The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-16
Old Books That Were Read
 Ln Alabama in the Thirfies
Mr. Agee Writes of Early Reading and Lamens the Backward Step
 to Barbarous and Sum ptuary Laws in Alabama

was kSaPtlSt inthibttEs 9tnO Ot SAoANo County. possessed of religious zeal and poetic fire. and conceived the Idea that he could introduce an original set of hymns for the Baptists, which would displace Dorrey's Choice as text book. Dorrey's being only selections. But his hymn failed to catch fhe popular ear" and supplant Dorrey whether from want of musical taste or lack of ap- preciatfon the writer Is not prepared to say. Perhaps the public thought there was more rhyme than reason in both publications. Yet. l regret their ex- tinction as a crude installment of the native genius of early Alabama Liter- ature.
 There were doubtless other authors and books published in those early Alabama days, but failed to come un- der my observation or my memory Is at fault. If there be any extant I hope they will be preserved and sent to the Department of History and Archives Nothing marks the progress of a nation more than its literature. Even trihing events recorded mark the social habits and home life of people. and make his- tory more than narration of great bat ties with victory or defeat.
 It is said that Troubadours in France and elsewhere in Europe. in the middle ages, as they travelled from place to place. singing their ballads and re- hearslng war songs. national airs. kept alive a patriotic spirit and impressed history on their hearers.
 There was marked progress in Eng fish literature from Chaucer in the fourteenth century to the great au- thors of the sixteenth and seventeenth and the Elizabethan Age, Pope. Dry den. Shakespeare. etc.
 It may be that students of former days did not enjoy the patent process of imbibing knowledge and learning as at present, got 1t by hard study and retained what they learned. There was with them no royal road to knowl- edge. Where are the profound schoi- ars now to compare with the Bacons, Locks. Addison. Milton. Pope and Dry den, In English literature of the six teenth ito eighteenth century? Who now translates the Iliad and Odissey of Homer? These were not only students, but scholars. They thought little learning was a dangerous thing Gas think about our negroes and negro schools.) Drink deep or taste not the Pieriap Spring." They did drink deep at the fountains of learning.
 They could not only write, but speak the Latin language, and quote whole sentences of this dead language as fiuently as others the translatsla.
 It Is sad to think that the Irish once had Q distinct language. dialect of their own-the Hibernian Celtic, which is not only disused, but forgotten except by a few antiquarians. It is as dead for use as the old Greek or Latin. Tx Literature Is progressive to a certain point, unlike the arts and sciences. which seem to have no limit.
 What modern dramatist compares with Shakespeare, the greatest com- bination of Orator, Statesman, Poet, Philosopher the world has ever known Some iconoclast would rudeiy rob him of his fame and attribute his plays to Bacon or other men of letters. But stick to William Shakespeare. the original and veritable author, of flesh and blood. not only believe in his identity as an author. but believe he acted his own plays. Of course. this taxes credulity, but he was an origin al--none before and none since--a prod igy. But the world is full of prodigies and surprises. except the science of government. That Is retrograding. When the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed and the Constitution of the United States was ratified, 1t was thought by statesmen that the acme had been reached. that near by perfec- tion of statecraft had been nttained--a representative government with checks and balances. But now the tendency ia to populistic government--the popu- Ian rules by loud talk, buster, threats and intimidation. Our assem- plies are no longer representative or deliberative bodies. We have gone back to barbarous and medieval ages with sumptuary laws and paternalism. The State must take care of your health. your morals, your religion. You are to be no longer free or have individual ism: every one must be some one else's guardian. you be my guardian and I'll be yours. We have plenty of lawmak- ers but few statesmen.
 A popular government. or govern. ment ruled by the populace. is more dangerous and tyrannical than Kings or Czars, because there is no restraint no responsibility. It is wholly gov erned and influenced by passion. pre- iudice and excitement. Witness the French Revolution. the Reign of Ter TOT iwth socialism, anarchy and RobesT pierre--a democracy regarding neither God nor man, run mad with It's too much liberty. license unrestrained. to kill, rob and burn whatever and whom ever 1t marked for destruction. Who was 1t that sentenced Socrates, the wisest philosopher of Ancient Greece. to death for some imaginary heresy? Not one judge. nor five Supreme Court of Judges, but the 800 in judgment at Athens, biased by bigotry and intol- erance, and the murmurings of the mob. How soon before they repented of the injustice done this great and good man? But to latel He had drank the hemlock.