43] 



ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA 



43 



while the absolute number of authors was still increasing, 

 is probably to be explained on the ground that the men of 

 superior ability were the first to sense the baneful influence 

 of approaching philistinism. 



The second of the seven noteworthy facts which seem 

 best explained as due to changes in the social environment 

 is presented in Table IV. This table shows that the decline 



TABLE IV 

 AMERICAN LITERATI CLASSIFIED BY FIELD OF CHIEF ACTIVITY AND PERIOD 



OF BlRTH. 1 



of American letters was not manifest in all kinds of litera- 

 ture. The number of authors diminished in nine of the 

 twelve fields of literary activity under consideration, but 

 the number of 'actors^ dramatists, and prose writers did not 



1 In the compilation of this table each author was counted only in 

 that field of activity in which he seemed to have attained the greatest 

 distinction. 



2 The exact character of these classes is defined on pages 21-22. 







