Future of American Literature

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2069, 18 January 1898, Page 2

Future of American Literature

Mr F. Marion Crawford, the wellknown novelist, Has lately been lecturing in Chicago, and has been entertained at a banquet at the Chicago Press Club. The subject of his speech was ‘The Future of American Literature and Art/ He referred to the elements which went to make up England, and continued : ‘After (he sword came_the speech, and with the speech the pen and the inspiration and divinity of English genius. In its first state the language itself was rough and half-formed. Not till the smelting and the welding were done could the English speech take shape or strength and form of grace to express the lofty ideas of England’s greatest man. And so it has always been, in all nations, in all ages. And so it is with us. We, too, are a nation still in the furnace ; we, too, are made up of many elements, of which the many-sided Anglo-Saxon is but the first. We, too, are welded into one in the world’sgreat smithy. Who shall say that when the fierce work is over, when the whole has cooled to the hard temper that can carve a world, some great new thing shall not be wrought for the wonder of mankind ? Who shall say that out of the many tongues there shall not he born the perfect expression for which we seek and of which we dream ?’ He ref erred to the pessimistic tone of some writers with regard to American literature, and concluded thus :— 1 We who are -here may not see the end, nor our children, nor our children’s children. But. the end is atovo where we stand now, and not below us, as surely as creation leads one way and degeneration another. Hereafter, in the far days, when we are ourselves but'uncertain memories to those who-come after us, may such recollection as is left to us be the brief history of men who came in young times,, strove as they could, laboured with all their hearts, and won a step forward from the darkness toward the light.’