464 ROMANCE LITERATURE 



There is no doubt of the influence of the European writers during the 

 periods of the Spanish and Portuguese dominations and for some time 

 after the independence of the colonies, just as we can trace the 

 influence of English literature on the works of American writers. 

 After colonies have become independent, there soon arises a literature 

 more or less national and with interesting local color. How far have 

 the European writers been influenced by it, and would it not be a 

 way to renew to some extent the literatures of Spain and of Portugal? 

 Some time ago there met at Madrid a congress of delegates from the 

 Latin- American republics. Would it not be advisable to hold such 

 congresses at stated times, either in Spain or in the different states 

 of Spanish America, in order to expand the scope of Spanish lit- 

 erature and make it more world-wide, plus mondiale, as the French 

 say? 



There has been a large immigration of Italians into South America 

 and into Louisiana. They have newspapers of their own, and they 

 continue to make use of their language as a mother tongue for 

 two or three generations. Have they produced any literary works 

 written in Italian, or is it likely that they will ever produce any, 

 and how would it be possible for Italian writers to encourage 

 that production? Is there any Italian literature outside of Italy ? 

 I could wish my learned colleague, Professor Pio Rajna, to answer 

 this question. 



It is well known that in Canada there is an important native 

 French literature which comprises history, poetry, and fiction. 

 Some of the Canadian writers are known in France, and their works 

 have been rewarded by the French Academy. The tenacity of the 

 French-Canadians in keeping as a mother tongue the language of 

 their ancestors is indeed wonderful. Although Montcalm fell in 1759, 

 and Canada has been British from the capitulation of Montreal in 

 1760, the descendants of the men of that time still love France and 

 the French language, and have produced an extensive French litera- 

 ture. Should the Canadians be influenced in their works by the 

 French authors, or should they evolve a national literature? I read 

 not long ago, an article in a Canadian magazine in which the author 

 said that the Canadians should not look to France for their inspira- 

 tion, but should make their literature suit their own local conditions. 

 There is a groat deal of truth in this statement. Let there be local* 

 color, and let local patriotism animate the writers in Canada, but 

 let thorn always continue to study the groat works in French litera- 

 ture, especially contemporary works. Separated from the former 

 mother Country for a century and a half, the Canadian language has 

 not, us a rule, the true characteristics of modern French, and will 

 lose thorn more and more in the course of time, if the Canadian 

 authors do riot continue to make a close study of modern French 



