The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-02
Nirginians i'll World of Letters
Discuss Statement of Miss
Ellen Glasgow.
SOUTH OPEN TO CRITICISM
Has Place i'll Life OF
Section-Different From
Sentimentality~

Rallyins 10 the defense OF the senti-
raent which they say is the basis OF
the South's fne home life and in
tellectual progress during recent years
4 number of Virginia writers whose
names are household words wherever
books are read. in statements TO The
Times Dispatch yesterday. agreed and
disagreed with the opinions expressed
by Miss Ellen Glasgow in her recent
interview published in the New York
Times Review of Books.
In reply to a question about the
South, Miss Glasgow is quoted as say
ing:
Il love it: | was brought up In il, but
all my life l have had 10 struggle
against the South's sentimentality.
which / inherit. We VIII sooner OF
later have to tear asunder that veil
Of sentimentaIity. our people VIII
have to realize that a statement made
I'm criticism of the South is not an
act OF disloyalty. Please say that
in as kind a way as possible, for
say IL as a Southerner. We must Guilt
vate within us truth instead Of senti-
mentality. which UP 10 now has been
our darling voice.
Bishop O'ConneII.
All of the persons who discussed
this paragraph for The Times Dis
Patch were careful to make differ
ence between sentiment and senti-
mentality AS the Right Rev Bishop
CConnell put 1t. sentiment is the we'll
spring of all a nations inspiration IN
its efforts to create a higher hfe
Sentimentality is something that par
takes OF the tawdry, and is In conse-
quence less desira bic.
Bishop O'ConneII. a Southerner. ia
miliar with all the traditions OF the
South. declined either TO condemn or
praise Miss Glasgow's expression. II
would be the part IF Southern courtesy
and sentiment. he said, 10 allow her
TO explain her meaning more fully
before entering into any discussion OF
the correctness OF her position Just
what she meant BY sentimentality was
not clear.
I think met Miss Glasgow some
years ago on a journey TO Ita.y, ne
said. she was most delightful
woman and one who thought deeply. i
think she should be allowed an expia-
nation"
Il will say this he continued: The
aggregate of the sentiment Of the in
dividuals composing a nation Is the
standard by which to judge the fitness
of that nation for the performance OF
great and exacting tasks Sentiment
inspires to poetry and all of the nobler
things Of life"
Misbs Molly Elliot SeaweIl.
Miss Molly Elliot Seawell tele-
graphed from Washington that sne
was sentimentalist unashamed ana
unafraid. To her mind sentiment Is
the handspring that prompts the h1gn-
souled actions Of the Souths sons
wherever they may be Woodrow Will
son. she says, would not have visited
Staunton last week had he not been
actuated by the sentiment OF the
South.
Her complete statement follows;
Il am not at all afraid Of the word
sentimentalism. 1t Is only another
name for ideaIism. L think the
tendency II our American life is too
materialistic. and We need more sent-
mentalism than we have The sentl-
mentalism of the South has not pre-
vented its increasing its taxable values
something like 1000 per cent in gen
Grafton. The sentimental man or "o-
man is a tiresome creature.
1T was sentimentaiism pure and sim
pie that brought Mr. Woodrow Wilson
hundreds of miles to visit the little
house in which he was born If ne
had not been a sentime ntalist he
would have said. Why should I go 10
a provincial town to see common
place little house and take the trouoie
be civil to a great number OF per
sons who can be Of 10 further use 10
me. having already given me their
votesT But being a sentimentahst'
like all masters Of men, he went 10 ms
birthplace. said and did number OF
sentimental and highly sensible things.
and proved his kioship with the bet
ter part OF mankind by his simple.
tender and genuine sentiment
Personally 7 am an open, confessed
and shameless sentimentalisi una
sbsmed and unafraid. tSignedl
MOLLY ELLIOT SEAWELsl-
Mrs. Kate Langley Bosher-
Mrs Kate Langley Bosher. the aU-
thor 81 Mary Cary and The Man IN
Lonely Land" agreed with Miss Gias-
SOW on some points. The South. she
said. is hostile to adverse crIticism-
hut not more so than any other sec
ton OF the union. nor than any other
veopIc. To recent criticism Is human I
4 think the South has ugly places |
in its life just like any other part OF