New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-30
SOUTHERN LITERATURE.
II Book of Extracts; and an Ampl-
fled Inder.
SOUTHERN WRITER'S. Selections in Prose and
Verse Edited by ". P. Trent. 12nno, pp. 5A
The Macmillan Company.

SOUTHERN METTER 2 seseti9ns in Prose and "a
The Macmillan Company.
THE. sogTHE.RN LITE 5REAARy MESSENGER, 1884
1854 By Benjamin Blake Minor, Ii. D. limo.
PIP %. The Neale Publishing Company.
Professor Trent's volume is designed prinart-
ly he tells us, for use in school and college
classes in the South. It is carefully, and in
most respects, admirably. arranged for this pur-
pose. It sufficiently portrays the intellectual
attitude and outcome Of the South. ana If. up
TO recent period, that attitude was generally
conventional and self-conscious and that out
come mostly dull. the work was worth do
ing. For more than two hundred years-longer
indeed, than most commentators are willing to
Observation-Disclosures literature was Ameri-
only in the sense that it was indited in this
hemisphere. 1t was really English in form and
spirit, often initiative TO a slavish degree: and
If at its best # interesting and welcome it
was still without the animating stir of genius
Convention ruled much longer in the South than
in the North-'the art of writing" says Pro-
fessor Trent. giving but one reason. has never
been extensively practised by a people chiefly
engaged in agriculture'-and g genuine liking
for the classics in the college bred SOutherner
struck out no spark of originality in him. Much
truly excellent writing is quoted in the first half
of this volume, but, apart from the letters and
public documents of statesmen, there is nothing,
I'D to the appearance of Edgar Allan Poe. that is
marked by individual distinction. The treat
ment of Poe by his own people doubt
natural If not creditable 70 their perceptions;
but what adequate recognition Of genius could
be looked for from readers who apparently
1oyed the fnexpressible twaddle which then filed
so many-not all-of the pages Of THE South
ern Literary Messenger? I'VE confess" said
the editor of that periodical concerning .Poe's
first story, that there is too much German
horror in his subject''-a somewhat ludicrous
complaint coming from publication wallowing
in the stagnant back waters OF Imitation 1--WE
WISH" remarked the editor on another occasion,
after the man of genius had left his post the
Messenger" that Mr. Poe would stick TO the
department Of criticism" It was the singular
farewell of the South to her one great magma
tive author
Leaving Poe outside the question, IT must be
admitted that the main body Of poetry in the
South up to the time of the Civil War was Of
small value A few pretty little lyrics issuing,
not from fresh fancy, but from more or less
echoing sensbty, remain to US; we imagine
that MY life is like a summer rose" and
I'LL this cup to one made up
will always hold their modest place in antholo-
gies. But much Of the verse quoted by Professor
Trent makes particular appeal TO the true
lover OF poetry. AS for the verse inspired by
the Civil War, those unaffected by the turbulent
spirit of that time cannot be blind to it's faults
1t is full of burning wrath and hate and a
patriotism sincere. If mistaken: but it is too
hysterical with minions and knights and des-
pots heels: it does not reach noble level-no-
where sounds in it the feeling Of that mighty
organ roll. "Avenge Lord, thy slaughtered
saints
We do not at this moment dwell on the later
prose and verse of the South, having speciallv
under consideration the period of Southern
literature represented in Mr. Minors record
From lS4S to lo4' ne was the editor and pro-
prietor of the important magazine On tha
South, and we had hoped to find in his naees
some really picturesque and suggestive reminis-