A LITERARY ABUSE

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22240, 3 November 1937, Page 20

A LITERARY ABUSE

TO THE EDITOR OF TUB PRESS. Sir—Please allow me to compliment Mr R. G. C. McNab, on his very excellent article on to-day's literary page. His comments do not come before their time, and it is to be hoped tnat they will attract the attention of those possessing the power to rectify what constitutes a grave social evil. The necessity for action to stop tne flooding of markets with cheap literature, is a most pressing one, and one which our present Government, with its desire for social reform, should lose no time in ameliorating. Recent years have not been notably successful in the world of literature, or, for that matter, of the arts in general. There has been a marked decay of public appreciation of art, and a still more marked aversion for works which have no equals in literature or music. The general trend of artistic taste appears to be a downward one, leading—well, it is impossible to say where. All that can be said is that the present generation is much less appreciative of true art than its predecessors. And the most striking thing is that education has never been so widespread as at the present day. A gain in literacy has been accompanied by a loss m artistic appreciation. Education has surely done little for the benefit of mankind if it has resulted in influencing people to leave the study and practice of music and art to a select few, who receive little or no encouragement to devote their lives to the nursuit of the greatest and loveliest things in life. Two hundred years ago, there may have been fewer books, fewer songs; there were considerably fewer who aspired to literacy; but there were 10,000 times fewer who could not sing or perform creditably upon some musical instrument. People were simpler in their tastes; they had less of what we call education, but they were certainly masters in an education which is perhaps higher and nobler in its conception than mere book-learning. Their education was inherent in them, a precious legacy handed down from father to son. And out of that legacy was moulded the mightv English literary tradition of Spenser, Milton, and Shakespeare. To what can we ascribe the lowering—for so it seems—of our literary standard? Opinions must, of necessity diverge widely upon this question. To me, it seems that it has come as a natural consequence of our development—a result of modern living conditions and the prevailing attitude towards life. Everywhere is restlessness, a desire for change, a seeking for something unattainable, something new; there is a craving to escape from boredom to find cheap and easily-gct amusement. In the hectic rush and bustle of modern life, there is no time for thought or reflection on the consequences of it all. Materialism is made a god, and rules on high with Mammon. ~ Yet there is much that is worthy of the greatest times in history. Social problems have never before been so pressing, and never before have there been such earnest attempts at their solution. Many of the realities of life are fully grasped, and people are attempting to face them. At such a time, j true literature could be a great force in the community, if only it received a fair measure of support and encouragement from those it seeks to serve. Its influence for good could and should be inestimable. But it can only be so by the will of the people. The importation of cheap overseas publications can only make the position worse. There is but one remedy —the elimination of this element by the provision of really decent books at reasonable prices. The responsibility lies with the Government to see that this is carried into force. Until it does so. the literary tastes of the Dominion will continue to be a disgrace to its good name.—Yours, etc., . JJTTERATEUR. October 30, im.