are likely to be evolved, and still the essential fact remains, that the great mass of the American people are securing from these debates and speculations a considerable amount of intellectual discipline. This will be one of the permanent effects of the great events through which we are passing. To appreciate the manner in which this fact may affect our literature, we have but to glance at the relation our literature sustains to the public. Being destitute of aristocratic or governmental encouragement, and dependent upon the direct support of the people, it adapts itself to their feelings and wants, and so supply comes to bear a close relation to demand. If, therefore, a better appreciation of what is true and beautiful can by any means be created among the people, the way is open for a great and permanent improvement in literature. Again; increased information and culture remove old superstitions and fallacies and bring us nearer to the realization of political and moral truth. To take a particular illustration of our meaning; our increased knowledge of the heinous system of slavery will prevent any demand for a new edition of the "South Side View," or any new volumes of pro-slavery sermons, or any expurgated editions of the old authors, and will unshackle many a press, will give a more free and rapid motion to many a pen, and will set at liberty the imagination of not a few of our authors and poets. A second consideration closely connected with the one just alluded to, is the fact that an intense desire, I might almost say, a morbid passion for exciting news has seized upon the community. The fact is easily accounted for, indeed, is a most natural result of the circumstances attending the passage of events. Never were the interests of humanity in greater peril and never did twelve months before witness such a rapid succession of great and startling occurrences. It would have argued badly for our appreciation of the importance of the conflict and the dignity of our position, had we been less enthusiastic. But it seems to me certain that this long continued tension of feeling, this all absorbing anxiety for news, fanned by the daily and almost hourly issues of the eager press, are working a most important change in our mental habits, and will have a very perceptible effect upon our literature. The excitable American temperament affected by climate and situation, and still further aroused by these peculiar circumstances, is driving us on to nervous activity in every department of labor. We are more and more zealous in seeking for the most direct and positive means to our ends, and more and more impatient for successful and speedy results. Our periodical literature has already felt the increased pressure of the popular demand. We have now become, even if we were not before, a reading nation. We shall continue to read, and to demand exciting, thrilling matter. The first productions intended to meet this demand will undoubtedly be of an inferior character. As the bad is easier of production than the good, so it will have the advantage of precedence in the field. We may except that the country will be flooded with "Personal Naratives" "Histories of the Great Rebellion," and an unmeasured quantity of those inevitable small novels, each with two titles connected by the disjunctive, and full of blood and thunder, fire and love. But not all of these works will be destitute of merit, for Brownlow will certainly favor us with plainness of statement, and vigor if not elegance of style, while Abbott will be reliable for facts, and will tell us all about them in the prettiest way imaginable. Still, for the sake of our literature, we hope most of these productions will be ephemeral. The only question is, whether our best authors will seize upon the opportunity and with untiring energy supply us with truly timely and valuable works, which shall speedily induce a healthy reaction in the the popular taste, from vitiation it may have suffered during the bustle of the conflict, and the unsettled period which followed it. May we not hope that neither the authors nor the people will be wanting to each other, and that while we continue to read as eagerly as ever, all will be able to appreciate and to be provided with as choice productions as have ever graced the English tongue. A third consideration lies in the fact that a great number of new and interesting subjects are placed at the disposal of authors and forced upon public attention. All great revolutions are fruitful in such themes, this one is peculiarly so. Its origin and purpose have been so extraordinary, its career so brilliant in some respects, and so disgraceful as a whole, the complications it has introduced are so intri-cate, its expense so vast, its sacrifice so great, its results so sad in the present and so glorious in the future, that it surpasses all similar movements which the world has yet seen. It promises a rich harvest to the careful gleaner, in every department of literature. As we have already said, the gravest questions of governmental policy, of political economy, of international law, of private and public right, are awaiting adjudication. The people are deeply interested in their consideration, and will pay most respectful attention to any who can promise them reliable instruction. The occasion requires and invites a series of political writings as sound and brilliant as those which in our early constitutional history reflected such honor upon Hamilton, Jefferson and their associates. In the department of history the demand for immediate productions is not so urgent. Still the occasion is one most favorable for rare success in certain fields and styles of history. For poetry and romance a broad and most inviting region is thrown open. It is true that our border war has not so much of individual daring and wild personal adventure as those which furnished Walter Scott with his choicest themes, yet it is by no means wanting in such elements of romantic interest. War has become so much a matter of profound science and organized effort, that it cannot have the same romantic character as in the olden time; yet where shall we find brighter examples of single-handed heroism, of noble courage, of patient suffering, or scenes of more touching interest than the daily occurrences of this war afford us? We are in a much better situation to make use of such material than we were after the war of the Revolution. Then we were poor and weak, we had no commanding position in the world, we had few authors and but little culture; but now all is changed; and though the same old question of "To be or not to be," is forced upon us, it now seems of far easier solution. The people then were compelled to be intensely practical, since their existence depended upon it; now that harsh spirit is greatly modified and is susceptible of still greater change. Whatever present use shall be made of the materials thus provided for our authors, the sublime exhibitions of patriotism so often witnessed in our own seetion of the country, the suffering and devotion of the persecuted unionists of the South, both white and black, their simple faith, their reverential affection for the old flag, contrasted with the implacable hate and fiendish cruelty of their persecutors, will be the wonder of the generation following us, and handed down in long tradition, may furnish the web for that great American epic which shall be the world's fourth and best-Time's noblest product and the last. We have just glanced at a few of the considerations which lie upon the surface of the subject, and suggested some of the influences which the great events we are now passing through, may have upon the future of our literature. We must believe that the grand result will be a purifying and ennobling effect. Our increased knowledge and intellectual culture will demand a higher and better style of productions, our zest for intelligence and mental food, if wisely controlled and directed, will be met in works of real point and power, the new and varied topics pressing upon our attention will give ample scope, and we trust inspiration to our best statesmen, historians, novelists and poets. American liberty, baptized in the flood and fire of war, is just entering upon a career of glorious promise. Why may not American literature, twin sister of American liberty, rejuvenated, enter upon an equally brilliant career in the hopeful future? C. W. F. 63 Book Notices. Fort Lafayette; or, Love and Secession. A Novel. By BENJAMIN WOOD. Pp. 300. AN appeal to the feelings on behalf of a wrong cause, is always dangerous. By using particular to represent general truths, by slurring the evil and exalting the good, a skilful writer can, in almost every case, carry his audience along with him. Hon. Ben. Wood, of "Daily News" celebrity, has been trying to do just this, and, unfortunately, has more than half succeeded. In the novel which he has written, Beverly Weems is taken as a type of the South, ready in defence of State rights to oppose the power and authority of the Central Government. Harold Hare, the representative Yankee, is made the author's man of straw, overcome in every case by his opponent's specious though apparently honest arguments. He again differs from Arthur Wayne, the "peace man," in whom all the graces which could belong to a possible person are united. Cast into Fort Lafayette by the machinations of a cunning enemy, he leaves it broken in health, and closes the volume with his death. It would be tedious to speak of the plot of the story. That is a mere canvas, in which the deadly shot are contained, which is of no use save to bind them together. Now and then there are hits, just hits, at certain people, whom every one recognizes. The characters of Philip Searle and Seth Rawbon are not exaggerated from the life. But through and through the book, runs the feeling of hatred to the North. It can be seen in the sneering "Peace! peace!" tone, and the readiness to find any possible fault. is the burden of the song. He would have peace, even the most disgraceful, so it was but a cessation of this "fatricidal war." It was well that "Love and Secession" was not published a year ago, and that before it saw the light, Ben. Wood had appeared in his true colors. Otherwise, under the guise of frankness and honesty, he might have stolen from us many a waverer ere we were aware. Leisure Hours in Town. Essays by A. H. BOYD. Boston: Ticknor & Fields. These pleasant Essays, familiar to the readers of the "Atlantic," have been published in a very neat volume. They are on delicately tinted paper, and uniform with the "Recreations of a Country Parson." We have derived much pleasure from the perusal of these Essays. They are full of thought about every-day life, and teach us many a good lesson. Although they are the representations of Scottish life and characteristics, yet our own habits, both good and bad, are painted there in truthful colors. The criticisms are novel, but mostly correct. They are not commonplace errors, which their author detects; nevertheless, they are so clearly traced out that we are surprised because we have never thought of them ourselves. The article " Concerning Veal," should be studied by every man who wishes to cultivate a good style. But it is difficult to point to one article as possessing peculiar excellence, when all are such masterly efforts. Every person, whatever his position in life may be, should read them, for they teach lessons which apply to all. Oration by George Bancroft; Three Unlike Speeches, by Garrison, Garrett Davis, Alex. H. Stevens; The War: A Slave Union, or a Free-a Speech by M. F. Conway.— New York: E. D. Barker. These speeches are published in a convenient little serial called the "Pulpit and Rostrum." There is nothing which will aid one so much, in his pursuits hereafter, as to treasure up the ideas and opinions of the great men of the times, upon the struggle which is now going on in this country. Newspapers are liable to be destroyed or lost; Pamphlets are convenient, can be bound into any shape, and preserved. The "Pulpit and Rostrum" can be obtained at the College Bookstore, No. 34 S. M. The Old Curiosity Shop. CHARLES DICKENS. New York: Jas. L. Gregory & Co. Every year there appears some new edition of the standard English authors. A man fears to purchase one, lest in a short time a more |
