INTRODUCTORY. WHAT CONSTITUTES LITERATURE. In a general sense, literature embraces all written or printed expression of thought. Thus we speak of light literature, meaning such writings as demand but little thought from the reader; of trashy literature, meaning that which has no real worth; of pernicious literature, in referring to that which is positively bad; of polite literature, when referring to that which is esthetic in thought and highly finished in style; of the literature of science, of art, etc. In a truer and more restricted sense, literature embraces only those productions which have a marked degree of excellence, writings that are characterized by vigorous thought, a healthy imagination, or a clear insight into human character and the mysteries of nature. Its language must also be pure in diction, clear in expression, and symmetrical in arrangement. Some productions not ideally perfect in all these qualities, justly find a place in standard literature; but it is because their unusual merit so impresses us that for the sake of that merit we are willing to overlook blemishes. They contain so much good gold that we gladly accept them, content to work out the dross as we may. What we regard as our standard literature is made up of writings that have stood the test of years. Generation after generation has read them with delight and profit. There is something in them that meets the wants of a great variety of people. They have power to interest the high and the low, the educated and the uncultured, alike. There is a catholicity in them that adapts them to the needs of all men at all times. They never grow old. They are as fresh to-day as when written, centuries ago, and are read with as great delight now as then. The universality already noticed is one of the most important qualities of the best literature. It is this quality in a literary production that gives it a breadth of scope as wide as the earth, and extends its influence as far as the language in which it is written is understood. It addresses itself to no particular class, sect, or party, but to man as man. It touches impulses, emotions, aspirations, that are common, in greater or less degree, to all mankind. It appeals to human nature; and since. human nature is essentially the same in all ages of the world, such writings are adapted to every generation and never lose their usefulness. By virtue of this quality they have maintained a place in print, and have been handed down through the centuries to us. Their teachings, promptings, and leadings concern every human being, and no one can say that they are nothing to him. It is not to be supposed that in a literary work of any great length this characteristic can be traced in every paragraph. It should, nevertheless, be ever present in the general trend of an article or book. The Bible gives |