AMERICAN LITERATURE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 9

AMERICAN LITERATURE.

Here is a witty 'description . from "Lifo" (of New York) of several decades of American literature:— " 'Tho.Trariscendentalists.' Our literature was now beginning to form. 'Harper's Magazine' started its humorous department, and it was generally felt that as. a nation we had a. serious mission in life. Hence tlie. Transcendontalists. . . '.'The idea of Transcendentalism ,' is . very simple. It is 'founded, on one of Heller's, tricks. . , ; "This table is' not a table. Tin's blado of' grass is not- a blade of grass. You only think they are. That is why Harvard College,./when a now student presents "himself from beyond Omaha, doesn't know him for about four years, unless he conies in sitting on a movable tank of g'a.soline. '-• "Among the leaders of Transcendentalism wern Ralph Waldo , EmersonV •Henry D. Thoreau, Amos Alcott, and George Riploy. . '■■ "Emerson lived in Concord, N.H., ; since then made prominent .by Mary Baker Edd} , , > who. stai-ted a trust out of the idea that Emerson imported from Germany. > . ■'. '! '■■ "Emerson and Thoreau were neighbours. Emerson wrote lectures'.which, after being read .a few times, could be understood by the most educated person, rind occasionally he supplied Tliorcau, with' a. square meal. . Tlioreau usually needed it, for ho was leading a complicated life in the woods. His books are now making him a fair living, and if he were alive ;ho could' easily return some of those Emerson meals. : i . " 'Hawthoriie..' Tho name of Nathaniel Hawthorne will ever be revered in the publishers' catalogues. , ,Hawthorn 6 was practically:, the ' only good thing: that over came out. of .an" American Customs House.' ■' ' ' " . "'Oliver, Wendell Holmes.' Doctor Holnies, our second professional humorist, did not. have the, advantages ot tho Sunday papers to write- for,, and to depend upon Harvard class dinners. He possessed a light-and agreeable pen. ' 'We now come to the period of thu Civil' War and The New Era. , "James lliissell .Lowell at one time was the chief literary light of His books are still sold at auction. "We now come to • '.'.'The Present, Day . ,, What, tendencies are discernible in our literature (if .any) ?. We ; .cari only say that wo believe firmly in its future. . "Typewriters are constantly improving l " Carbon paper is better than ever. Stenographe'rs are getting ■so they. can spell words of more than one syllable. Authors are welcome in every department store.. And as long as our supply of paper lasts, why should Wβ despair ? : . ■ "Nothing ■ would please us better than to giyo a, detailed description of the writers of the' present age, but our space is limited. We therefore refer the reader to auy city directory."