The older generation is in a difficult situation, because,
apparently, no one knows precisely who and what it is. The younger
generation, of course, is made up of every one who dislikes
Tennyson, believes in realism, reads De Gourmont, and was not
responsible for the war. That is perfectly definite. We are
somewhat puzzled by the uncounted hordes of the youthful in
appearance who support the movies, are stolidly conservative in
the colleges, never heard of De Gourmont, and have forgotten the
war. But perhaps that is some other younger generation which no
one has taken the trouble to write about--yet.
As for the older generation, what actually is it, and who in
reality are they? The general impression seems to be that they are
the Victorians, they are Howells and his contemporaries, they are
the men and women who created the family magazine, invented
morality, revived Puritanism, and tried to impose evolution on a
society that preferred devolution by international combat. But
these men are all dead, or have ceased writing. They are not
_our_ older generation. It is true that they are famous and so
convenient for reference, but it is not accurate nor fair to
drag them from their graves for purposes of argument.
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