Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1915 — WAR’S EFFECT ON ALL ARTS [ARTICLE]

WAR’S EFFECT ON ALL ARTS

inevitaoly Bad in the Extreme, Is the Opinion Expressed by William wO ean Howells. "War stops literature,” says William Dean Howells. "It is an upheaval of -civilization, a return to barbarism; it means death to all arts. Even the preparation for war stops literature.” Mr. Howell’s opinion is probably -shared by a good many observers, and a>9d many more-Brander liib

thews among them —it is entirely rejected. The fact remains, however, that we have had five months of the most appalling war that the world has ever known, and in that length%f time no literary product that will survive beyond its little hour. This may prove Mr. Howells right, o» it may prove merely that we have not yet had enough war to produce the stimulating effect that others ascribe to it. If the latter la the case, literature must be la the doldrums, indeed, and it would prove Interesting to know how much

war those who believe In war’s revivifying tonic think is required to produce a masterpiece in letters, or painting or drama or music. Someone, surely, ought to be able to , figure it out—to tell us, in ijjund numbers, bow much blood mußt be spilled, how many battles must be fought, how many lands made desolate, howftnany thousands of men maimed and killed and how many hearts bowed low with grief before art is purged cledta and genius is stimulated to respond to war’s inspiration.—lndianapolis New*