Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE SUUTH IN LITERATURE. The Mobile Register, in a recent able leader, insists that education of the highest order is and will be the great est necessity of the New South in the race which she must run with her sis ter States. The defectiveness of her system of higher education is enlarged upon, and the value and importance of Universities are up on. In the course of the Article the following suggestive language occurs: But when we speak of authorship we touch a subject which places the South at the greatest disadvantage. There can be no doubt about the fact that we have furnished to the country more than our quota of distinguished men, —Southern statesmanship and eloquence have blazed in glory and have become a tradition. But in the production of literature we have been sadly behipd. Southern talent has never sought to enbalm itself in books. When we cast our eyes over the field of American literature we find that the book makers have not been of us. Here and there we can produce a fine book from a Southern pen, but when we take the result as a whole we find that, outside of political speeches, we have contributed but little to the body of our literature. What is the result? The critical estimate of the culture and education of this country is based upon the books that actually exist, not upon books that the South might have pro duced; these do not enter into the cal culation. Now, we started out by as serting that we could not progress, unless we were willing to look exist ing facts in the face. The estimate that disinterested people put upon us is an existing fact of serious importance. The ninth edition of the Bncyclopsedia Britannica is now issuing from the press; and it is regarded among all English speaking people as one of the highest, if not the highest, standard of authority. In its article on “Ameri can Literature” it has this to say of us: “The attractive culture of the South has been limited in extent and degree. The hot-house fruit of wealth and leisure, it has never struck its roots deeply into native soil. Since the Rev olution days, when Virginia was the nurse of statesmen, the few thinkers of America born south of Mason and Dixon’s line —outnumbered by those belonging to the single State of Massa chusetts —have commonly migrated to New York or Boston in search of a University training. In the world of letters at least, the Southern States have shone by reflected light; nor is it too much to say, that mainly by their connection with the North the Caroli nas have been saved from sinking to the level of Mexico or the Antilles. Whether w'e look to India or Louisiana it would seem that the tropical sun takes the poetic fire out of Anglo- Saxon veins, and the indolence which is the concomitant of despotism has the same benumbing effect. Like the Spartan marshalling bis helots, the planter lounging among h’s slaves was made dead to Art by a paralyzing sense of his own superiority. All the best trans-atlantic literature is inspired by the spirit of confidence—often of over confidence —in labor. It has only flour ished freely in a free soil; and for almost all its vitality and aspirations, its comparative scant performance and large promise, we must turn to New England. Its defects and merits are those of the national character as developed in the Northern States, and we must seek for an explanation of its peculiarities in the physical and moral circumstances which surround them.” If this un complimentary and unjust statement of our true position in American litera ture had been written by a '“Yankee” we could dispose of it with a sneer, but the trouble is that it was written by an eminent Scotch scholar, who could hardly have any motive in doing us an intentional injustice. As a matter of fact he has done us a very great injus tice. but the trouble is that it will be very hard for us to meet or counteract it, and for one painful reason. Sup pose we appeal from the Scotchman’s verdict and attempt to demonstrate before the world’s tribunal that the South does occupy a high position in American literature, and that she has contributed her quota to the general result. The first thing we would be required to do would be to produce the books in which our contributions are contained. And here would come the trouble; we don’t possess the books; we have never been a bookmaking people; we have talked too much and written too little; the great body of our intellectual work rests in tradition. So it is no wonder that foreign critics un derrate us, for the obvious reason that w r e have no substantial literary results in which to exhibit the force of South ern thought. A few brilliant fragments of personal or local history or poetry and romance do not constitute a litera ture. But the Scotchman accounted for a great deal of the evil when he said that many of our thinkers “have commonly migrated to New York or Boston in search of University train ing.” This has been the bane of our past, which must be abolished from the history of our future. The South must establish institutions in which she can educate her youth to the highest attainable limit,—she must lay the foundations of a substantial literature,—speak and talk less, and express her thoughts more often in books. —A number of large cotton mills in England have resumed work. Secular Editorials—Literature— 5~-- s * Domestic and Foreign Intelligence. PRESIDENT ARTHUR. From the numerous biographies which have appeared in the press with in the past week, we collate the follow ing facts in regard to the life and character of our new President, the successor of the beloved and universally lamented Garfield, whose dust was laid to rest at Cleveland, last Monday, to await the angel’s call in the morning of the Resurrection. t Chester Allen Arthur was born,in Franklin county, Vt., in October 1830. His father, Rev. William Arthur, was born in the county Antrim, Ireland. When he emigrated to this country he settled in Vermont, and he died in Newtonville, near Albany, on October 27th, 1875. The General’s father was at one time pastor of the Calvary Bap tist church, New York, the present pas tor of which, Rev. Robert S. MacAr thur, is a relative of the family. Chester A. Arthur found his father’s ripe knowledge of the Latin and Greek classics of great advantage to him when he came to prepare for college. His preparation first began in Union Vil lage, near Greenwich, a beautiful vil lage of Washington county, N. Y.,and was concluded at the grammar school at Schenectady. He took a high position in Union College, where he entered in 1845, when only fifteen years old. Every year of his college course he was de clared to be one of those who had taken “ maximum honors,” and at the con clusion of his college course, out of a class of more than one hundred mem bers, he was one of six who were elected members of the Phi Beta Kappa Socie ty, the cohdition of entrance to which is the highest scholarship. He graduated from Union College, Schenectady, in 1848, and then engag ed in the study of law, and was admit ted to the bar in 1850. Soon after ward he w’ent to New York city and entered the law office of Erastus D. Culver. When Judge Culver was ele vated to the bench, Mr. Arthur formed a partnership with Henry D. Gardiner, and, upon the death of the latter, in 1865, the business was continued by Mr. Arthur alono until 1871, when the copartnership of Arthur, Phelps & Knevals was formed. Mr. Phelps, of that firm, is the same gentleman who filled the office of District Attorney for several years. He achieved considerable fame as a lawyer in the celebrated Lemmon slave case, and in other noted cases growing out of the anti-slavery agitation that preceded the war between the States. In tlie year 1856, Mr. Arthur began to be prominent in politics in New York city. He sympathized with the Whig party, and was an ardent admirer of Henry Clay. His first vote was cast in 1852 for Winfield Scott for Presi dent. In New York city Arthur iden tified himself with the “practical men” in politics by joining political associa tions of his party, and at the polls act ing as inspector on election day. General Arthur has been a Republi can since the foundation of the party. When the war broke out he was Judge advocate of the second brigade, State militia, and when Gov. Morgan was inaugurated, in 1861, he appointed Gen. Arthur Engineer-in-chief on his staff. He afterward held the positions of Inspector-General and Quartermas ter-General. On the expiration of Gov. Morgan’s term, Gen. Arthur resumed the practice of law. He afterward ob tained an appointment as counsel to the Tax Commissioners, at a salary of SIO,OOO per annum. For many years he has been a bosom friend of ex-Col lector Thomas Murphy, and when that gentlemen resigned the office of Col lector of the Port, on November 20th, 1871, President Grant appointed Gen. Arthur as his successor, and when his term of office expired he was renomi nated. He was retired from the office on July 12th, 1878, being succeeded by Mr. Merritt, the late incumbent. He then re-engaged in the practice of his profession as a partner in the law firm of Arthur, Phelps, Knevals & Ransom. In the fall of 1879 he was elected Chairman of the Republican State Committee, of which he had been a prominent member for many years before his appointment as collector, and conducted the victorious campaign of that year in New York. General Arthur is a widower. He married Miss Ella L. Herndon, a daughter of Lieutenant Herndon, of the navy. She died in New York January 12th, 1880. Personally, General Arthur is a gen tleman of most courteous and affable manner. He is a man of fine phy sique, being over six feet in height, and weighing about 220 pounds. He is striking in appearance, and one who would attract attention and observation ATLANTA, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1881. in any assembly. He has a full, open countenance and large, clear blue eyes, and when talking with one, looks the questioner full in the face. He is pos sessed of high intellectual endowments, is a most social man among his friends, and his qualities of heart have endeared him to thousands. NOTES. The national board of health com plains that much annoyance is experi enced by them from the persistence with which the local authorities at tempt to conceal the existence of yellow fever in ports where it is known to exist, the latest instance being at Key West, Fla. A dispatch has been received at New York thanking that city for her liberal donations to Michigan, and hoping for more help from her. The dispatch states that it will require at least one million dollars to take care of these people until another harvest. More help it says must be obtained outside of Michigan for that State is not able to bear the entire burden. Exhibits are daily arriving in large quantities at Oglethorpe Park, Atlanta, The International Cotton Exposition’s main building was finished a few days ago. All the other buildings will -be ready within a week. The opening day occurs on the sth day of October and it is exceedingly important that the exhibitors should hurry forward their goods and see that they are put in the places allotted to them without delay. The Scottish chamber of agriculture have drafted a scheme for the land bill for Scotland, providing for an adjust ment of rents by arbitration, revulsion of farms, and for power in the tenant to sell his holding. A Berlin correspondent of the Times says it is reported in well informed circles that negotiations have been re opened between Germany, Austria and Riissia, in order to revise the treaties regarding the extradition of criminals who have made murderous attempts on the life of the sovereign. It is stated that England and France, who at first declined to support the Russian proposals, in well known circles, will not be again invited to join in the dis cussion us the question. lmpressive memorial services in honor of our late President were held, according to resolution, at the Capitol by both houses of our General Assem bly on Monday morning. Rev. Dr. Boggs, of the Central Presbyterian church delivered an impressive ser mon. The exercises were witnessed by a large concourse of citizens, and were peculiarly impressive. —The case of Guiteau will be pre sented to the Grand Jury next Monday, and his indictment will speedily fol low. Guiteau has requested his brother-in-law, G. M. Scoville, of Chicago, to come to Washington as one of the counsel for the defense. —A fearful tornado passed over Quincy, Illinois. About twenty per sons were killed and wounded and many houses were demolished. —Last Monday was a day of mourn ing all over the United States. A nation bowed in grief for the illustri ous dead is an ennobling, a majestic spectacle. One thousand two hundred em ployees of the Old Colony railroad have been examined for color blindness, in compliance with the new Massa chusetts law, and forty engineers, firemen, conductors, and others have been dismissed as having defective sight. Some of them were old and valued servants of the company. It would be well in behalf of the lives and limbs of travelers on our railroads if similar laws could be enforced in all the States. The Standard’s correspondent at Copenhagen says the authorities there have been informed that Nihilists and Fenians in America have arranged to ship infernal machines to Copenhagen for reshipment to Russia and England. The Poles have organized for the protection and advancement Os their race in America, and in order to take practical steps for helping the poorer people among them and the care of immigrants a convention has been in session in New Pork. The exports of domestic cottons from the port of New York to foreign conn tries since January Ist have been the largest of any year since the inaugura tion of our cotton manufacturing in dustries. A number of high Romish ecclesi astics at Rome are in a state of rebell ion against the Pope, and have pub licly denounced him. LITERARY NOTES AND COM MENTS. ' Peterson's Magazine for October is unusually good, even for that incom parable lady’s book. The steel engra ving, “Don’t Be Scared,” is one of ex ceptional beauty. The historical nov elet, “The News from Yorktown,” which has attracted so much atten tion, is appropriately concluded in this number in time for the “Yorktown Centennial.” —“The Story of the Bible,” one of the most popular and entertaining books recently published, containing seven hundred pages, and two hun dred and seventy-four illustrations, is still in great demand. Between sixty and seventy thousand have been sold. Let it be remembered that this beauti ful book and The Christian Index for one year, will be mailed to any one for three dollars and twenty-five cents. —Mr. Oscar Wilde, the leader of the “eesthetic craze” now raging in London, has recently published a vol ume of poems, which has already reached a third edition in England, s and a second edition in this country. The book has caused a great stir among the critics. He is roundly de nounced on theone hand as “no poet,” and as a trashy purveyor of trash, and on the other, as a true poet, full of tender and beautiful thoughts, and gifted with the inspiration of genius. This literary riot has made Mr. Wilde, for the time being, a lion, which he will continue to be until the critics cease their barking, and allow him to shrink back into his natural propor tions. Dr. Holland, editor of Scribner's, (now The Century,) Magazine, says, doubtless with truth, and unqestiona bly with commendable candor, being a New Englander himself, that, in Lit erature, New England is no longer king. Her great literary school is dying out. Those who have been our literary leaders and exemplars have passed their meridian, and though we shall part with them sadly, we are ‘are that American literature will not j'elfrer, bull rather be improved, by the wider distribution of its productive forces. The South and the West are hereafter to be reckoned upon in ma king up the account of our literary wealth, and the North will welcome with no stinted praise and no niggard ly hand, the best that the South can do. —A young friend writing to N. P. Willis, in 1846, asking advice as to the adoption of literature as a pursuit, received very little encouragement from the veteran literateur. “Poetry,” says Willis, “is an angel in your breast and you had better not turn her out to be your maid of all work. As to wri ting for magazines, that is very nearly done with as a matter of profit. The competition for notoriety alone gives the editors more than they can use. You could not sell a piece of poetry now in America. The literary ave nues are all over-crowded, and you can not live by the pen, except as a drudge to a newspaper.” Still the struggle and scramble for honor and for pelf continues in the vast literary arena, and the Fates, that are the umpires, continue to dole out to the eager contestants the ninety nine blanks and the one golden prize —The British Museum has recently purchased a collection of Biblical and other Oriental manuscripts, which are considered of great importance to the criticism and exegesis of the Old Testa ment. The collection, which was made in South Arabia, consists of for ty manuscripts. Fifteen of these are portions of the Hebrew Scriptures, and two are probably the oldest which have as yet come to light of the Old Testa ment Scriptures. A third which con tains the Hagiographa, exhibits a re cension of the Hebrew text, the other two portions of which are already in the Museum, thus completing the whole Hebrew Bible. Several of these manuscripts have the Arabic transla tion of Suadiah.in alternate verses with the Hebrew, while others have the superliniary, or Assyrian, vowel-points, which till comparatively recent times were unknown. The remaining twen ty-five manuscripts are Midrashim, or homiletic commentaries and liturgies, which are more or lees unknown. Georgia Paint Company—This is a new and important enterprise, the only one of the sort in the South, and we commend the advertisment in this is sue of The Index to our readers. Dr. D. B. Plumb, of Augusta, is the Presi dent of the company. The excellence of the productions of this company is guaranteed. The Garfield Memorial Services in this city last Monday, including a procession of military and civic bodies, and s lornnexercises at DeGivo’s Opera House, were the most imposing and impressive ever held in Atlanta. To mournful music thousands marched with reverent pace through the draped streets of the city. At the Opera House an immense throng filled the seats from pit to gallerv, listening with deep attention to the ritual services of the Knights Templar, and the touch ing addresses made by the several speakers. The stage and the entire building was beautifully and artistic ally draped and adorned with appro griatejfunereal designs- A fine choir rendered appropriate music. Eloquent addresses were delivered by Rev. Dr. D. W. Gwin, Henry Jackson, Esq., ahd Rev. Dr. A. G. Thomas. The ad dresses were full of pathos and generous sympathy, and fully reproduced the intense feeling of the popular heart on this mournful occasion. The ad dress of Mr. Jackson was one of rare beauty and lofty eloquence. —Rev. Dr. Spalding has announced his resignation of the Second Baptist church, Atlanta, to accept the call to the consolidated church at Galveston, Texas. He left on Tuesday for a visit to that city, to attend the session of the Texas Baptist State Convention, which is held there this year, and will be ab sent some eight or ten days. Dr. S. will carry with him to his new field the tender regrets and warmest sympathies of a large circle of friends throughout our State. Richard’s Dry Goons Syndicate Our lady readers will read with pleas ure the announcement made by Messrs. Richards <fc Brother, of Augus ta, in these columns. Buyers of dry goods by this system w’ill save a good deal of money., Read the announce ment. Among the resolutions passed at a meeting of the citizens of Pittsburg was the following: “Re solved fourth, That we regard the act of the President’s murderer as the natural outgrowth of that godless ma terialism which, in many forms and under many names, has shown its mor al character in lawless acts of violence, culminating in murder, in many lands, in our own time, and against which we utter our most solemn protest; against which we pledge ourselves to do un ceasing battle, and which we here and now denounce as treason to human liberty, to all free institutions, and to the best hopes and efforts of the human race towards a higher and better life on earth and a happier and nobler life hereafter.” Three young scoundrels succeeded in robbing a train, last week, on the Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad. They robbed the passengers and the Express messenger of about thirty thousand dollars, stopping the train until they - could conveniently accom plish their villainy. It was one of the boldest pieces of villainy on record. The authorities have offered a reward of sixteen thousand dollars for the capture of the robbers. Railway traveling is getting to be as unsafe in the {Southwest as traveling the highways of England used to be in “Dick Turpin’s” time. LaGrange Reporter: Rev. A. R. Cal laway baptized six persons at Hamil ton on last Sunday, and says there is considerable interest in the communi ty on the subject of religion. There will be State elections in ten States this year, in only six of which Governors will be chosen, viz : In Mas sachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Vir ginia, Ohio and Wisconsin. Fairburn News Letter : The protrac ted meeting, which had been in prog ress at Shadnor Baptist church for several days, has closed. It was con ducted by the Rev. D. Brown, and was attended with good results. There were seven accessiorfs to the church — five of whom were baptized Friday. Judge Stewart of this circuit, has been engaged in a protracted meet ing at the Baptist church in Conyers. His appeals to sinners are said to be very effective. , Quite a good meeting has been clos ed at the Baptist church in Greenville recently. There were nineteen acces sions to the church. ‘'Plumer's” American Hotel,Philadelphia, •pposite Independence Hall, is the favorite •>f the traveling public, and deservedly ; with a landlord so untiring in his application, it certs' nly merits success. GEORGIA NEWS. —The colored people in Oglethorge conn- ‘ ty ere buying up land. —Sumter county will make an average yield of top crop cotton. Houston county will vote on the liquor question in October. —Gordon county will not make more than half a crop of corn and cotton. -The Sibley Cotton Mills, Augusta, will go into operation next January. —Murrain is playing havoc with the cat tle on Sand Mountain, Dade county. —The largest portion of the cotton crop in Houston county has been gathered. —The cotton crop in the valley in Dade county will exceed any previous year. —Dried peaches are worth, in the Sparta market, from nine to ten cents per pound. —There is work to the amount of over S2OO 000 awaiting the workmen in Macon. , —W. H. Willis, of Oglethorpe county, has cleared $2,000 on dried peaches this season. —There will be an average of one bale of cotton to every four acres throughout Wilkes county. —The Georgia Railway Company will pay a dividend of $2 50 per share on the 15th of October. —Macon's real and personal estate, at a fair valuation, bears a taxable value of over $7,000,000. —A large number of Canadians intend visiting the Atlanta Exhibition. They want to see the South. —lt is estimated that at least three hun dred tickets to the Louisiana lottery are sold in Macon every month. —The cotton caterpillar has swept over Terrell county like an avalanche, and the cotton fields are literally leafless. —Mr. Joe Cofer, of Goosepond, Oglethorpe county, has sold his place to a colored man for 200 bales of cotton on twenty years’ time. —The owners of the Etowah shoals have had the property surveyed and mapped. They propose to exhibit the map at the Ex position. The fall of the water is calculated at 1,340 horse power. —The Bainbridge Democrat states that a new steamboat company has been formed in Columbus with a capital of SSO 000. They have purchased the steamer Caddo Belle, which will be placed on the river shortly. —The Savannah, Florida and Western Railway is to be extended from Bainbridge westward, making through and direct con nection with New Orleans. The Quitman Free Press credits Col. Haines, General Manager, with saying that the work will be completed in less than eighteen months. —Sparta Ishmaelite: “A rise in the price of cotton will accomplish anumberofthings. Among other things, it will insure the plant ing of a large cotton crop next year. As soon as cotton begins to bring a good price, the farmers set themselves to work like beavers to bring the price down. This they accomplish by over-production.” —Cartersville Free Press: “Mr. H. C. Garrison, the sub agent of this county for getting specimens of minerals for the Cotton Exposition, sent down a huge specimen of iron ore that will weigh from four to five tons. The original piece was three times the size of tbe specimen sent. It would probably analyze from fifty to sixty per cent It was sent from the Guyton mine, four miles north of Cartersville, and controlled by the Dade coal mine." —Darien Timber Gazette : “It is with a great deal of pleasure that we state most positively that a branch road from No. 1, Macon and Brunswick railroad, to Evelyn, will soon be built, and connect with Darien by steamer. The route, about five and a half priles, has been ordered surveyed, and we have no doubt but that by Christmas daily trains will be running regularly on the route between No. 1 and Evelyn. When this is done passengers can make tbe trip from Darien to N j. 1 in about fmty minutes, which will be a saving of many hours." —Rome Courier: “ Mr. M. T. Singleton, who, since Lieutenant Marshal left, has had charge of the government works at Ten Is land shoals, was in town yesterday, and gives the gratifying information that the work is moving on in a very satisfactory manner. He is working regularly about two hundred hands, and this grand water path to the coal field of Alabama is not only being made more certain, but gives promise of completion, with only such delays as are usual in government enterprises. This work completed, gives cheap coal to Rome, and cheap coal makes Rome a great manufactur ing city.” —The Georgia State Fair will be held at Macon, commencing Monday, October 17th, 1881, and continuing one week ; E. C. Grier, Secretary. Macon. The fair of the Talbot County Stock and Fair Association com mences October 11th, and continues three days, at Talbotton, Georgia; W. T. Dennis, Secretary. The Western Georgia Fair Asso ciation hold a fair at LaGrange, Georgia, commencing October 27th, continuing three days; F. H Whitaker, Secretary, LaGrange, Georgia The Oconee County Agricultural Society will hold a fair at Watkinsville, commencing October 10th, and ending on the 14th of October. The International Cot ton Exposition opens at Atlanta, Georgia, October sth, 1881, and closes December 31st. Those wishing to exhibit at the State Fair at Macon, Georgia, can do so and then enter their goods at the Exposition. —Augusta News: “The ‘craze’ among North Georgia people to go West has not died out by any means, and, if possible, is increasing. We learn from a gentleman of this city, recently back from an extended tour of the mountains, that people in North Georgia are anxious to sell their splendid farming lands, so that they can move to Colorado. They are led to this step by a systematic plan of advertising, kept up by land agents and railroads out West. At tractive newspapers are circulated among the mountaineers, and are even dropped off the cars in sight of every farm house, and in this way the minds of Georgia people are dis turbed and attracted by highly colored ac counts of success and big fortunes out West. Indulging hopes of bonanzas and visions of easily obtained wealth, Georgia farmers are willing to sell rich improved lands in the bracing climate of North Georgia, worth from ten to twenty-five dollars an acre, and go to Colorado to improve land leas valuable, endure the hardships of a half civilized life and an untried climate.” —Rome Courier: “Rev. W. F. Glenn, presiding elder of the Rome district, has recently made his grand rounds, traveling quite generally over Floyd, Polk, CarrolL Haralson, Paulding, Douglas, Cobb and Bartow counties. He says the most notable falling off, in both corn and cotton, is noticeable in Bartow, Polk and Floyd 1 In these three counties the crops are considera bly short of last year, and somewhat, say 20 or 25 per cent, below an average for the past ten years. But in Carroll county the crops are considerably above the average, except in a very small strip next to Coweta and Douglas, where they have suffered from drought. In Paulding, Douglas and Haralson there are places of excellent crops, and other places below the usual produc tion. but he thinks the average will be a lit tle above that of the past eight or ten years. Cobb county is also spotted. Mr. Glenn thinks that, taking the acreage of all the eight counties he has been over, that the crops will compare favorably with the aver age of the last ten years.