The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1903-04-10
MORE INTEREST IN SOUTHERN
LITERATURE.

IL seems an incomprehenslbl,
thing that the South has beau outstr!p
ped by the North in the field of itera
ture. We naturally expect history, TO
nance and verse from a people living
amidst clear skies, balmy climate, and
luxuriant tropical vegetation, an en-
vlrOnment so conducive to literary de-
velopment. The soft influences Of the
warm passionate South are just the
things to create a strong Imagination, a
romantic spirit.
And where could be found a more
susceptible people, or one more given
to romance and chivialry than those of
the ; at What, then has retarded
our literary culture? There never was
lack Of intellectual ability. But in
stead of the best powers Of our great
est minds being put forth in the di-
rection Of literature they have been in
variably turned upon other professions
Then, too, for years the South in
adequately provided for education, aud
the few who endeavored TO tread the
rough highway Of literature met with
another disadvantage, the dearth Of
publishing houses, aud so were forced
to depend on the Northern publishers
and magazines Of support.
But few of those handicapped
authors have left to US some fragments
that deserve to be remembered when
we are giving so much prominence to
the writings Of Northern authors. We
should regard those fragments almost
as sacred, for they show of what the
warm, beauty-loying, romantic South
ern nature is capable.
The genius and imagination of Poe,
Lanier's gifts as q poet, heromances Of
Cable and Page, and the quaintness and
portrayed in the works Of
Joel Ci andler Harris, and Russell, be-
sides the production Of scores Of others,
demonstrate the power, the warmer
Imagination, the impulsiveness Of the
SJuth. These works are not intricate |
problems Of mind or conscience, but |
.imple, natural, yet romantic stories Of
Inc real life Of true heroes and her0nes. !
But, there is a stronger, deeper rea-
on, yet, than the merits Of these writ
rs why we should take more interest |
n Southern literature. How are the
,'ories Of the past TO live on in the
uture If we neglect our literature I'm
ess in poetry and in song the memory
# the great military achievements of
ur fathers will not long survive the
ew remaining gray haired veterans. A
Iation's history is in her literature
Ter own. I'm the years to come, who
will teach the youth Of the South how
heir grandsires fought and died? ? Are
ou willing that they should receive
he one sided accout Of some prejudic-
d historian? They will be ignorant of
he noble cause, take no pride in the
rand deeds performed and no longer
viii the heart thrill as it does today
'hen we are told, by one Of those heroic
lrvivors, of that glorious, yet hopeless
Iruggle.
So there are three reasons why we
hould pay more attention to Southern
terature. First, because with our sur
aud present circumstances,
nd in this age Of culture, it is dis {
rediiable, to say the least, that our '
len Of letters should not excel as do our
'ldiers aud statesmen. Secondly, our !
w authors have proved themselves !
orthy, and thirdly, our country's his (
Try is at stake. I
All we need is more interest, and our !,
lnny South will add more history, in 5
ne future. to our national literature. o