The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-03-17

BY AN EX-EDIT0R.

lne longevity oil novels before they die
into forgetfulness, would be an amusing
branch Of research for those versed in lite,
rary statistics. How many we recollect
reading, OF which diligent inquiry now can
develope no trace. Some die of their own
worthlessness, some Of neglect, while the
longer lived are driven out OF the field by
new aspirants for the honors Of their pre-
decessOrs if not by superior merit. Scott
drew veil Of darkness over a host when
Waverly appeared.
One Of the older works OF fiction we
recollect about this time was the 'Canter.
bury Tales Of the Misses Lee, a Joint pro-
duction, Of which an edition appeared about
1905. Harriet and Sophia Lee kept a
boarding school at Bath, called the Belvi-
dere. Sheridan patronised them; Sophia
wrote The Recess one Of the better
novels Of her time, which we used to read
in boyhood with delight. 1t was then a
work of twenty years standing, Published
originally in 1856. Harriet, the younger
sister, wrote comedy, but was best known
BY her Canterbury Tales which came to
q second edition in 1906. From one of
these Byron took the plot of his play of
Werner They were the most popular of
her works. Sophia wos said to have writ
ten two of the stories. We remember
Juggling home under our arm, the five
volumes Of which they consisted, and de-
vouring the contents in secret. Jane Por-
ter's 'Thaddeus Of Warsaw we have al.
ready mentioned. Her Scottish Chiefs
and Pastors Fireside,' the last published
in 1915, did not so much please us-we
were ten years older, and perhaps less easy
to be pleased. The Hungarian Brothers
and the 'Recluse Of Norway were written
by Anna Maria, her sister. We can only
remember We preferred the product Of James
pen TO her sisters. Robert Ker Porter. an
artist, who went TO Russia afterwards. and
got knighted there, painted picture of the
battle OF Agincourt, which crowds went to
see, ourselves among the rest. We were
much struck with the spirit it displayed in
the principal figures
We remember that an exhibition was
open in FleetStreet about the same time as
that OF Mr.. Porter's, of the pictures of
George Moreland, who had died about a
year before. This we visited twice. struck
with the homely faithfulness to nature of
most Of the paintings. There was a Thun-
der Storm among these pictures, which we
even now see in fancy, charmingly but
boldly dashed of.
From other novelists Of that time, and
later times as well, Miss Edgeworth bore
the palm, and held it the longest. She
began about 1898, perhaps year or two
before, and kept well sustained position
for long period. Her Castle Rackrent'
was her first work we ever read. The
second production Of this lady's that fell in
our way was her Essay on Irish Bulls
Her Popular Tales were also deservedly
popular" Her Patronage which we
read about 1915. was equal to any oil
her preceding works, and marked with
her beauties and defects perhaps more
strongly. There was little to startle the
reader in her writings. No high flights Of
genius, nor were there any corresponding
Expressions, for she was not the creature Of
extremes. Her flight was equally sustained. |
She was an accurate observer of character
possessing the highest moral feeling. She
penetrated deeply into motive, was alive to |
all the weaknesses Of social existence, and
never conceded indulgence where virtue
demanded corrective censore. Read with
high satisfaction in her better moods she
did not displease when less happy. She
never abandoned in her works as modern
novel writers do, some high moral end
She felt that amusement, unless conioined |
with the exalted object of moral improve
ment or teaching some useful lesson, was
an unworthy aim of literature, and, to
certain degree, misapplication Of writer's
powers She sometimes, indeed, m.arred
her end by making her object too promi.
nent, and in such cases she was not relish.
ID by that numerous class of everyday
readers, who seek only to murder time
She ventured occasionally on the descrip-
ion OF scenes to which she was not "a.
and failed. Her plots were not
always sufficiently varied. She did not
ully admit the combination of the great
7irtues and vices seen in some energetic
characters, and hence in her love of what
was good and her dislike of evil, she forgot
great natural law and lessened the striking
fleet she nigh. otherwise pfoduce.-l
She had, perhaps, fear OF creating admi-
atom for what was Of evil tendency.
She would increase the sum of moral good
'y analogous means. She might fail on
his account Of efecting her object with
merit ssnsibilities. that could only be touch
ID by startling contrasts, but upon the
arger part Of her readers she would be
ully effective. We do not mean that she
vas not sometimes improbable and extraya-
amt. but, for the most part, her narratives ,
we're stamped with authenticity in an emf. ,
lent degree. She was our favorite in DAYS
u youth and passion, for she ever seemed /;
mbued with an innate feeling for what was ,
pod. and youth and passion are attached |
o what is good, even when too needless oil :
wi themselves. We could never relish /;
.Person Hannah Moore, while Miss ,
Edgworth we read with ayidity. Herl
imaginative powers were Of high order