national traits of the writers, the general character of the age in which they lived, and the physical and social conditions by which they were surrounded. This fact shows the intimate relation between literature and history.

7. An American Literature. It has been questioned whether we have an American literature. But there is no reasonable ground for doubt. A fair survey of the facts will show that the literature of this country is distinctive in its thought and feeling. Our best works are not an echo of the literature of England, but a new and valuable contribution to the literature of the world. The best of Irving's writings, the tales of Hawthorne, the " Evangeline" and "Hiawatha" of Longfellow, not to mention many others, are filled with American scenery, American thought, and American character.

8. Work of First Two Centuries. During the first two centuries of our history, while Shakespeare, Bacon, Milton, Dryden, Pope, Addison, Johnson, and Goldsmith were adding lustre to English letters, our country produced but few works that deserve a place in classic literature. It could hardly have been otherwise. Our people were devoting their energies chiefly to the great task of subduing a wild continent, building towns and cities, producing mechanical inventions, conquering political independence, and establishing a social order based on the principle of human equality and human freedom. These achievements are no less important than the production of an elegant literature, and really form the basis upon which the arts and sciences naturally rest. Material prosperity and political independence bring the leisure and culture that foster letters. It was so in the age of Pericles, of Augustus, of Elizabeth, and of Louis XIV.

9. Brief Period of American Literature. The literature of America is the youngest of national literatures. While we

must seek its beginnings in the early part of the seventeenth century, it is scarcely more than two generations ago that our literature entered upon a vigorous development. Though there are two great names in the eighteenth century, — those of Franklin and Edwards, our polite literature really begins with Irving, Bryant, and Cooper, in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. This is a recent date in comparison with the literature of the leading nations of Europe.

10. Course of Other Literatures. The literary history of England extends through no fewer than twelve centuries; and already five hundred years ago it had produced in Chaucer one of the world's great writers. The literary history of France covers an equally extended period; and already in the Middle Ages it counted several famous epics. In Germany the great "Nibelungen Lied" was composed in the twelfth century. While it is true that we are "heirs of all the ages," and as such have inherited the literary treasures of the past, the growth of our literature has been too short to realize the fulness of power that will come with greater maturity of age.

11. Future Development. During the nineteenth century, American literature had a remarkable development. In various departments - history, criticism, poetry it fairly vied with that of the mother country. Yet our highest literary achievements probably lie in the future. With a territory capable of supporting a population of five hundred millions, the task of the American people is not yet half accomplished. Material interests and social problems will continue, it may be for a long time, to absorb a large part of the best talent of our land. We are at present living our epic poem, the greatest the world has seen. But after this period of ardent striving and conflict is past, our golden age

will come; and, having time to listen, we shall, perhaps, encourage some Homer or Milton to sing.

12. Favorable Conditions. No other country seems to present more favorable conditions for the development of a great literature. The most interesting factor in literature is the human element, the presentation of the thoughts, emotions, and experiences of men. As literature naturally reflects national life, the nature of this element depends upon the culture and experience of the people. Nowhere else has life been more varied and more intense than in America; and nowhere else, in the years to come, will it afford richer and more picturesque materials.

13. A Branch of English Literature. -- American literature is an offshoot of English literature, and shares the life of the parent stock. It uses the same language; and its earliest writers were colonists who had received their education in England. The culture of this country is distinctively English in origin and character; the differences are but modifications growing out of the new environment. We owe our laws and our religion chiefly to England; and the political independence achieved through the Revolution did not withdraw us from the humanizing influence of English letters.

14. Broadened Literary Culture. In recent years, through the importation of French, German, and Russian books, our literary culture, as in other progressive countries, has become more cosmopolitan in character. But before that time, our reading was confined almost exclusively to English authors. The great English classics, from Chaucer down, we justly claim as our natural heritage. The leading movements in the literary history of England have been reflected in America. In many cases a similarity of thought and style may be traced, as between Goldsmith and Irving, Scott and Cooper, Carlyle

and Emerson. But this resemblance has not risen from feeble or conscious imitation; it has not interfered with the individuality of our authors, nor impaired the excellence of their works.

15. Colonial and Revolutionary Periods. The literary history of our country may be divided into several periods, the general character of which is more or less sharply defined, though the limits naturally shade into one another by almost imperceptible degrees. The first period, which includes nearly the whole of the seventeenth century, may be called the First Colonial Period. The principal productions of this period represent, not American, but English, culture, and are concerned chiefly with a description of the New World, with the story of its colonization, or with a discussion of the theological questions that grew out of the great Protestant Reformation in Europe. The next period, beginning with the eighteenth century, and extending to the Revolution, may be known as the Second Colonial Period. In the literature of this period, American life is reflected more fully, and two writers, Franklin and Edwards, stand out with great prominence. Then follows what we may designate the Revolutionary Period, extending from the Revolution to the War of 1812. The dominant influence in this period was the establishment of a new and independent government. Here belong the names of Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay.

16. Two National Periods. — This was followed by an era of literary bloom, which may be characterized as the First National Period. It covers the time lying between the War of 1812 and the Civil War, and furnishes the beginning of what is called polite literature, or belles-lettres, in this country. To this period belong the greatest names of our literary history, Irving, Cooper, Bryant, Hawthorne, Longfellow, and others.

Lastly, we have the present period, which for convenience may be called the Second National Period. It begins with the Civil War, and exhibits a broad cosmopolitan tendency. Though it has produced but few writers of pre-eminent ability, it is characterized by unexampled literary activity, and by great excellence of literary form.