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AUGUSTA J. EVANS (born 1835). Southern novelist. Author of "St. Elmo," "Beulah," "Vashti," etc.

MARY A. DODGE (“GAIL HAMILTON") (1838-1896). A writer of much vigor. Author of "Woman's Wrongs," "Gala Days," "Country Living," ," "A New Atmosphere," etc.

ABRAM J. RYAN (1839-1886). A Catholic priest and poet. Author of a volume of "Poems," widely read in the South.

CINCINNATUS HEINE MILLER ("JOAQUIN MILLER ") (born 1841). "Poet of the Sierras." Has written many stories, sketches, and poems, chiefly "Songs of the Sierras," and "Songs of the Sun Lands." JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY (born 1853). Commonly known as "The Hoosier Poet," his best poems being written in the Indiana or Hoosier dialect. Author of "The Old Swimmin'-Hole," "The Boss Girl, and Other Sketches," "Character Sketches and Poems," etc.

CHARLES G. LELAND (born 1824). Author of many books on literary subjects, and a series of studies in German-American dialect called the "Hans Breitmann's Ballads."

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WILL CARLETON (born 1845). Author of "Farm Ballads," "City Ballads," Farm Legends," and " 'City Legends." Best-known pieces, "The New Organ," "Betsey and I are Out," etc.

SIDNEY LANIER (1842-1881). Critic, musician, and poet. Author of "Tiger Lilies," a novel of the war, "The Science of English Verse," "The Marshes of Glynn," "Sunrise," "Corn," etc.

PAUL H. HAYNE (1831-1886). "The laureate of South Carolina." Wrote "Face to Face," "Love's Autumn," "Earth's Odors After Rain," etc. MAURICE THOMPSON (born 1844). Critic, essayist, novelist, and poet. Author of Songs of Fair Weather," "Sylvan Secrets," "Byways and Birdnotes," "A Tallahassee Girl," "A Fortnight of Folly," etc. HENRY TIMROD (1829-1867). A writer of war lyrics, among them A Mother's Wail," and "Spring."

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ALICE CARY (1820-1870). A poet and prose writer. Author of "Thanksgiving," "Pictures of Memory," "The Bridal Veil," etc.

PHOEBE CARY (1825-1871). Sister of Alice Cary. Wrote many poems, but is best known as the author of the hymn "One Sweetly Solemn Thought." HELEN HUNT JACKSON (1831-1885). Author of "Verses," and several delightful stories, including "Bits of Travel," "A Century of Dishonor," and " Ramona," a novel written in the interest of the Indian. EMMA LAZARUS (1849-1887). Poet and novelist. Her most striking work is "The Dance to Death," a drama representing the persecu

tion of the Jews in the twelfth century. Also wrote "Songs of a Semite," and "Alide," a romance.

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MARGARET J. PRESTON. A story-writer and poet. Principal works are 'Silverwood," a novel, "Old Songs and New," "Cartoons," "Colonial Ballads," etc.

LUCY LARCOM (1826-1893). From a mill-hand she rose to be teacher, editor, and poet. Wrote "Similitudes," "Childhood Songs," Wild

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Roses from Cape Ann," etc. CELIA THAXTER (1836-1894). Wrote of the sea. Author of "Among the Isles of Shoals" and "Drift-Weed," "Poems for Children," etc. EDITH M. THOMAS (born 1854). A popular poet, and contributor to magazines. Wrote "A New Year's Masque, and Other Poems," "The Round Year," and "Lyrics and Sonnets.'

There are many other writers that deserve mention here; but any attempt at completeness would extend this list too far.

V.

SECOND NATIONAL PERIOD.

(1861-1900.)

THE Second National Period begins with the Civil War, and will probably be terminated by important social or political changes in the first half of the twentieth century. The present time is regarded by many thoughtful persons as a period of transition. It is felt that the old order is changing. What is to follow as the result of influences now at work cannot be clearly discerned. But of one thing we may be sure, whatever changes may come will be in the line of human progress. Humanity is slowly but surely working its way up to greater freedom, intelligence, and goodness.

As compared with previous periods, literature now exhibits a many-sided activity. Its themes are as varied as the interests of our race. Philosophy, history, science, fiction, poetry, are more generally cultivated than ever before.

The literature of the present time is characterized by great artistic excellence. The prevailing scientific spirit, rejecting the dicta of mere authority, makes truth its only criterion. The beliefs and opinions of tradition are once more put into the crucible. While there are many conflicting theories and creeds, a liberal-minded urbanity has replaced the old-time harshness and intolerance. literature at the present time is diffusive and critical,

rather than creative; and thus it happens that, while we have many accomplished writers, there is no great original or dominating personality in American letters.

Most of the writers considered in the previous period, though they survived far beyond it, were formed under the influences prevailing before the Civil War. In every case they struck the key-note to their literary career before 1861. But most of the writers belonging to the present period were born since that time, or were children while the great struggle was going on. They have developed their literary taste and activity under the influencès then and since existing. The Civil War itself, the dividing line between the First and Second National Periods, has exerted no little influence upon our literature. In spite of the effort of self-seeking and narrow-minded politicians to perpetuate sectional prejudice, a strong national feeling now binds all parts of our country together in an indissoluble union. With the abolition of slavery and the settlement of State rights, our civilization has become more homogeneous. Our vast railway systems carry the lifeblood of trade and commerce to all parts of our country. Our people are united as never before in community of interest, and in patriotic devotion to the general welfare. These new conditions are favorable to an expansion of literature, and tend to give it greater breadth of sympathy.

But apart from its result in laying a solid foundation for national greatness, the Civil War directly occasioned no insignificant body of literature. Poetry brought its sweet ministrations of comfort or cheer. In our previous studies we learned something of the war poetry of Longfellow, Lowell, and Whittier. Father Ryan may be regarded as the martial laureate of the South. "The Blue and the

Gray," by Francis M. Finch, "All Quiet Along the Potomac," by Ethel Beers, "Dixie," by Albert Pike, and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," by Julia Ward Howe, are lyrics that still have power to move the heart. The hardships, dangers, and sufferings of the war have been frequently portrayed in novels. The period of reconstruction gave rise, as in Judge Tourgee's "A Fool's Errand," to interesting and thrilling stories. The war called forth, also, numerous historical works. Apart from the histories of the war itself by John W. Draper, Horace Greeley, John S. C. Abbott, Alexander H. Stephens, Jefferson Davis, and others, we have had many biographical volumes, among which the "Memoirs" of W. T. Sherman, "Personal Memoirs" of U. S. Grant, and "Narrative of Military Operations," by Joseph E. Johnston, deserve especial mention.

During the present period the conditions have been generally favorable to literature. Our country has continued its marvellous development. Its population has more than doubled, and great States have been organized in the far West. Agriculture and manufacture have been developed to an extraordinary degree. New cities have been founded, and many of the older ones have increased enormously in wealth and population. All this has meant an increase of prosperity, of leisure, and of culture, the conditions antecedent to a flourishing literature.

Two great educative agencies, the press and the school, have kept pace with the material progress of our country. Every important interest and every considerable community has its periodicals. Our great dailies spread before us every morning the news of the world. The influence of the newspaper upon the taste, intelligence, and character of our people is incalculable. Many of our prominent

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