eXertion and
is therefore under no developing in
fiuence. 1t used to be said that read
ing was a powerful educator, and in
olden times it certainly was. But the
reading of the present day lacks of the
educating power. because the mind Is
not taxed, nor the meditative powers
encouraged.
That a reaction from this state of
affairs is Obliged to come no one can
doubt A noted statesman has said
that 1T is better to read one book
well than a thousand hurriediy," and
the truth of such a statement is self
evident. If you have only an hour
per week to read do not try to crowd
into this hour reading all that you pos
sibly can, but spend half of it, If need
be, in the efforts to get all the rich
profits out of one chapter of one pas
sage. This will result in the most
elevating and encouraging feeling, and
what is read will be far more enjoyed
and work to the reader double the
benefit at least.
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07

you may be temporarily baked by the
announcement that 1--WE have Just sold
our last copy of 'so-and-so'; please
Gene back next week"
In this phase of the affair, you also
have the explanation of the statement
that the free library does not injure
the sale of current books. Anxious to
keep in touch with the latest in liter
allure, the reader attempts to secure
the book on the tongue of everyone
from his library-and passes through
the same experience as Man No. l. At
the same time, there are other in
fiuences at work upon him. The small
element among his friends which has
been successful in obtaining the book
from the library. regale him and 9TH
ers with fascinating accounts of the
novel; curiosity is intensified-and the
books sales are doomed.
There is also this curious fact con-
corning the library's effects on the
works of standard authors. With little
difficulty you secure copy of Dick
ems, Thackery, Balzac, lola, Shake
speare. or others. You speedily discov-
er that the truths and the inimitable
fiction between those two silent nom
eommittal covers have become your
dearest friends-and that they must be
part of your household. And they
speedily become so, in almost every
case. to the profit of the book dealer
and publisher.
A fact which is initiating against
the complete fulfillment of the mission
of the free library is the impossibility.
of CLOSING over the friction and un-
pleasant feeling which grows out of
the mingling of castles under the dome
of the common book-house. Fashion
will not associate with frowsineSs or
rags. and the poor man is just as re-
sentful as the rich one. We must trust
to time and tact to find some solution
of this complicated, troublesome prob
lem. In the meantime. let us be thank
full for the undoubted good which is
being accomplished by the extension of
opportunities for study and mental en-
joyment. Sam Dibble.
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07
SOLITAIRE BY Geo. Franklin Wiley

The thousands of White Mountain
visitors that annually frequent the
spot of the Great Wiley" slide-the
terrible avalanche of 1928, will feel
a keener interest in the historic re-
gion if they have read its story, ira
diuonal and romantic. written by
George Franklin Wiley.
Solitaire the name of his hero, a
mountain recluse, is the title of the
story. Mr.. Wiley weaves "a romance
into the thrilling historic setting, which
betrays his familiarity with the tradi-
lions, as well as with the temper of
nature in that mountain country. He
was raised in the midst of the highest,
and rarely do we find one so gifted in
the betrayal of mountain nature. The
conscientiot tssnaturalness OF descrip-
tion is a rare characteristic of this
word artist" and calling history and
romance to- his aid. he has given us
pictures which are as pure and simple
as nature herself--and as chaste. 1t
has been remarked of his work that
there is not an objectionable word or
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07

AS is already known, Dwight Tilton,
in his forthcoming book, ION Satan's
Mount" looks into the future not very
far, but just far enough to tell of a
possible peril at Washington arising
from the Capitalization of wealth; but
he did not expect the good fortune of
this Endorsement from the news stories
which have so recently startled the
country, saying that several senators
received kilograms from the Standard
Oil Company insisting that no anti
trust legislation must pass. The stu
alton that Dwight Tilton imagines and
weaves into his novel is supposed to
be at a time ere long when every in
terest is represented in the councils of
state at Washington, except that of
the man who works The Senate is
described as having become so cor
rupt'' that it is necessary to call a
peoples congress" at the national cap
ital The workmen of America send
their representatives from every state
They try to relieve national calam-
ity which proves ten times worse than
our present coal famine. ror-s
Inc jIdSClfdltfiS yOubAIS lAeOt ia. W.
ham Henry Carson's Forthcoming. novel
Of that name, is induced to vow re-
yenge. the vengeance of the Italian
vendetta, for the supposed desertion OF
his rich American father. The Incl
dent of his oath, his dashing on the
floor of the crucifix which his aunt
has given him to swear by, saying,
ct swear not by that What has 1t
done for me? Has it given me faith
err? No! Who am IT'S likely, at
first thought, to be criticised by Cath
olics. but it will be found that as the
story develops his aunt has educated
him never to receive the sacrament I'M
til, with his fathers life, he had wiped
out his disgrace. IF he had been rear
ed to love the church and fear God
this incident of breaking the crucifix
would not have occurred. II was, how
ever, the natural outcome of his early
life and home influences" comments a
priest whose opinions were asked as
to whether this incident might give Of
Tense to those of his faith.
One of the most Important histori-
cal works published this year is New
France and New England" by the late
John Fiske. This final volume forms
the only remaining link needed to COM
plete the chain of histories of this
country, from the discovery of America
to the adoption OF the constitution,
upon, which Mr.. Fiske had for so many
years been engaged and the achieve
ment of which was his great ambition.
II shares With all Mr.. Fisk's work the
great qualities of his mind and the
rare grace of his style. And presents
III broad philosophic manner the causes
and events which marked. the victory
on this continent OF the English civil
izatlon- over the French. The book is
full Of dramatic incidents frightened
by the figures OF many notable charac-
tere. All Significant aspects OF the pc
flod surveyed. Mr., Fiske has firmly
graspea and clearly portrayed, and the
work h an important addition 10 the
llteratlife Of history The volume Ia
uniform IN style with Mr.. Fiske's ear-
Her Historical works.
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07
RELIGIONS OF BIBLE LANDS
By Prof. D. S. MargoIioufh

Many expressions and hints at ideas
in the scriptures which the ordinary
student finds enigmatical or perplexing,
are frequently due to parallels drawn
from the tenets of the religions In
vogue, at the time, in the lands treat
ed of in the Bible. A general familiari-
ty with these religions will explain
away many of these uncertainties and
facilitate biblical research. Such is evil
IDENTIFY the intention of the book pub
lished by A. c. Armstrong & Son, with
the above caption.
1t gives rudimentary fragments of the
religious thought, and customs in bibli-
cal lands, other than those treated of
in the old and new testament. Semi
tic, Egyptian, and Persian religions are
the principal ones considered, and the
information given is intensely interest
ing of itself, aside from it's historical
and literary value. The little booklet
explains how the religion of to-day
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07

For the past two months there has
been some considerable speculation as
to whether or not the production of
novels this year would not fall far
short of what ii has been for a num-
Der of years past. Certainly it is true
that the publishers are all concerned
because of the fact that the number of
their manuscripts of this character,
which usually flood their offices the
first of each year, are this season sad
ly lacking. Only a few stray novels
of any worth whatsoever are coming in,
and it seems in truth that we may
have the market flooded this year with
a lot of trash basking under the title
of novel;,
Rumor has it that there will be es-
tablished some time in April, either in
Boston or New York, a literary maya
zine, to be published monthly and de-
voted exclusively to the fine arts. 1t
is said that the projectors have finan-
cial capital sufficient to float to a sue
cessful flight any enterprise which is
worthy, and that such a magazine
would eventually receive the patron
age of large clientele of readers goes
without the saying. There are hum
dreds of persons in every city of even
moderate size who would like to nave
on their table high art literary mag
azine, and who would be willing to
pay a good price for it if they were
assured of it's reliability. There has
been more sham published and talked
of under the title of literary" than
possible any other departments of life
and for this reason a good magazine
of the class mentioned would eventu-
ally receive strong support-though at
first ii would have to fight against the
suspicion that 1t was another adver-
Using medium for some publishing
house.
The editor of this page is receiving
letters of congratulation from all over
the South, from persons who had lost
all confidence in the literary pages of
the dailies; but who have already
learned that this page is to be an
open forum, where Truth will be the
only guide. If a book receives praise
in this column it will deserve it, and
IL the name of a man or woman is
mentioned, 1t will be after they have
won sufficient renown to justify it.,
and not before.
A discussion as to what Is criticism
has been passing through some liter
airy journals. 1t has been quite in
teresting to note the many different
ideas advanced upon this subject Some
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07

situation in the entire story" What
a striking comment in this day of
startling freedom of thought and ex-
preston. Nowhere does he give over
wrought ideas that tire the imagina-
ton, or liberty of suggestion that gives
his reader a feeling of regret for time
spent in his company. His aim seems
to have been first to instruct by a
sincere relation of historic fact, and
legendary lore; and then to please by
inclosing these things in romance of
purity, made more beautiful by UNI
usual natural environments There is
rarely found subscription so true to
nature as thatEof the great carbuncle.
True to the legend, the great jewel is
found imbedded in a cliff of the White
mountains. and the description as given
us by Mr.. Wiley of its radiance and
the scene of its sitting,sts one not soon
to be forgotten, and the, innate sense
sof the artist and also the rapt ems
thrallment of the child of nature.
To the authors work as an editor
may be attributed much Of his con-
5ciseness. for this is an element of his
work. There is much embodied, of fact
and fiction, in a story of a few hours
reading. Aron Nossirah. (
The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-07
BARBs FROM MANY LITERARY QUIvERS

ancient champion than DR.. George A.
Gordon, minister Of the historic Bos-
ton congregation known as the Old
South Church He has been styled by
an eminent authority "A leader of
thought" and in his latest, THE New
Epoch of Faith" win be found the full
est justification for the use of the APP
pellation. DR.. Gordon believes religious
thought has advanced to a freer and
fuller Interpretation of Christian doc
trine, and this freedom of spirit in re-
ligious matters is the keynote of his
book, which follows logically upon his
Christ of To-day" The chapters
which make up the volume were orig
inally delivered as a course of lectures
in the Lowell institute of Boston, an
endowed lectureship which has brought
forth some notable utterances in the
cause of religious progress in America.
Mr.. Andrew James Miller, author of
"old School Days" has been close
student of the ancient civilization of
America, and his archaeological con-
tributions have attracted widespread
attention. Twelve years ago at the
head of scientific exploring expedi-
ton, he made the discovery of a hith-
erto unknown buried city, in Alancho,
Eastern Honduras. He was also the
first American traveller to visit and de-
scribe the xicachos, a pigmy tribe of
Indians, inhabiting the mountains of
Central Honduras. He was perhaps
the only white traveller who ever pene-
trated the Sambo country of Northern
Nicaragua and brought back an ac-
count of these famous black Indians.
His numerous descriptive articles on
the five republics of Central America
appeared in one of the leading syndi-
Gates several years ago.
In ZAP American at oxford" John
Corbin tells a story of Jewett, who at
one time was master Of Balloil. An
undergraduate named Barnes had
been so Independent of his tutor that
he was "sent up to the head of the coll
lege," which is not at all promotion.
When he was reported. the master
was writing, and merely paused to
say: "Sit down, Mr.. Barnes. You are
working with Mr.. Donkin, are you
not?" The culprit said he was and sat
down. Jewett wrote on page after
page, while the undergraduate fidget-
ted. Jewett looked up and remark
edl MIR. Donkin says you are not.
Good morning" After that the UNI
dergraduate was more inclined to work
with Mr.. Donkin.
There Is no book in existence that
gives so exact and vivid picture of
eighteenth century England as this
record he kept OF his daily experiences.
1t Is work OF astonishing interest,
ranking In permanent historical value
with Pepy's Diary OF Newman's Apol-
ogia. As heretofore published the
journal filed four volumes, a prohibi-
tive bulk that Mr.. Percy Livingstone
Parker, with scholarly editing, has con-
densed to this single cover The in
PRODUCTION, and II Is almost the last
thing that came from his pen, II by
Hugh Price Hughes. A most fehci-
tois appreciation by Augustine Birrell,
together with nineteen fiiII-page illus
tratlons taken from contemporary
paintings and sketches. make this adj
dillon par excellence.
Col Thomas Wentworth Higalns0n
rSaa44tu ts.fqttraA kaf.ra -. gal.f 49,.