The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1915-01-31

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erary taste. sasisfied with nothing less
than Addison Steele, Swift or Wal
pole; the poof whites who usually
could not re&d, but who lived and
were stupidiN content In the baldest,
barest poverty and ignorance, having
neither hop nor ambition; and the
negro. who ehamelion like. took the
color OF hit surroundings, the field
hand being bften little better than q
savage. whlIe the greatest aristocrat.
most courAF gentleman. and greatest
tyrant that ever has trodden Southern
soil was flle stately old house servant
nevertheleas perpetual child, depend
ent upos bis master.
Littlt literature of value could arise
underanch conditions. The aristocrat
lookSd to England for his light read
ing and turned his own attention to
polaics and law. All OF the prominent
mh of the South were lawyers. some
osthem lawyers of international fame.
81 few in their hours OF recreation
lE1rote poetry. stories or essays. many
of which show talent, bat which are
the work of amateurs. Their achieve
ments in State papers and oratory
proves that there was among them
Ing They simply turned for the real
business of life to other things rather
than to literature. John Randolph of
Roanoke boasted that he would go
down to his grave guiltless CT rhyme,
Yet his speeches, witicisms and let
ters portray q man fully capable OF
sparkling verse. had he turned his
genius into that channel. What might
not Clay, Calhoun and other famous
statesmen and speakers have achieved
In literature had they chosen that
form OF expression?
Though little was accomplished in
the South az compared with the
world. yet muca was actually done
and its literature Is an exponent OF
Its history. The first real American
literature was produced after the
Revolutionary War and. IL not actual
history CT biography, was more or less
historical in it's nature. John Mar
shalls Life OF Washington" has been
called the finest biographical work
that has appeared in America. Wirts'
Life OF Patrick Henry" Is a classic,
and his Letters of O British Spy"
present q vivid picture OF his times.
John p. Kennedy's "Swellow Barns"
gives series OF American sketches
similar to the pictures of English life
In Bracebridge Hall. Horseshoe
Robinson" portrays the backwooda
patriot, the type that was largely in
strpmental In turning the tide of war
In the Southern States and in making
possible the battle OF Kings Noun
tain. 1t also describes Just as ac-
curately the life OF the manor.
Revolutionary Verse.
The verse called forth by the Revo-
luton. though breathing sincere and
ardent patriotism. can not claim the
name OF poetry. That written In the
South was fully equal to any pro-
aIcea In the country; IL was all crude,
allowing loyalty and enthusiasm for
the American cause. but scarcely in-
stigated by the poetic muse. M
The first Southerner' to rim lasting
renown In that line was Francis Scott
Key OF Maryland with his stirring
Star Spangled Banner IA dear 70
all American hearts as the national
anthem. - z.1S fS 81 rs y Z
Letters, journals and essays OF the
early years Of the republic pulse with
the life and problems of the people.
Some OF those early letters have been
published only In recent times as the
interesting ones of Mira. Eliza Wflkin-
SON sof Charleston and the delightful
ones OF Eliza Lucas Pinckney, mother
os ChSTias Etszsawort.f ane Thogaas
Pnckney. They cover the long period
OF her life from girlhood to old age,
giving the homely. everyday existence
OF prosperous. educated family In