University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-06-07
NEWSPAPER REFLECTS.
CONTEMPORARY LIFE
Bliss Perry, Harvard English
PrOsesSOr. Praises Amer
lean Journalism.
ITS PLACE IN THE LIBRARY
Writing Is Often of a Higher
Standard Than That
Found in Books.

Found in Books.
In recent lecture on Libraries and
the Community" Bliss Perry, professor
of English literature in Harvard Uni
versity and formerly editor OF the At
lantic Monthly. declared that the daily
newspaper is in reality true reflec-
tion of contemporary life. He also
spoke highly of the historical value and
the literary merits of the average daily
newspaper. The English of the daily
newspaper is often of a higher stand
ard than that of books, he said, and
suggested that it surpasses in quality
the speech OF everyday life.
Discussing the necessity of identify
ing real literature early in its career,
and the desirability of accepting a
piece of genuine literary work before
its author belongs to a bygone century,
Professor Perry dealt with many rela-
tions OF the library TO the public, thus
reaching his estimate of the newspa-
per- Among other things he said:
publishers and reviewers and pro-
fessiOnal tasters are nOtoriously fal-
libie in forecasting the real impact of
a book upon the public mind. The
manuscript; readers of eleven publish
| ing houses, il is said refused David
| ftarum,' because they saw, accurately
enough. its faults; but they saw moth
ing more.
Critics Not Always Competent.
Critics have never been able to
lathOm the secret of Louisa Alcott's
hold upon the interest of the young
girl; but the fact is patent The expert
assessors of the hall of fame found
out only the other day what any COM
petent janitor of public library could
have told them for the past fifty years
namely, that Edgar Allen Poe was
famous.
The library, let me repeat. must
look AT the goods and not merely at
the label. 'Hudibras' and the 'Anti-Ja-
Goblin and the 'Biglow Papers are ac-
credited examples of political satire.
They are acquired and catalogued, and
they are read less and less with each
passing year
The librarian should be keen-eyed
enough to see thar Mr. DoOleys' wit is
as was ever Samuel Buffers or George
Canning's or James Russell Loweli's.
as flashing and his satire as trenchant
The Odyssey and Don Quixote'
and Gil Bias are on the accredited |
list OF romances of adventure Ii is the |
task to perceive that no |
literary canon could accept those stor-
les and at the same time reject Hue
kleberry Finn
II Is true that the public will help
him here. long before the professional
assessors of literary values can adjust
heir figures to the new work of genius.
The ideal city library, for instance.
will know how to utilize newspapers.
not merely as historical resources, but
rs an essential element in studying
md cOmprchendins contemporary life
The library will naturally recognize
)ut need not concern itself unduly.
Win that bogey of the critics, the dis
inction between Journalism and lit.
'rature.' Literature may safely be left
o tight out its ,own battles. Ii has
very advantage. and i'm the end it will II
WIN Just about the measure of approv-
II which it deserves.
There is more danger lest one who
Ieals habitually with bound books
Mould come to feel that whatever is
manufactured into the outward form
Il book acquires by that act some
egree of inward literary virtue. But
mere Is no mysterious transformation
'hlch changes poems like Old Iron
ldes and the Battle Hymn of the Re-
uDilc INTO literature as soon as they
re bound in boards. They are inner
ntly literature, or they are not, from
le beginning; and the sound librarian
Ill not be misled by names. No pub-
shers Jugglery can change trash into
terature by binding it.
How About Pulpit English?
1T is often the fashion among half
lucated and among over educated peo-
c to decry newspapers as injurious
the cultivation of literary taste. Our
lildren are solemnly warned in
'hoOl and college against newspaper
ngllsh; but who bids them beware of
table English. playground
ngilsh department store English. af.
rnocn tea English, pulpit English?