The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1907-03-12
AUTHORS AND AUTHoRsHIPs.

When | first decided to espouse lit
erature as calling selected the
name, Augustus R. Smyth, as the alias
under which | would write myself to
fame l did this for several reasons,
the chief of which. l shall disclose to
you during the course of my nara
tives.
In this first installment l shall not
regale you with anything more excit-
ing than symposium, so-called be-
cause of the significant symptoms
which it expresses. AS it is chiefly
upon your appreciation of true litera-
ture that my success depends, I wish,
before we draw closer to the palpltat-
ing heart of my subject, to discuss the
language as we'll as some of the lights
Of the literary world from my own
point of view. 1t must always be
borne in mind that l have sought
original and hitherto unknown au-
thorities from which have drawn my
conclusions, hence that l may often
differ from preceding and apparently
more learned critics will not be
strange, nor must it arouse a doubt
as to my sincerity.
[ believe there are many eDochs in
the history of literature which have
been up to this present moment much
misunderstood; and that authors and
their chronicles have been much mis-
quoted and misinterpreted. AS proof
of this l cite the case of my one
time intimate, Mr.. Bully Lytton. The
name Lytton is derived from another
word, "iighton," meaning light ahead.
Thus we discover that Lytton was
torchbearer in the literary parade.
One of Lytton's most successful books
is "The Lady of Lions" AS her name
signifies, the Lady of Lions" was
female tanner of lions and lionesses;
and in her own time met with many
strange adventures which | shall not
recount here. 1t is asserted that she
diod in a quiet and holy place. Lyt-
ton also wrote "Richlieu," a book
which many ignorant persons have
confounded with a similar work by a
different author, called the Cardinals
SnuffbOX."
Mark Twain and Grantland Rice,
both gifted in their way, do not dwell!
long upon any one particular phase or
their subject. AS l am in the same
category of geniuses, l shall do like
wise.
We now come to Shakespeare, great
est of all prOpellers. of the pen. AL
though history does not declare that
Shakespeare was brother of Robes
pierre, l am convinced, after personal
investigation, that such was the case.
At this point | must correct another
error which literature has long carried
upon it's escutcheon, namely, that
which is asserted by certain critics
who say that Byron Williams wrote
the plays of Shakespeare. This is not
SO. I am also abstemiOus with Bacon.
IT is an unpalatable food and all those
who accept it in a Shakespearean
sense as a regular diet are sure to die
of Indigestion.
Shakespeare wrote several pieces
of poetry that have never been reclted
at school commen cements or church
entertainments. This, l suppose, is
because Shakespeare is too classic.
Did you ever notice how hard II is 10
say classic things properly? There
are passages in Shakespeare's plays
that have taxed the skill as well as
the nerve of the most accomplished
Iinguists of time. Even in that de-
Iigbtful drama Of the hearts wander
Ing Romeo and sweet Juliet, there are
places where the glib Mercutio halts,
Ialtsrs ana bushes. even as the tragic
and forceful impersonater of the
classic heroine otter pauses and seems
TO reflect. When they resume you
feel that you have missed one of those
extremely classic lines. Yet they are
not lost, these intense classics. The
book still contains them. This is
proof that it is the classic things
which live the longest.
William Makeface Thackery, a very
dry and husky name, by the way,
succeeded Shakespeare as a classic
writer, That is. he was classic at In
tervals. Thackery didn't amount to
very much, at least we have not read
his books. Hence, he has little place
among these adventures.
Proceeding to Boccaccio, we can only
yay that he was very popular classic
writer of his time, although none OF
his essays are read in public nova
lays.
We only have time to discuss the
more prominent lights OF literature,
and must dispose of Scott by merely
Mentioning that he was the author OF
Little Red Riding Hood. tale that
aas been associated with some of the
ghims of Hans Christian Anderson
nd the foibles Of Aesop. Anderson,