Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1917-10-31
WAR AND WORDS.
Proc. 1. L. FOSTER.

Among the various phenomena, show
Ing themselves in the presence Of great
national crises, there is none more in
teresting than the development of litera-
ture and language during these crises
1t is especially in the times of great wars
when ideals clash and the human mind
becomes wrought to high pitch in it's
zeal for justice and Righteousness, that
the results are most noticeable. AS we
look through the literary histories of all
nations we see certain phases Of liter
airy expression rising TO abnormal heights
under the spiritual impetus OF mans duty
at the time of great need. Heroism and
suffering seem to be the most potent in
fiuences leading to rich and durable ex-s
preston of human thought in verse and
prose.
Al these times the literary revival is
always the strongest in the field of
poetry and song. It seems almost as if
the human heart can best express it's
deepest feelings in measured lines. Every
great war has had its poet and it's singer
who has stirred the people to unexampled
deeds of heroism. There are several
which stand out in special prominence in
this field. such as ia Marseillaise, THE
star-Snangled Banner, Marching
Dixie ''America 1.-THE Battle Hymn
of the Republic The great Grench hymn.
pregnant with literary value as We'll as
human heart throbs, has been worth many
battalions to the hard-pressed armies of
France. While throughout our broad land
at the echo of the sunset gun thousands
of our nations finest citizens stand at
stirring strins of our great son of war
and peace. Nor must we forget the work
of Lowell Whittier, Whitman and others,
whose compelling verses led the nation
through the darkness of sin and slavery
into the light Of freedom and justice.
Prose has seemed to respond less readi-
ly to the call for spiritual leadership
Each period has had its great names in
this field, each of whom has done yeo-
mans service in awakening public con-
science. There is no more striking ex-
ample of this than Mrs. Stoves Uncle
Toms Cabin" the great prose epic of
the Civil War. Most of these books have
value lies in the localized area of the cris-
is which brugiht them into being.
The present war has had practically
the effect on literature as those preced-
ing. In the field Of prose few, if any,
real masterpieces have appeared born of
the conflict or its problems We natur-
ally think in this connection Of Mr. Brit
ling Sees 1t Through" by III. G. Wells.
This, however, can hardly claim place
among the enduring books of the day.
Garry On, by Dawson; Over The Top"
by Empey, THE Student at Arms by
Hankey, have all three of them a certain
personal touch which makes them read
able and attractive, hut they can hardly
be classed as real literature. They are
interesting to read to get the human
equation in this titanic struggle between
two opposing spiritual ideals of justice
and righteousness.
The Journalist has fought his way to
public favor through stirring accounts
of the herculean struggles OF mighty arm
les along miles of battle front. This war
has been particularly favorable to the
newspaper man and he has taken fun
advantage of it. The great appeal to the
Imagination and the tremendous interest
at stake have offered brilliant chances for
journalistic work from the field and many
articles which might be recloned as liter
airy models have come from the pen of
some of our best known writer's, inspired
to the enthusiasm of genius by the mar
velous evolutions of myriads of men on
the worlds greatest battle fields.
In poetry the output has been consider
able, though, in general of rather medic
ere value, There have been Hymns of
Hate" and answers thereto, but they
have largely been relegated to the scrap
basket, where they rightfully belong. Sew
eTal OF the English poets, among them the
laureate, have tried their hand and have
given Inspiring verses. Several OF the