Evening star., 1942-12-04
Author Says War
May Bring New
Type of Writing
Mrs. Alice T. Hobart
ForeSeeS a Spiritual
Renaissance
By Frances Lide.

Whereas type of literature
called realism" came out of the
last war. perhaps this war may re-
suit in spiritual renaissance, sug-
gests Mrs. Alice Tisdale Hobart.
The author of "Oil for the Lamps
of China" and more recently, THE
Cup and the Sword" speculated on
the future of literature in an ad-
dress yesterday before the Twen-
tieth Century Club at the YWCA.
Pointing out that we are now
talking about the four freedoms
and a better world after the war,
Mrs. Hobart saw possible spiritual
influence on literature from the ad-
lustments which will have to be
made If these objectives are achieved
But whether spiritual renaissance
develops in writing will depend on
both the reader and author, she
contended.
Posing the interesting question of
whether the reader is receptive and
the writer creative, or whether the
positions are reversed, Mrs. Hobart
inclined to the theory that each
group had both qualities.
And a union of the two forces
the receptive and the active-may
make for spiritual renaissance,
she believes.
Devoting most of her talk to the
process of writing novels, Mrs. Ho-
bart emphasized that her own work
had been the result of experience.
Sixteen years of experience went
into the writing of "Oil for the
Lamps of China" she said, recalling
her long residence in the Orient,
while 80 years went into her latest
book, The Cup and the Sword"
Speaking of the long span of eX-
perience which contributed to the
latter novel, her first American
story, Mrs. Hobart said that after
knowing the violence of China,
she had begun to forget there were
SUCH things as peace and security.
On returning to this country, how
ever, she said, she knew how a man
would feel who had fed from tyran-
ny and violence to live in America.
I'm other words, knew how a refu-
gee would feel here" she said, and
I thought I was ready to write an
American novel. I thought man
would have two things in him-a
spirit of liberty, but also the seeds of
violence"
Identifying herself as among the
authors who float a story on a
theme" Mrs. Hobart said her own
theme has been harmony between
the spirit and the material"
TT just happens" she said 'I
don't intend to do it. But it hap
pens for these reasons: Because I'm
puritan-although it's not smart
to say it-and also because I've lived
Is years in China. Nobody can live
there so long without being affected
by their philosophy. The Chinese
philosopy is harmony between the
oppositeS."
AS for plots, Mrs. Hobart said :
II never made one in all my life.
With me 1T is more like growth or
ascending ladder" Her plots de-
velop as she determines the reaction
of her characters to a given situ-
alton. she explained.
Mrs Clovd Heck Marvin, president
Of the club. presented the speaker
and presided over the business ses-
sion.
Reports included the announce
ment that Miss Gladys Milligan of
the National Cathedral School
would give demonstration of por-
trait painting in water color, with
Mrs. Marvin posing, at meeting of
the art section December Is.
New members voted into the club
were Mrs. Charles H. Shaffer. Mrs.
John Parker Van Zandt and Mrs. G.
Louis Weller.