Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1921-01-24
Why Art Languishes

One cannot wade little through the mass OF
literary rubbish flooding the nation without realizing that
American literature in the doldums Certainly touch
of genius ghtens the dreay waste of words The divine
poetry evidently might sink lower than our feeble
'vers libre," but it never has
probable that the only literature that America
produced during the world period that will live the
inspired teances of president just the utterances OF
President Lincoln constitute the greatest literature OF the
civil period Neither of the great epochs of national
life produced poet poem but both of the presidents
voiced the hopes and vsuazed the ideals and aspirations OF
the naton-as poets in other lands have done in similar
tcrses.
The school of fine following strange gods in
ts neglect of all that truly American and in it's frantic
search for the and novel and its emancipation Con-
tempuousy abandoning unworthy of portrayal the ma
tona genius apes the vulgar of decadence
the baZare couhtness of the barbarc Small wonder the
people do not follow for while the nation is young its ideals
are eternal as the hills What planted by the Pilgrims
flowered in the revolution and fruted in the world not
to be brushed aside by frivolous addists camouaged
artists.
Art has been all but smothefed by commercalsm. The
million week magazines pay much ne-and lines not
literature the result The mushroom and fabu
ous fortunes for best sellers speed quantity production
and quality is forgotten Books produced the same
lines that makes automobiles for quick sales and early
replacement. Rhyme, rhythm and sneeringly
brushed aside by yerseess versers whose work bewders
when it does not nauseate
Art has been driven from the stage by mechanics The
few actors have survas from bygone Instead
of artists have legs lingerie and coorfu scenery for
stars created by advertising Our movies series of
poses interrupted by printed legends to keep the huuc
alton Of acting Shakespeare has been banshed along with
the paghs and the trust presents the bedroom in their
place
AS with literature and the stage, with painting and
sculpture and music The groesque strvngs of the cubst
influence certain topsy turvey schools while others reflect
dull realism untouched by spirituality, under the mantle of
hopeless ediocry In music have the jazz that dscord
recrudecence of the jungle where racket and rhythm
sooh the savage breasand in the realm of the dance ST.
Vitus with his shmmy regns supreme
Art is expression and the mission of art to reflect the
fuller life has been lost sight of because artists
have not given expression to the deasm that inspires the
nation and makes worth while When artists realize
the futy of worshpng alien idols and express the society
of which they part the profound moral ideasm" of
America that bitteres critics concede exists along
With its characteristic of creative effort in all fields of
ivty, they will have come into their own and vitaized
American art long their influence local degenerave
md decadent rather than national enobng and exalted
long will the people refuse to follow and just long
viii we be deprived Of the art worthy of great nation