The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-18
The Neglect of Emerson.

From the Providence Journal.
In all our libraries this month the dust
is off the books that have Emerson's
name on their title pages. The coming
of the hundredth anniversary of his birth
and the public observances that mark it
have fairly forced general attention to
his published writings. The magazines
come crowded with articles about him;
the clergy are expounding him In their
phlpits; the boys and girls of the schools
and colleges are making him the theme
of their graduation essays and orations;
the women's clubs are Analysing meas
uring and labelling him with their charac-
teristic delightful audacity, and presently
even the hurried daily press will be find
ing room among the more enlivening news
of the day for many columns of reports
of what is being said about him. What
reslduum of good will be left after all
is perhaps dubious this much at least Is
sure, that 1t Is a revival that will pass
and that presently the dust of neglect
will be accommodating again on the Emer-
son books on the top shelves.
For except under the stimulus of
special occasion, Emerson as the statis-
tics of library circulation would probably
show. Is not in these times a widely. read
author; certainly first-hand knowledge of
him Is less common than 1t was when In
the prime Of his peculiar mental power
he was addressing the world from the
lecture platform and through his printed
words. But this latter-day neglect of him
may readily be explained without falling
back on the assumption which would In
deed be. Incorrect, that the estimate Of
his worth made by his contemporaries
was altogether too high. For one thing
his value as a helpful influence to the
higher mental and spiritual life can not
impress itself as strongly on those who
must make contact with his mind
through his printed pages as 1t did on
those who came more directly into per-
sonal touch with him as he spoke from
the platform. 1t is in part because sue
ceeding generations must read him in
stead of listening to him that the average
person of today, and probably of all COM
ing days must find him less stimulating
less Ineligible and hence less demanding
of attention than he was in his original
appeal.
All those who have left on record the
impression that he in the flesh made
upon them agree that he had singular
charm of voice and manner as lecturer
which not only was benignant and up
lifting influence In itself, but was also
distinct help in the appreciation and
right understanding of his thought. OF
the potency of that charm II would be
impertinent to speak now; Lowelrs lam
bent and graceful pen has described 1t
once and for ALL To those of the pres
ent time whose wits are too dull to
follow Emersons subtle thought he can
render little service. But there is abun-
dant testimony that when he spoke in the
flesh he fascinated both high and low:
he was heard as eagerly by audiences of
New England factory operatives as by a
gathering of intellectual notables in a
Scottish university town; he could give a
refining pleasure that was in itself a be-
nefcence, view into the higher ranges
of mind and spirit that. however dim.
was yet an invitation and an impulse to
better living-he could render these
great services to persons for whom much
of his printed thought would have been
almost as unintelligible and valueless as
If 1t were In Sanskrit
To the persons who from the meagre-
ness OF their mental equipment cannot
read Emerson now. though they might
have listened to him when he was alive
with pleasure and profit. must be added
those who. with greater receptivity of
mind. yet find 1t difficult to grasp his
real meaning because of the absence Of
the lightning-like illumination of baf-
fling passages which his personal deliv-
cry of them often gave. These may be
persons of liberal education. with trained
power Of apprehension. capable of read