The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-28
MODERN LITERATURE.

MODERN LITERATURE.
Modern literature has had two cri-
tics of its intrinsic worth in the last
few months who have a rather unique
standpoint from which to judge it.
These critics are Alden the editor of
iHarpers Monthly and Bliss Perry of
the Atlantic Monthly. Usually critics
are persons who have come but little
into contact with the current output.
For that reason the remarks of these
gentlemen Is particularly interesting.
Alden holds that the literature while
mot remarkable, is in truth Of a solid
foundation and refutes the saying that
the is nothing doing" in literature.
He replies to the critics who decry the
tendency toward what is called lack
of virility and says that these remarks
are those Of people who scorn the use
of adjectives and would have the pas
sive voice kicked forthwith out of the
strength in the growing descriptive
ability of writer's.
Bliss Perry on the other hand, while
accepting many of the tenets of be-
lief of Alden in the general hopeful
ness of the literary situation says that
the great trouble with this age is not
deathly dullness, but a thing which is
in way far more dangerous, deadly
facility. He of course points to the
abundance of pot-boilers which have
sold to the thousands of thousands.
More than that he says that mere
popularity is becoming the basis for
the general estimation of a book.
:. Mark Twain, is as usual, given the
credit for being the one real moving
force in American literature. Bliss
Perry seems to look at the whole per-
iod of modern literary production as
!really particularly sterile. He points
out that even in the short story, which
Of this age that little real work of
lasting merit has probably been done
although he gives credit to few peo-
.ple, among them Rudyard Kipling, for
q little, scattering, solidly good work.
Now so far neither of these gentle
men has said any thing which has not
been said often enough. But when
Mr.. Perry speaks of the tendency of
modern drama that is refreshing in
deed. No one can have failed to real
.ize the vogue of the musical show and
this vogue is too strong to even be
disguised with the, usually dull lines
and varyingly pretty girls which &C
company this product of the modern
theater. Mr.. Perry looks for a new
type OF drama. Is it not natural to
think that when the theatrical man.
ayers are in a particularly receptive
mood for new ideas in this line that
there will be a change in the present
TYPE.
The grand opera got it's great re-
birth after the long slumber in the
time honored ways which were char
acteristic of the pre-Wagnerian opera.
Why is it not to be supposed that the
comic opera will get new impetus
A well known producer of musical
plays in speaking of the outlook some
months ago said that the time was un-
doubtedly coming when the music
would no longer be dragged into the
production and the musical show
would cease to be entirely a vaude-
vile performance. These he said
would have their place but the other
was the coming thing 1t is more
than possible that such will be the
case
This situation coupled with the un-
doubted condition that more and more
literary men are entering into drama
tic work on account of the great re-
wards of the stage, point to the fact
that we shall probably have a better
drama than anything else in the i'm
mediate future. In fact this may al.
most be said to have commenced al.
ready for there is not much doubt
that the modern successful plays have
been far and away better than the
successful novels.
At any rate let us not be down
hearted despite Messrs. Perry and AL
den. Indiana has Just commenced.
RIcHMoND'S ExILES.
Few people in this town realize the