THE COURIER
gives us supreme satisfaction to note that the destruction of slavery
ad all the social coaditiosa germane to that institution meant the
creation of a true Southern literature. It may be said, in broad
terns, that, before the war, the South had no true literature. The
Soathern mbad found expression mainly in statesmanship. Perhaps
literature was rather looked down upon as a kind of a trade. Since
the war it is scarcely too much to say that the South has produced
among our younger writers the largest measure of original form of
literary power. The late slave states have given us Cable, Harris,
Craddock" and Mark Twain, and the charming author of "Col.
Carter." In pure originality genius, if you will I think Cable
surpasses Howelle, while I think Marie Twain stands incontestable
at the head at all the younger school. The writer who wears cap
and bells always stands at an immense disadvantage in literary com
parisons. But his book called "Huckleberry Finnhas been declared
by competent English critics to be a masterpiece of genius. In
speaking of what we may call the "tendency writing in modern lit
erature, Dr. Holme says, quoting approvingly Andrew Jiang,
"Novels are getting to be largely tracts on church affairs, free love,
and other sensational topics. The thrifty plan of giving us politics,
sermons, fiction and the like, all served up in one stodgy sandwich,
produces no permanent literature; only what amounts to tracts for
the times and for the time being. The doctor has spoken a wise
and timely word. The modern novel is too often a kind of social
dissecting room. You are kept constantly reminded of your moral
viscera, so to speak. It may be good for the interest of philanthropy
bat it is certainly bad for the interest of literature. Both are su
premely good, but t Ay cannot be wholesomely mixed. And that
Batkm is to be pitied that neglects its art It is art that lifts hu
manity to its mountain peaks of spiritual vision. If all the forces of
our national genius should be turned, for one generation, into the
channel of philanthropy, it might give the poor better food and
shelter and clothes, but it might leave them poorer than it found
them. The Bible truly says, "Without a vision the people perish."
Men seed something to touch the imagination, to arouse the dor
Mat spiritual qualities. And it is in this supreme field of life that
art becomes the noblest adjunct of religion. . Let us feel, then, that
art, like beauty, "is its own excuse for being.' Wedded to social
philanthropy, its children may lose their charm of immortal beauty.
The reply of Mr. Pullman to a question concerning the refusal of
his company to do a certain thing desired by its employes "It was
imply a matter of business is being criticised by some of his
enemies aa implying that the necessities of business justify the
violation of the rules of ordinary justice and morality. He surely
did not mean to be understood as asserting the right to perpetrate
a wrong in order to maintain his profits or to promote his general
interest. The ides' that he manifestly intended to convey was that
the success of business operations is dependent upon adherence to
fixed methods and principles, and that exceptions can not safely be
made to asit special cases or circumstances. There are laws in trade
that must be strictly observed, or failure will inevitably ensue. Such
laws are the result of ages of experience, and their enforcement is
essential Xo the orderly and satisfactory adjustment of industrial
aad commercial forces. They recognize the right of a man to con
trol his own property and direct his own affairs in such a way as to
gain the largest possible degree of prosperity. He is not required
to infase his proceedings with the spirit of philanthropy, or to re
gulate his plana according to any other than his own view of what
is best calculated to conserve and advance bis fortunes.
It is trite to say that there is no sentiment in business, but the
fact needs to be often reiterated for the correction of loose thinking
upon important subjects. The professional reformer finds it easy
to promulgate theories of improvement which promise to reduce the
philosophy of trade to a basis of emotional unselfishness; but the
application of such theories to actual conditions is impossible. A
man who expects to thrive in any financial or commercial enterprise
can not afford to put himself at the mercy of his benevolence or his
sympathy with human weakness and misfortune. The pressure of
competition is such that he must be quick to seize every chance and
to make the most of it, regardless of considerations of personal kind
ness and liberality. "Business is business, as we say in the sense
that it does not include those finer feelings which find expression
in deeds of charity and self-sacrifice. It is a constant struggle for
advantages in which some win and others lose, and in which the
only way to be a winner instead of a loser is to put sentiment aside
and take account only of the practical aspect of things. This is the
secret of all business success, whatever may be said against it by
the theorists and dreamers whose personal failure is a standing re
futation of their teaching.
There are times, of course, when a man can obey an influence of
generosity without damage to his business; in fact, there are times
when his business can thus be benefitted. It is to the credit of hu
man nature, as well as human sagacity, that these opportunities are
mostly improved, and that the profit of them is properly distributed.
Instances of this kind are familiar in every community. They rep
resent a tendency that is a part of the ehics of business, a proof of
the fundamental virtue of the system to which they are related.
The manufacturer who reduced the wages of his employ
ees during the panic, and then voluntarily paid them the full
amount when his trade turned out to be better than he had expected
was under no legal obligation to do such a thing, but it seemed to
him right and fair, and he did it in a spirit of regard for the obvious
equities of the case. There is no lack of business men who are cap
able of thus manifesting the right sort of feeling. It is not true, aa
is frequently asserted, that business has its own code of morals, by
which everything is permisaable that can be done in avoidance of
the law. Our business men are honest men, as a rule, and would
not succeed if they were otherwise, since thero is nothing more cer
tain than that a course of crookedness defeats itself sooner or later.
The laws of commerce are entirely consistent with justice and integ
rity, and to say of a thing that it is simply a matter of business does
not signify that it may be dealt with in a dishonest or questionable
manner.
"Thuse noble newspapers that make it a business to collect the filth
of the world-old up a high editorial nose wheneverjthe name of Breck
enridge is mentioned, and cry faugh! with pious unctousnesp," says
TownTopic. "Asl look toward Lexington 1,'donotthinkof Brecken
ridge and Owens and Settle and McDowell. I do not think of long
haired gentlemen with black felt hats and blacker looks, and knives
sudden sxd quick in quarrel. I think of the blessed reflections that the
voters of Henry Clay's old district are getting every day. I think of
the peculiar happiness of the small boy in that district. I see and
smell the juicy cuts from the barbecued stalled ox. There are pale
attempts at barbecues in other state, but the genuine barbecue is
found only in Kentucky. Baltimore for terrapin, Philadelphia for
catfish and waffles, Rocky Point for dams, Billy Parka's for broiled
live lobster, Kentucky for barbecues and heaven for usall. The
southward-pointing nose is greeted by another gracious fragrance
dissolving all the malodorousness of Brecken ridge and politics. In
Kentucky there is another boon, exquisite, inimitable a beatitude
to the palate of man. Kentucky is the land of the Burgoo, that
Highest of all in LeavesuBf Power. Latest U.S. Gov't Report
AmaownMX pubs
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