Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Henry Walcott Boynton, Reader's History of American Literature

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[252] says Hazlitt, “is too interesting by half. She is interesting in her ruffles, in her gloves, her samplers, her aunts and uncles. She is interesting in all that is uninteresting.” ¹ It is not unusual to find such superfine developments of art attempted in rough, new countries; but they cannot be said to represent the life of which they may be, by reaction, the outcome. There have been of late decided manifestations of an instinct toward the direct expression of the Western spirit.

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Local types.

In looking at the recent Western contributions altogether, however, we perceive one marked feature they have in common with the Eastern. The labors of many authors, in all parts of our vast country, are gradually putting on record a wide range of local types. As a rule, to be sure, it is the less educated classes which are more easily drawn, though these may not necessarily or always be the best worth drawing. Hence we are acquiring a most valuable gallery of more or less rustic groups spread over the continent, while the traditions of polish and refinement are ignored for want either of personal experience or of