The sun., 1918-08-18
patriotism and Plain Speaking"


signature:
ITO THE EDITOR OF Books AND THE Book WORLD
Sir: l read with surprise your editorial of Sum
day, July Z, regarding paragraph in my text
book of English Literature. The cause of your ex-
cited denunciaton seemed to be my statement that
in the last twenty years or so Americans have not
written so much good literature as have English
men. / am sorry that my statement of this fact
made your critic so angry-but, after ALL ism t it
factf note that you have made no attempt to dis
prove it. Why not since others may be as blind as
l. point out to US instances of-the following
Il. Recent American novelists of approximately
the same rank as WELLS, GAIswoRTHY, DE Nor
GAN, CONRAD, WAPoLE
go Recent American poets q admit one
AKEN) of equal power with Moves MAsEFIELD
KILLING.
90 Recent American dramatists fairly compare
bic with SHAW, BARKER, YEATS, SYNGE, GREGORY,
DUNsANy, IRVINE, GALswoRTHY.
is it patriotic! to claim in spite Of patent facts,
that American literature is strong where it isnts /
love my country much any one can. But just
Us | will admit that dear friend is homely, awk-
ward, with poor taste in music and hold him just
dear friend with these defects, just l will
admit that my native land has her limitations No
He should do all in his power to point them out, to
help to overcome them. But let honestly tell the
country we love the honest truth about itself, be
its friend, not its fatterer. Have faith that America
is big enough in spirit to prefer the outspoken
friend. AS for Americanism, | believe in the real
thing, the honest discriminating appreciation Of
the best in America, not in the noisy Yankee
Doodlesm' whose barbaric yawp' exposes us TO
the rdcule of nations.
with regard to the space devoted to American
literature observe that the title English Literature
is conventionally understood to apply to English
works originating in England, Wales Scotland and
ireland land possibly Canada, Australia, &C.,
but is not understood to cover writings of citizens
of the United States. In a work with this title
sequently, American literature is naturally given
only incidental treatment. Your editorial is, how
ever in serious error in giving the impression that
American literature is dealt with only in the
ton quoted. Approximately chapter is taken up
with the working out in America of the influences
studied in English writers. The section denounced
dealt only with American writers of recent years.
''In the present crisis, in pillorying book
+unpatriotic and un-American, you owe it, in COM
mon honesty to writer and publisher, to make clear
that the book prescribed is in sense pro-German
1t offends you by admitting that in some respects
at certain period another literature has been
erior to our own But this literature whose supe-
riority is admitted is that of Germany's dearest
foe'-Engand- of allies-in-arms. l am
sure that no German school would welcome this
book-it points out too clearly the recent materia
zation and degradation of Germany's ideals. To
the real American patriot the book will appeal for
what it is-an honest attempt to study the great
constructive forces that underlie the growth of
England's literature and our
''The writer of the editorial gives too much
attention to the name and habitat Of the author.
The thing to be settled in question of this sort is
the problem itself. Is the opinion wrong? Whyf
The inconspicuousness Of the author is all the
for taking up the question itself carefully
and questioningly An academic proposition should
not be Numbered out of court with jeste.
Don't call names Get down to facts
'Yours truly,
HERBERT BATES.
EAST BooTHBAY, Maine, July IA, 1918"
Mr. Bates Is Mistaken.
Mr. BATES is mistaken. We did not quote any
statement hv him that Gin tho LAST twenty wears