Mexican Literature

Colombia— For its population and the tent of its educated class Colombia has duced more literary men, in its short national life, than perhaps any other of the ican republics. Among the early writers of republican Colombia are Jose Joaquin Ortiz (1814-92) and Jose Eusebio Caro (1817-53), both poets, magazine writers and editors who worked together earnestly and intelligently for the advancement of Colombian literature. The latter is very strongly subjective and tive, vehement in his Likes and dislikes, lyrical and oratorical, and he moves ever on a high plane of morality and duty. Ortiz, too, be- to the Romantic school, and his poetry shows power of description, choice of words, finish of form and a lyrical ring which, at its best is very good. His patriotism and his literary culture ring true and enabled him to sib ranch, during his long and active life, for the cause of letters in his native country. A contemporary poet of great talent was Julio Arboleda (1817-62), statesman, soldier and pa triot. Born to considerable wealth, his life was one long series of adventures and political changes, which finally ended in his assassina tion. His geatest work, de 0y6n,) a long poem founded on a native legend, is written in excellent Spanish, and displays many attrac tive poetical gifts. Its influence has been very considerable on subsequent Colombian literature and his work is still read throughout Latin America. One of the most voluminous writers of Colombia was Manuel Maria Madiedo (1817-1900). His varied writings cover sci ence, law, government, logic, poetry and reli gion; and there is a strong patriotic ring to them enforced by an enthusiastic love of na ture. He was also a journalist and dramatist. One of the poets of this period who strongly. reflected the Romantic movement was Gregorio Gutierrez Gonzalez (1826-72), ((Antioco.)) There is a tone of melancholy and discouragement running through his poems which appealed strongly to his audience and made him one of the most popular poets of Colombia. Felipe Perez (1834- ) and his brother Santiago (1837- ) both wrote dramas, some of which were acted with success and others of which were simply published as literary productions. Felipe found the plots for his novels and tales in the early history of Spanish America, while his brother sought his in English history. Jose Maria Samper (1828-98), diplomat, dramatist, novelist and biographer, is one of the foremost figures in Colombian literature. He was a pro lific dramatist, averaging over three plays a year for some time, all of which were staged, some of them with notable success. Turning from the stage he wrote novel after novel, interlarding his work with sketches of his contemporaries and of other native literary men. Among his best dramas are 'Dos Priinos a la Modern) and (Un Alcalde a la His de una alma,' largely autobiograph ical, is a book of deep interest. One of the most interesting characters in Colombian litera ture is Rafael Nufiez (1825-94). At the age of 36 he was President of Colombia, and for a score of years he dictated the policy and gov ernment of his country. Beginning as a con firmed skeptic, he gradually came around to protect the Church and he rose from a dictator to an advocate of something as near like con stitutional government as Colombia was fitted for at the time. In addition to poems he has written a very interesting work, Reforma politica en Jose Maria Vergara (1831-72), poet, literary critic and editor, did much for the advancement of Colombian litera ture; and his de la literatura en Nueva Granada) (1867) is the best authority on the subject. Jose Manuel. Marroquin, statesman, philologist, political writer and his torian, was successively Vice-President (1898 1900) and President (1900-04). His works in terestingly reflect the life of his times. Miguel Antonio Caro (1843-1909), another Colombian President, was a classical 'poet; encouraged literature and edited, among other works. Ar boleda's poems. Diego Fallon (1834-1905), a poet of breadth and imagination and depth of feeling, stands high in Colombia as a writer of rhythmic poetry that is, in some ways, sug gestive of Poe. His religious sentiments and love of nature are ever strongly in evidence in all his work. Rafael Pombo (1833-1912), dip lomat, educator and poet, is still one of the most popular of Colombian writers. His poetry is versatile, imaginative, rhythmic, technically excellent; and it often expresses great depth of feeling. Among his many popu lar poems are Colombia has produced many novelists, the best of whom are Jorge Isaacs (q.v., 1837 95) and Jose Maria Samper already Isaacs' is the best novel written in Latin America. It has been translated into most of the languages of Europe and has been warmly received in Spain. The book con stantly reveals an intensity of passion that is truly Latin-American. Isaacs also published a volume of poems of some merit but inferior to his novel. He has had many imitators in his own country, the best of whom is Lo renzo Marroquin, who has written some clever stories which have attracted attention at home and abroad. Of these the best known and most discussed is Among the more recent Colombian wets who have influenced Latin-American literature through originality in meter and form is Jose Asuncion Silva (1860-96).

Ecuador.— Gabriel Garcia Moreno (1821 75), twice President of the republic (1861-65 and 1869-75) was the leader of the ultra-Catho lic party in Ecuador and his administration was very much of a dictatorship. He possessed a curious combination of talents. He was ar dently attached to the mysticism of the Middle Ages, and his writings, especially his journal istic work and his de los Jesuitas,> are of great interest as reflecting the condition of Ecuador during its period of development toward more democratic ideas. The most in teresting literary character of Ecuador is Juan Le6n Mera (1832-99), poet, novelist, critic, his torian, scholar and antiquarian. But it is as a poet that he is best remembered. One of the best of his longer poems is (1879). This story displays a great love for and familiarity with nature. In it the poet shows that the forest is his domain and his great lave. Numa Pompilio Ilona (1832 1907), educator, poet and philosopher, who re ceived an excellent, cosmopolitan education in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, and spent some years in the diplomatic service of his country in Europe, wrote long, semi-philosophical poems and sonnets which were popular in his day; but they are too discursive and subjective to suit the popular taste of to-day. Some of his poems, however, like 'Noche de dolor en las montafias,>

Venezuela.— On the breaking out of the revolution which finally led to the separation of the country from Spain, the Venezuelan revolutionary leaders had only one use for the press, and that was to employ. it to fight Spain. This end was purely political. Hence the vol ume of political literature which marks the be ginning of the life of the young republic. But even at this early date some enthusiastic spirits began the cultivation of literature for its own sake. These literary devotees were encouraged by the establishment of the first printing press in Venezuela .in 1806; through revolutionary activity; the smuggling into the country of books forbidden by Spain and the general in tellectual activity which proclaimed the coming of the revolutionary storm. Among these early literary advocates and lovers were Jose Luis Ramos, Jose Sanz, Luis Javier Ustariz and Francisco Javier Ustariz who are now remem bered more for the encouragement they gave to literature and the example they set than for the excellence of their literary remains. Andres Bello (q.v.), the greatest name in the literary life of Venezuela in the early days of the re public, became more intimately connected with Chile (q.v.) very early in his career. Roman ticism early made its appearance in Venezuela, as it did in all the Latin-American republics. Its first standard bearer was Jose Antonio Martin (1804-74). True to the inspiration of poetry in Venezuela he sang the beauty of the rich tropical land about him. To him nature was altogether lovely. He also wrote pleasing narrative poems and political effusions which were not so happy because they were not the natural expression of the author who couched them in characteristic Gongoristic language. One of his best poems is 'Canto ffinebre'; and one of his most characteristic and curi ous narrative tales is 'El Mascara.' Fer min Toro (1807-65•, diplomat, educational ist, statesman and poet, has the peculiar distinc tion of being both a classical writer and a romanticist. He was one of the best diploma tists which his country has produced and he negotiated important treaties between Vene zuela and Spain, France, Italy and Great Britain and was instrumental in obtaining general official recognition in Europe of the independ ence of Venezuela from Spain. Though he was successful in classical poetry he was the first to recognize the fact that in his own country was ' a wide and interesting field for poetic efforts; and he himself lead the way in his elegies 'Hecatofonia) which depict the cruelty of the Spaniards in their treatment of the natives of Venezuela. His poetical tales have less merit than some of his other works. Rafael Maria Baralt (1810-60) has the distinction of being the first Venezuelan literary man who was wel comed in Madrid where he became one of the noted literary figures of the Spanish capital and a member of the Spanish Academy. He distinguished himself in various fields of liter ary endeavor. Journalist, poet, historian, critic and lexicographer, he proved almost equally efficient wherever he turned his hand. He was a great lover of classical literature and he saw the dangers into which the Romantic school was running. His sonnets and odes are among his best work; yet they are too often rigidly classical. The best known of his odes, and probably the most meritorious, is his 'A Colon,' which is known to every Venezuelan who knows anything about literature. Juan Vicente Gonzalez (1808-66), historian, essayist and biographer, is one of the deepest thinkers and best critics that Venezuela has produced. In his Universal' and his 'Mesenianas' are striking elegies in prose about the men who gave their lives for their country. Jose Ramon Yepes (1822-81), sailor, poet and soldier, has written poems that are filled with fine descrip tions of the sea to which his vivid imagina tion and his sensitive poetical nature have lent great brilliancy. The most notable Venezuelan poet of patriotic verse is Abigail Lozano. Journalist, critic and lyrical poet, he has done good service in advancing the cause of litera ture in Venezuela through his literary publica tion, El Album. Among his collections of poems are 'El martirio) (1847), and 'Otras horas de martirio> (1864). Many of his poems have a political trend. Daniel Mendoza (1823-67), journalist and successful humorous writer and satirist, has made the vehicle of his satire on the customs, manners, foibles and extravagance of the larger cities the glanero,)) or Vene zuelan cowboy. The "latter, who has hut re cently arrived in the capital, is constantly sur prised at all that he sees there, and he makes his comments accordingly, thus holding up, ap parently innocently, the vices of the age. Jose Arftonio Calm& (1837-97), a romantic poet of some considerable power, hut no apparent aims in his work, has been popular in Venezuela. One of his best poems, 'A orillas del Tamaira,' is filled with very pleasant pictures, but spoiled by his constitutional• repining over the things and advantages lost in the past. As it is there is a haunting sweetness and caressing melody in many of his plaints; as for instance in 'La maga y el genio de las selvas' and 'La hoja.' Another Venezuelan poet of nature is Heraclio de la Guardia (1829-1907). He has written poems on many kinds of subjects and has a large body of work to his credit, some of it, however, of a somewhat mechanical nature. One of the most popular and national of Venezuelan poets is Domingo Ramon Hernin dez. He is a follower of the Romantic' school and he catches its inspiration and real senti ni,ents perhaps better than any other Vene znelan. There is a depth of sweetness and tenderness, a wealth of imagery and an un dertone of, sadness in his poetical efforts that have endeared him to his countrymen. Fran

cisco G. Pardo (1829-82), one of the most per sistent prize winners of the Venezuelan Acad emy, has been called the Longfellow of Vene zuela. Among his popular poems are 'Las Indianas,' 'El porvenir de la America' and 'La gloria del libertador.) Cecilio Acosta (1831 81), jurist, orator, journalist and poet, had the Power of poetical repetition so noticeable in the songs, poems and oratory of the aboriginal races of America. Some of his poems read like an echo of 'Hiawatha) or of some of the songs or hero tales of the Iroquois or .Algon quins. He was one of the cleverest masters of word painting in the of Latin-American literature. A very characteristic example of his style and his limitations is 'La casita blanca.' Being a noted orator, Acosta was naturally a master of prose composition. In fact his prose has often all the characteristics of his poetry, It is rhythmic, imaginative and. forceful. gota de rock,' one of his best poems, pos sesses much of the mannerism of his best prose efforts and effects. Nicanor Bolet Peraza, journalist, political agitator, reformer and dramatist, was at one time well known in the United States, where he spent most of his life in political exile. He was witty, satirical and yet withal possessed of a strong fund, of com mon sense and the ability to size up the situa tion in all cases. He strove sedulously to in duce the different republics of Latin America to follow the example of the United States in the adoption of democratic principles and prac tices. His writings have always been popular in :Venezuela with a large percentage of the people, and his play a wonderfully interesting work on the peculiarities of Spanish as spoken in Venezuela. It is a work written to supple ment and correct the (Catellano en Venezuela) of Calcatio-, already mentioned. Another book which shows the breadth of learning and critical power possessed by Pic& Febres is his (Litera tura venezolana en el siglo XIX,) the most learned and extensive work of its kind on the subject in Spanish. Jose Gil Fortoul (1860—), historian, short-story writer, essayist, critic and novelist, began his literary life as an out and out adherent of the French psychological writers and more especially of Paul Bour get. But he outgrew his youthful tend ency and influence and became the most in teresting and soundest historian of his coun try. His first story to attract attention, 'Julian,' is said to be largely autobiographical, and his French influence stood him in fairly good stead as it enabled him to analyze the conditions under which his hero is supposed to have lived, and incidentally to reveal his own thoughts and the influences at work in his own life. A succeeding story, was subject to much the same influences, but it is weaker in plot and development than the former novel. 'Pasiones,> another novel, is also partially autobiographical at least. It is a vivid picture of political conditions in Venezuela under Guz man Blanco's dictatorship. Pedro Cesar Dom inici (1863—) has written very good tales, but they are all foreign to the soil in that they have nothing whatever to do with Venezuela or things Venezuelan; for Dominici seems to have never been in sympathy with his country. Manuel Romero Garcia (1865—), on the con trary, has written so intimately about Venezuela and things Venezuelan that he is often so wrapped up in his subject he gives to it details and allusions an outsider cannot understand on account of their pure localism. These char acteristics are very prominent in Romero Garcia's novel 'Peoria,' which the author him self has declared is a photograph of social con ditions in Venezuela, more especially in the rural sections. - This novel, which was very popular, gained for the author a considerable following of younger writers who began to ex ploit what was known as the nationalistic move ment, which had already gained headway in the Argentine and several other Latin-American countries. It became the fashion to write stories about Venezuelan characters and sub jects and the short tale in this field found a number of exponents, among them Rufino Blanco Fombona, Luis Ubaneja Achelpohl and Rafael Bolivar. Of these the best known is Blanco Fombona, novelist and critic, who has lived mostly in Europe, where he has been very closely connected with the Modernista move ment, His tales and stories have had a wide circulation in Europe in both Spanish and French. Among his poems is a volume bearing the title opera Linea) (1904). He has also published numerous volumes of sketches and travels, among them 'MU anti de los horizontes) (1904) and 'La Limpara de Aladino> (1915). A close friend of Ruben Dario (q.v.), Blanco Fombona became one of the most active of the Modernista poets and the foremost representative of that school in Venezuela. His 'El hombre de hierro,> a satire on conditions in Venezuela during the dictator ship of Cipriano Castro, is a novel of very con siderable force and power of description and of depicting conditions and characters. It grew out of the author's personal experience while governor of the Amazonas territory (1905). While in prison in Venezuela Blanco Fombona wrote 'Cantos de la prision y del destiefro' (1911) which have become popular with the Venezuelan revolutionary element. He has also written a great deal of sane criticism about Latin America and other literature; but his weak point is his antipathy to the United States. Miguel Eduardo Pardo (1868-1905) has cari catured the Modernista movement and the whole school of writers who have written so fervidly about Venezuela, in his 'Todo un pueblo,' which has been also printed in Europe and translated into French. Manuel Diaz Rodriguez has taken delight in satirizing conditions in his native land and in many respects he has outdone Pardo in his novel 'Idolos ratos,> in which he lashes absolutism in Latin-American politics and government. He is inclined to follow the sociological school, as exemplified in French literature of the latter quarter of the 19th cen tury, in his other novels and more especially in 'Sangre patricia.' As an art and literary critic Diaz Rodriguez has no superior to-day in Venezuela, and few equals in Latin America. His criticism is marked by the same rhythmic, forceful and clear prose that makes his novels and other literary productions delightful read ing. Among the other Venezuelan minor writers worthy of mention are Francisco de Sales Perez ('Ratos perdidos,' 1880) ; Nunez de Caceres; Jacinto Gutierrez Col, Andres Mata; Victor'Racamonde, iSamuel Dario Mal donado; Francisco Lazo Marti cri olla)) ; Eduardo Blanco ('Zirate)) ; Jose Maria Manrique; Tomas Michelena bora,' 1884; 'La Hebrea,) 1890) ; Arevklo Gonzalez, and Rafael Cabrera Malo. For the literature of other Latin-American countries see MEXICAN LITERATURE; WEST INDIAN, CEN TRAL AMERICAN, AND BRAZILIAN LITERATURE.

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