The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-17

Curry, 50 far as L have seen or know. 1t
was delivered before Chicago University,
and was on John C. Calhoun, one of the
greatest of Southern statesmen, and that
means one of the greatest of American
statesmen. 1t was a most mastertul ad-
dress-courageous, incisive, broad in
view, lofty in reflection and style, and al
together, as I have before affirmed, the
ablest and most important address by a
Southern man l have read since the war;
l have within few days received from
my personal friend, Edwin Anderson Al
dernan, LII. D., President of Tulane Uni
versity, of New Orleans, Louisiana, his
address on Hon. j. l.. NJ Curry, D. c. L.,
LII. D., delivered at Richmond, Va, on
26th April, 1903, under the auspices OF the
Conference for Education in the South.
OF its kind it is as superb and engaging
as the address of the lamented Curry re-
ferred to above. 1t is a noble, graceful,
most appropriate, elegant production
thoughtful, patriotic, glowing with edu-
cational enthusiasm, as is his wont, rich
and finished in style, and classical in tone
and dignity. 1t but confirms an opinion
of mine printed years ago, that DIR. Al
derman is the best master of style amonf
North Carolinians, past and present, 81
far as nv own reading extends. / record
simply an impression, conviction. There
are probably living natives who prefer
other writer's of the State, and possibly
there are one or more who think that
they can themselves surpass the most ac-
complished of Wilmintonians as rhetorl-
clan, stylist and interpreter of genius and
character, but for myself 1 have placed
DR.. Alderman as primus inter patres, but
as essentially more eXqulsltely and rich
ly endowed in the finer elements OF style
than any of our most accomplished native
sons. If you would enjoy superior hit
erary effort, read the address of the gift
ed representative North Carolinlan. You
may not accept all of his dicta, and may
protest now and then as to some estimate,
but I believe you will be compelled, If
you really know anything OF letters, to
place high estimate upon the style and
sentiments of the address I am briefly no
ticing. If 1 am not much mistaken in
perception anu judgment, DR.. Alderman
has marked excellence in the fine art of
writing. He is master of an exquisite,
individual, aesthetic style, and from it
sympathetic and appreciative readers can
derive much of positive pleasure and sat
isfaction. He suggests to me what Ed
mond Gosse said of the famous British
professor and writer, Walter Pater, that
he resolved to be in prose no less pains
taking, no less elaborate, no less bound by
rule and art than the poets are The re-
suit is fine finish, felicity of truth, admir-
IL I'D
write of him living what some one might
write of him if he were gone among the
shades OF the departed who were rarely
endowed, and were our most artistic of
prose-writers. Style to be fine, satisfying,
attractive must retain much of simplicity
and strength and suppleness, and 1 think
Dr. Alderman will never sacrifice these
elemental qualities to the demands of
mere perfection and artistic finish.
There is a bad sign in our country that
in some serious particulars it is gravitat-
ing to the bau. There is Improvement,
however, real progress in municipal re-
form. It has been asserted that in almost
every city and town of much size there is
sad decay in the government of each, and
a serious rot has control of finances and
expenditures. / suppose this is the case.
In most towns of from 10000 inhabitants
and upwards, there are omens of evil,
trend to extravaganza, high taxation of
the people, and even to corruption. Be
that as it may, it is known that in New
York, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis,
Detroit and other cities there has been
organized raseality among officials, and
1;o I'll. nac of
the day But reform" is now the cry,
and it is heard daily in the cities named,
and in Cleveland, New Orleans, Portland,
(Oregon), Boston, Baltimore, Toledo, De
troit, San Francisco, and other cities.
Municipal reform should be the constant
cry, and a resolute lowering OF taxes
should be the unflagging demand of the
people-the burden-bearers. There is
reported failure TO secure real reform IN
Philadelphia, the most corruptly governed
of all cities, and in Pittsburg, in the same
abandoned State, Pennsylvania, the most
viciously managed of all States.
There is the age of gewgaw and tinsel,
as well as of pretence, society rage, and
spectacular displays. Publicity is the
rage. There is no longer home reserve,
proper modesty and secresy. All is blare
and advertising, and every little trifling
thing of the home, or alleged society" is
paraded before the public eye. 1t is an
era of distortion, perversion, of scenic dis
play. 1t is the pictorial, the sensational,
the spectacular that hold the stage now
and seeks to crafty the publics, eager
curiosity and the ceaseless craving for the
sensational and the blatant. New Eng
land woman sees something of the dis
gust. and the evils of the time. 1t is Mrs
Annie r. Marble who writes, and in that
best of American literary journals the
Chicago Dial. l use some of her clever
phrasing and descriptions that l find con-
densed in the New York Review of Re-
views" and l believe sensible, faithful,
modest men and women will relish what
she says, and will indorse the descriptions
and accusations:
The obvious holds unchallenged
sway The deeds that are conspicuous,
the ideas that are garish the literature
that is episode and pictorial, gain the
popular favor The eye of the senses is
regnant' 'Surface-impressions satisfy
;o+,,