ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by GEORGE P. PUTNAM, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. JOHN A. GRAY, 200 BNCH b 27 b b b PREFACE. THE reader will find in this work a few remarks on the characteristics of modern literature and art; an examination of their generally prevalent defects of morbidness and melancholy, and suggestions as to the means by which these defects will eventually disappear, to be succeeded by a new era of culture, based on the genial and earnest study of nature. It advocates the cultivation of health and cheerfulness, or joyousness, as facilitating the performance of the duties of life, indicates the identity of this spirit with that of early and undefiled Christianity, and endeavors to show that such culture is eminently possible and practical. There may be many, however, who will object that a book of this kind is out of place during such a fearful and serious struggle as that in which our country is now engaged. Against this I would most earnestly protest that the principles held by the thinkers of the North-the principles involved in fully developing the glorious problem of freeing labor from every drawback, and of constantly raising it and intellect to their rightful dignity in the social scale, include much more than even the glorious doctrines of Federal supremacy and emancipation. Those who have regarded this war from an elevated point of view, who have taken in all the causes which led to it, must see and feel that the great principles of free. labor-of fully developed, vigorous, and cheerful industry, with its inseparable aids, science and art -involve far more than their most hopeful partisans have claimed. When matured, they must bring forth new forms of art and literature, new phases of culture. I do not believe with many that in this age of labor, industry and utilitarianism are killing beauty and poetry. On the contrary, I see that they form the transition stage to a higher art and poetry than the world has ever known, and that through their dusty, steam-engine whirling realism, society will yet attain to a naturalism, or a living and working in nature, more direct, fresher, and braver, than history has ever recorded. And in this book, although no word of contemporary politics appears therein, I have tried to discuss some of the social and literary characteristics of this country, and endeavored to show, in its conclusion, that through free labor and science we shall eventually be emancipated from the follies which at present give to our culture so many lack-a-daisical and morbid forms. To those who agree with me in appreciating the mission of free labor, it will therefore appear clear enough why I have in this volume written earnestly in favor of encouraging cheerfulness and joyousness in every phase of literature and of practical life. Where there is SUNSHINE IN THOUGHT, work becomes lighter, and its amount is more easily increased. The book is an appeal to all who believe in progress, to do their best to remove from its path the impediments of clogging melancholy, morbid sorrow, and miserable sentimentalism, and to put in their place the broad stones of honor, vigor, health, and genial love of life, with its duties and beauties. And to all who are hopeful and brave, to all who have fought, or suffered, or thought for the right in |