Colonel Hav on Literature.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2133, 23 July 1898, Page 2

Colonel Hav on Literature .

A recent London dinner was that of the Royal Literary Fuad, and Colonel Hay was present to respond to tho toast of “ Literature.” According to the report of his remarks in the London Times:—“ He disclaimed the title which had been conferred upon him of a representative of literature, and the connection of his name with the toast •reminded him of the story of the four-in-hand duly which consisted of two classes—those who could drive four-jn-h®nd and those who would like to ■if they could:- He betongedto the latter;category, Ah Egyptian poet of immemorial antiquityhad said that to all professions hut one there was some objection—that? was the scribe. Certainly the great writers of the world had an immortality which was denied to the greatest monarchs. The literary association. was more fascinating than the historical, and a visit to Sicily was more likely to recall a verse of Theocritus than the stifling history of the island, and Cleopatra’s place in our memory was due more to Shakespeare thairtd. thg%ctt®tLr|GordeAof the past. A |«|ichqr b|fqr4>Jiouis apfe in an mbm<mt-had shidV ‘ Brethrenihust and he at once corrected himself— ‘ at least most of us.’ But there was an immortal element in literature, and the greatest writers had been indifferent to material considerations. Of his own countrymen, Edgar Foe had been content to receive a few dollars for the mystic inspirations which had haunted later generations. Quality was be yond the power of gold, and literature could never perish from the earthy and British literature, Jik$ '■ Empire, could never be swallowed up in darkness.”.