The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-20

sence of schools in modern let
I844ss tiers, says the London Mail. We
have with us land will have) the
heritage OF Dickens. but modern writers
have failed as q rule TO found schools, and
there Is, therefore. not that sharp division
into camps under Haunting and defiant BAN
uers that has been seen i'm other times and
In other countries.
Mr.. George Meredith has impressed his
influence on younger men and women, par
ticuarly the influence OF his style 1t would
be possible to name perhaps four five
living novelists who owe him much of their
Inspiration. or their manner. or their mere
way of writing. Mr.. Hardy can hardly be
said TO have a follower. The late X. l..
Stevenson had plenty; Mr.. Barrie has two
or three. But there the matter ends. There
are no schools: there Is no definite division.
In this country, at any rate. youth has
ceased TO enroll itself with enthusiasm I'M
der this flag or that.
The writer who has most followers is, of
course. Mr.. Kipling. but can he be said
20 have founded a school? If being indirect
~ responsible for a great deal OF mongrel
Cockney verse is to found a school then is
our unlaureled laureate guilty. But, out
side his verse. Mr.. Kipling's genius has
not been infectious. A story here story
there may be in his vein. but that is all.
At most he is responsible for the abrupt.
arrogant method or narrative which, often
annoying in his own hands, becomes posi-
lively offensive in others less skilled.
Yet the success of a style undoubtedly
stimulates imitation. Thus Mr.. Barrie
produced In his train the celebrated kali
yard school: Mr.. Haggard found a score
OF newcomers relating after him how "a
strange thing happened" writer's OF Dolly
dialogues emerged for brief season; and
Mr.. Maurice Hewlett has caused a revival
in medieval legends 1t is only the strong
and individual souls that keep the even
tenor OF their way, unaccosted and I'M
alarmed by the popular clamor.
Some ten years ago there were two
breeding grounds OF literature in Lon
don. the one the National Observer" I'M
the Speaker These were two diverse
camps. and OF the two. despite the sup
port OF 60" and some others OF note, there
more populous and influential. But the
National Observer died. and ever since
young Toryism has lacked a rallying point
in letters. To-day. oddly enough. the situ-
alton OF ten years ago is reversed. II Is
In the Liberal ranks that youth airs its
literary aspirations most abundantly: and
Il would seem as IL the next outburst OF lit
erary energy would be inspired by Liberal
aims and views.
This see-saw Is only in keeping with the
history or the literary world. Toryism and
Whiggery have succeeded each other for
generations and Tories and Wings have
fought each generation I'm literature as well
as IN politics. IL is, indeed, doubtful wheth-
er any real literary revival can take place
without the political, or rather philosophi-
cal, foundations underneath. The best art
has always come in epochs most provoca-
tive OF thought and the most turbulent and
restless OF idea. IL Is time now, I'm the cir
cling OF the wheel. for a new movement
Is IL coming?
In an interview in the sPall Mall Maya
zine Mr. John Morley quotes Professor
Bury, Of Cambridge. saying that VOLTS
s.Prolesomena was lone Of the six books
that had most real influence on intellectual
evolution IN the last 800 years." The Sthnr