The sun., 1918-11-17
EEkWEIskAE


ing we shall get down to cases that every one can
understand
The point we have tried to make cOndenses to
this: The present is Supremacy important to Us ALL
To some of us is all important because Of the past
and to some of us it is of immense moment because
of the future, and to the greatest number (prOb
ably) the present is of overShadowing concern be-
cause it is the present-the time when they count
and make themselves count. 1t is now or never,
it always is in life though the urgency of the hour
is not always so apparent.
1t was now or never with the armies in the field
with the men training in the camps, with the coal
miners, the shipbuilderS, the food savers in the
kitchens. 1t is Just as much now never with the
poets the novelists the esSayiss- the workers
in every line, although they may not see so dis
tinctly the immediacy of the hour Everybody saw
the necessity of doing things to win the war; many
can see the necessity of doing things that will con-
stitute sort of winning after the war. There is
always something TO be If it is not war it is
an after the war "Peace hath its victories no less
renowned than war" is fine sounding line GUS
tomarily recited without the slightest recognition
of its real meaning The poet did not mean that
the victories of peace were as greatly acclaimed
the victories of war; but thai the tota! of their
renOwn was as great or greater because they are
Lore enduring.
The Application to Literature.
Now for the cases.
1t is the duty, the opportunity and the priv
lege of America now, in the present hour, to make
it impossible hereafter for any one to raise such
question as BLISS PERRY brings up in his new book
The american Spirit IN Literature, namely whether
there is an independent American literature. Not
only does Mr.. PERRY raise the question, but stated
as badly we have stated it, the query dis
cussed with great seriousness, by one Of our con-
tempOrarieS some weeks ago! We are happy to say
that both Mr.. PERRY and our contemporary decided
that there IS such thing as an American htera-
ture, and that AD,erican writing is not adj
junct (perhaps caudal appendage) Of English
literature. All Americans will feel deeply gratfed
that they could honorably come to such conclu-
sion. But not all Americans will feel gratifed that
the conclusion was reached on the strength Of
EMERSON, LOWELL, LoNGFEILow, WHITTIER,
HOLMES, WHITMAN, Poe and others of the immortal
dead. Some Americans will wish with faint and
timid longing that the conclusion might have been
reached, or at least sustained on the strength Of
TARKINGToN ROBERT HERRICK, EDITH WHARTON,
MARY JOHNSTON, GERTRUDE ATHERToN, MARY S.
WATTS, WILLIAM ALLEN WHITE, EDGAR LEE
MASTERS, AMY LOWELL, EDNA FERBER, JOSEPH
HERGEsHEIslER, OWEN MISTER and dozen or SO
other living writers over whose relative Importance
as witnesses for the affirmative we have no desire to
quarrel Mr. HowELIs, we believe, was called to
the stand.
If we had not seen it we should refuse to credit
our senses. The idea of any one holding court to-
day to decide the question to the existence of an
independent American literature is incredibly
funny. 1t is the popularity of criticism that any
one can set up court anywhere at any time for
any purpose and with unlimited jurisdiction.
There no rules Of procedure. There no rules
of evidence. There is no jury the people who read
books may sit packed in the court room, but there
must be no interruptions. Order in the court!
Usually the critic judge sits alone, but sometimes
there are special sessions with full bench. Writs
issued, subpGnas served witnesses are called
and testimony is taken. An injunction may be ap-
piled for, either temporary or permanent. Nothing
is easier than to be held in contempt.
Peculiarities of Procedure.
The most striking popularity of procedure in the
Critical Court is with regard to what constitutes
evidence You might, in the innocence of your
heart s1IDpOse that a man s writings would const-