Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 04.djvu/150

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CANADIAN LITERATURE. 122 CANADIAN LITERATURE. lier reimtal)l(' poets and liisturians long before tSiere appeared a novelist knouu beyond her borders. IS-jt toward the close of the NinetecntU Century, a school of Canadian novelists gained rccog>iition. Naturally enougli, the first Cana- dian novels were in imitation of Cooper. John (Jalt ( q.v. ) , a Scottish novelist, who lived for three years in Ontario, where he bore a hand in founding the now flourishing city of Guelph, published, on his return home, Laurie Todd, or the Settlers in the Woods (1830), giving graphic accounts of frontier life. ilajor John Rich- ardson (born in Ontario of Scotch parents, in 1707) followed Gait with Wacousta, or the Frojihecy (1833), an exciting romance based on tlie siege of Detroit by Pontiac. The vein worked thus early was taken up in the last quarter of the Nineteenth Century. William Kirby's (q.v.) The Golden Dog. a Legend of Quebec (1877), enjoyed the distinction of two translations- into French and the hearty praise of Tennvson. In The Romance of Dollard (1880), The Stonj of Tonty (1800), and The Lady of Fort tiaint John (1891), Airs. Mary Catlierwood (q.v.) recalled stirring episodes of Canadian history. G. JI. Adam, one of the ablest of Canadian journalists, also succeeded with An Algon<juin Maiden (1886). Life in the niral districts of Ontario has been described by ilrs. J. B. Hammond in Tlie Unexpected firide (1895); and the far-ofl' Northwest has found its way into the Devil's Playground (1894) of Jolin JIackie and the Prairie Pot- pourri (189.5) of Mrs. K. E. Hayes. Canadian legends are represented by Tales of the Soil by Miss B. L. ]Macdonell, who has long been inter- ested in the folk-lore of her country. Miss M. R. Charlton is said to have been a pioneer in the fairy tale with her TloHrfcr M'eh of fitories (1892) and With Printless Foot (1894). Phases of modern life in Ottawa have been de- picted by Miss K. il. Barry in Honor Edgeworth and The Doctor's Daughter. Humor, in which Canadian literature has been deficient since Haliburton, has reappeared in The American Girl in London of Mrs. S. J. Cotes (q.v.), and in The .Major's Big-Talk Stories of F. B. Crof- ton. In the Madonna of a Day (1806), Miss Lily Dougall (q.v.) has drawn a portrait of the modem woman. F.qually brilliant is her Beg- gars All (1801). During the last few years the tale and the short story have been cultivat- ed by many women. Among them are Jlrs. S. F. Harrison (q.v.) and Miss Robertine Barry, who have depicted the simple manners of the habi- tant ; Miss J. N. Mellwraith, who has con- tributed sketches of life in Ontario and Quebec to various periodicals; Mrs. M. .. Sadlier, who has depicted the Irishman in Wilit/ Burke and similar tales: and Miss M. M. Saunders, author of Duisg (1892), and Beautiful .Joe (1894), the autobiogr.npliy of a dog, which had an immense sale throughout America and England. Wil- liam Mcl^iman has contributed to Harper's Magazine a series of sketches of Canadian life. Interesting and well written as much of this fic- tion is, the one Canadian novelist who has been able to give vitality to Canadian themes is Sir (iilbert Parker (q.v.). By his Pierre and His People (1802). IV/iPii Va'lmond Came to Pon- tine (189.'-)). The Seats of the Mighty (1806), and The Uight of Way (1901), he takes rank among the most conspicuous contemporary nov- elists. Except for fugitive pieces, English-Canadian verse begins with Mrs. Susannah Moodie (died 1885), a sister of Agnes Strickland, the popular historical writer. Settling in Ontario in 1S32, Mrs. Jloodie wrote considerable verse, some of which is to be found in the sketches entitled Houghing It in the Bush and Life in the Clearings (lSo3). Two themes, since often repeated, she treated beautifully in her lines on the uuiple and on the canoe. Contemporary with her was Charles Heavysege (q.v.), likewise born in Eng- land, who wrote a fine tragedy called liaul (1857). Since these two pioneers, the number of Canadian verse-writers has become very large. Rand's anthology (1900) contains 135 names. Conspicuous among the poets of the generation just past were Isabella Valancy Crawford (q-v.) and George Frederick Cameron (q.v.). The former is especially known for beautiful lyrics such as "The Master-Builder" and "The Axe of the Pioneer," and the latter for many passionate and defiant pieces like "What reck we of the creeds of men?" Archibald Lampman (q.v.), Aho died in 1899, was a poet of large promise. Indeed, he was compared by Howells to 'the great ones' of New England. He wrote in varied beautiful rhythms and on themes running from descriptions of external nature to an intense utterance of the great common emotions. Of liv- ing poets the best work has been done by C. G. D. Roberts (q.v.), W. W. Campbell (q.v.), Bliss Carman (q.v.) , and Sir Gilbert Parker (q.v.) , who are developing admirable powers of lyrical ex- pression. Noteworthy lyrics have also been writ- ten .by E. Pauline .Johnson (q.v.). Among other English-Canadian poets belonging to the last part of the Nineteenth Century arc Mrs. Sophie M. Almon-IIensley. John Henry Brown, Jlrs. Sarah A. Curzon, F. A. Dixon, .7ohn Hunter Duvar, the Rev. A. W. H. Eaton, Mrs. S. Frances Harri-son (q.v.), Joseph Howe (q.v.). William Kirby (q.v.), .John T. I^esperame. William Douw. Light- hall, Arthur John Loekhart, .John E. Logan, Charles JIair, Thomas D'Arcy McGee. Alexander McLachlan, William McLennan. William P. Mc- Kenzie, John JlePherson, T. H. Rand, John Reade, Charles Sangster (q.v.) , Duncan Campbell Scott (q.v.), Frederick (Jcorge Scott, Charles Dawson Shantly, Arthur eir. and Agnes Weth- erald. These are a few in the throng of late singers, celebrated by Arthur Loekhart in his Masque of .)linslrels, who have entered the court- yard and arc demanding of the herald entrance into the high hall. "Crowns," they say, "have been won and worn by others. Admit us." BiBLiOGKAi'HY. The scattered material for the history of French-Canadian and English-Cana- dian literature may be foimd in the published Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada (Ottawa, 1883, et seq.). To the volume of 1893, J. G. Bourinot contributed a valuable paper. Canada's Intellectual Strength and Wealncis, published in book form (Montreal, 1893). Con- sult, also: Bourinot, Intellectual Derelopment of the Canadian People (Toronto, 1801); Roberts, History of Canada (Boston, 1807) ; and The Canadian Men and Women of the Time, edited by Morgan (Toronto, 1808). For verse-antholo- gies, consult : Rand, Treasury of Canadian Verse (New York, 1900); Stedman. Victorian .inthot- ogy (Boston, 1805) ; Songs of the Great Domin-