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


either his poetry or his stories. but
idealism carried over to the fantastic,
sometimes to the grotesque.
Imaortal Pen People.
Among the immortals sprung from
the brain of genius. Southern writer's
have added figures worthy Of the
company of Sam Weller, Mr.. Pickwick.
Col Newcomb and Becky Sharpe.
Judge Longstrect has given to this
shadow world the inimitable Ned
Brace; James G. Baldwin has added
Ovid Bolus. Esq; Hooper created ST.
mon Suggs. Jr.; William T. Thompson
gave the world the gallant Maj. Jones.
These are characters from books be-
loved and laughed over from the Po-
tomac to the Rio Grande. They show
what the idealistic touch Of genius can
make of the rough backwocdsman, or
the eccentric viilager.
The school of stern, bald realism
which has been popular in recent
years, has found few followers in the
South. Rather than solve the painful
problems of real life. the Southern
writer has shown wish to forget the
world and Its grieGs. and the SoutherIf
reader prefers to live in his dream
world, with and among either the
high, the beautiful, the brave. fhe
noble and the ideal or to enjoy 1.-THE
peculiarities and harmless foibles Of
the backwoodsman, the mountaineer
or the negro.
But by no means is idealisn in
American literature confined to the
South. nor realism found alone "a the
North; they overlap and inteitwist.
The general trend OF Southern titera-
ture, however, is in the direction OF
the valley Of the lotus-eater, while
| through the literature of the North
rings the stirring cry of life ann en-
deavor.
But in imaginative literature. do we
| want always the echo Of the battle ami
the strife?
May the problem novel, and the seIi
mon III verse never penetrate the fairy
world of Southern literature.
Literature fnterprets History.
Though something worthy OF th3
name of literature has been produced
in the South, 1t has been well saN
| by a commentator on Southern lett
ters: "The art value Is in no way ID
be compared with the life value"
| There was from earliest times an
appreciation Of education and provls-
ion made for 1t. Massachusetts had
its Harvard. Virginia its William and
Mary, and there was little to choose
tatween them in point of excellence
He ervard produced more ethical think
ert3 and reformers, William and Mary
more classical scholars and greater
orators. Other colleges followed both
North and South, and education be-
came increasingly accessible. But here
New England had the advantage. Her
States were thickly populated, town
| or city life was the rule. though the
town might be the merest hamlet, the
people lived close together. schools
were possible and were attended by
all. The SON of the blacksmith and
! the son OF the Judge sat side by side
| and recited in the same class. The
i son of the blacksmith was often the
4 better student, and rose to high po-
sition by force OF superior intellect
Manhood attained. these former
6choolmates met on q common level
1 and any one who had brains had the
opportunity to reach whatsoever posi-
tioU he pleased.
ygIn the South people lived for apart
| on huge plantetions; children OF the
/ great planters were taught at home
until they reached an age to be sent
/ the boys to college, very often an
English university, the girls to the
ssssaFg lgd!es' semiaaries es finishing
school. to be found In every city.
In the South there were three class
ee--the slave owning aristocrat, q
man OF classical learning and fine lit