The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-27
COLONEL HARVEY TALKS
ABOUT LACK OF HUMOR
New York Publisher Tells English
men of the Crying Need in the
World of Letters.
YOUNG LITERARY TALENT
1t Is of Good Quality in America,
but Is Not Plentiful-Migra-
ton of Henry James.
YOUNG LITERARY TALENT

LONDON, April 26.-Ine spring invasion
of London has included the arrival of Mr..
George b. NJ. Harvey, who, proprietor
and editor of the North American Review
and president of the publishing firm of
Messrs Harper & Brothers, is probably
searching the petroDolis for literary talent
that is either coming has arrived"
Tail, spare and clean shaven, he is typi-
cal of the States in look and speech. Tor
toiseshel mounted spectacles add an un-
usual air of gravity to his mobile face.
Accustomed TO weigh his words. he talks
slow and deliberately. But what he says
is as interesting as his written matter,
good specimen of which is his article on
1.-The United States and Great Britain"
which occupies the place Of honor in the
current Nineteenth Century
Answering a question as to what may be
expected in literary way in the near future
Mr.. Harvey said:
1T is satisfying to know that there are
at least two literary projects Of importance
directly in sight for the English-speaking
and English-readng people These two
events, If such they may be called, VIII be
the outcome of an interchange between
the two countries of the products OF the
two finest creative. reflective and philoso-
phical minds or America.
For nearly twenty years, Mr.. Henry
James mas limited MS environment Par llS
to the continent, but chiefly to England, ana
Mr.. William Dean HOwells, barring few
incursonS into the social and artlsuc NE
of Italy has confined himself TO America.
1t is indisputable that these are the two
master minds now actively engaged IN pro-
ducing English literature. We are now TO
have the advantage OF their apphcatioh 10
reversed conditions.
JAMES'S RETURN HOME.
''Mr. James is going to America, which
nil In -ipx Of
nary transformation that has taken place,
as an undiscovered country, and the result
of his visit will be undoubtedly study,
probably in the form of story, that can
not fail to make a most serious impression
upon all intelligent and thoughtful people,
Mr.. Howells, on the other hand, has come
to England, where he Will remain probably
for q year, with what may prove to be
the greatest undertaking of his life in mind
namely, a delineation Of the conditions
which gave rise to the intellectual develop
ment of America, and a study of the com
parative growth. mentally, morally and
spiritually, of the two great parts of the
race since that development began. The
accumulation of wisdom, observation, ex-
perience and capacity of expression OF these
two masters of English literature applied
to these practically new-although from
be notable. Each will be international in
character and international in interest.
Moreover they cannot fail to serve in a
general way 10 unity the mutual relation
ship which has come to be regarded not
only as desirable, but as essential to the
welfare of Great Britain and the United
States"
Are the younger American writers indi-
eating much promise?
YES; excellent in quality, but disappoint-
ing in numbers. Indeed, it is undeniable
+l,o - hoy rcd
more signs of originality and talent. par
ticulariy in notion, in England than in
America.
ENGLISH LITERARY REVIVAL.
AT least three first books of new writers
published here hold forth very great hope,
one of these authors having done work
which would justify an expectation, if not
a prediction. that he may prove to be a
really worthy successor to Thomas Hardy.
Another has demonstrated a dramatic quail
ity which has certainly not been excelled. if
equaled. in many years. Other indications
of a distinct revival here of originality in
thought and expression wholly aside from
the more serious works typifed by Mr..
Morley's Gladstone might be cited but
not much has developed recently in Amer
lea. 1t is idle, of course, to speculate upon
the probabilities of the future, but if other
lines of endeavor afford criterion, we may
at least be justified in the hope that the
eager minds of America will soon find a way
OF creating and maintaining a creditable
comparative position. 1t is merely a mat
ter Of fact. useless to dispute, that the past
year has been lamentably barren of re-
suits"
What of publishing in the United
States?''
1T is as good as can be expected. A pres
lQentlal II
striction in all lines of business. Conse-
Quently publishers, like merchants hesitate
to engage in very large undertakings, and
Few such, as l perceive, are in hand. In a
general way, however, our people continue
TO buy more and more books as they in
crease In numbers and education, practically
irrespective OF other considerations. | know
OF one publishing house whose business has
increase 90 per cent. in the past three years
This is undoubtedly somewhat exceptional
because of the fact that nearly 10 per cent.
OF its gross business concerns periodicals:
but there remains, nevertheless, so great a
growth in the sale of books that il cannot
fail to be regarded most significant. L
nave no doubt that in this respect the other
publishing houses have Jared equally we'll
and If so, much in the change can be traced
directly to the multiplication of our COM
Ing increase in the number of higher schools
and colleges, which in a nation of 10000 900
turn out each year a number of seekers of
knowledge In all lines vastly disproportion-
pared with England"
HUMORIST WANTED
What do you anticipate will be the next
specific development in the literary world ~
Josh Billings once observed that il was
unwise to predict unless you knew; con-
sequently l should hesitate to attempt an
answer TO that question If, however. Won
should ask me what specific element the
literary world most needs at the present
time. l should suggest unhesitatingly an
advertisement beginning: 'Wanted-A hui
morist Romanticism. realism and Sc
riousism' have innumerable strugglers
good, bad and Indifferent; but there is
left in the English writing world TODAY
put one truly great humorist-Mark Twain
Whether this condition can be remedied
oy endeavor is perhaps a psychological
mere Is no adequate reason TO suppose that
II is not susceptible of cultivation II NAV
be that II our very clever young writer's
become convinced of the necessity OF fill
ing this vacuum, they may divert their at
tention in a degree at least successfullv
ana III so, they will confer boon upon the
conmercialized mankind of the present day
When you consider that the best exercise
In the world, second only to horseback rid
ing, is laughing. the physical as we'll as
the mental advantages of wit and humor
on printed pages become obvious Curious
ly enough, an exceptional amount has de-
veloped in plays, whose popularity lusti-
fies the wisdom of like attempts in litera-
ture. But for some inexplicable reason
men like Hope. Barrie and Thomas seem
disposed to put their wits on the stage
NH alaxr in