The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-03-24
The Novels of Sir Walter Scott.

The Novels of Sir Walter Scott.
Editor Abbeviue Press and Banner:
Since 1880, tho date which marks
the completion of the romances of
this great writer, no library has been
styled perfect, failing to contain an
entire set, of what have since been
called, the Waverly Novels Their
advent forms an era in the literary
history of the world. The most
careless reader Of these romanres ex-
periences tho feeling tha, he is not
the only one interested therein. but
that the author moves continually by
his side, and seems to long with him
for the dcnouement, with which each
romance never fails to terminate.
And though we know that many of
them were written as a means of dis
charging debt, no one will allow
them to have been the creation of
circumstance, but springing as they
did from such q soil, they especially
crowned their creator with glory and
honor.
Sir Walter Scott, in the preface Of
his first novel, "Waverly," tell, US
that it was with the design of imi-
tating Miss Edgeworth, that he CON-
menced his career rs a novelist,
wishing to gain the interest Of other
countries in Scotland, as she had
done for ireland. 1t is said that
Scott examined tho heath, grass,
shrubbcry, and even the foliage of
the different trees that sprang from
Scottish soil, so anxious was he to
make even the minutia of his works
attractive. We may safely say that
few writers have had fewer critics ;
and it is certainly not with view to
criticisc that tho present essay is
undertaken. Nor would we proceed
to eulogize Scott and affirm him the
greatest of romance writers. But un.
doubtedly he possesses tho power of
making interesting any character
whom he singles out as the hero or
heroine of his plot. Around these
such magic charm he throws, that
they appear, not as tho heroes of
many, and by far the greater num-
Der, of modern novelists, overdrawn
or superhuman, but natural and con
sistent throughout. Although, with
few exceptions, Scott invariably takes
two diametrically opposite in every
particular, as Rebeeca and Rowena,
Queen Elizabeth and Amy Robsart.
Jeannie Dean and Madge WiIdfre,
&c. This power Of thus beaul;tying
opposite qualities constitutes the
chief charm Of his works. and dis
plays his marvellous genius il, its most
remarkable phaze.
The fact that many Of his novels
treat of eras in religious excitement.
and that he has chosen to depict
characters sub jrcted to the inhurnrr
of practical christianity. a> in O"l
Mortality" &C., has eXposei him '''
the scvercst criticism. Sine il may
well be asked, how runid ""o u
stranger to the high aud A"iy emo
tons which true rciig'"n "Xrl, :.
paint, not only the outward hrr>.
but tho most intimate sentiments ot
those who were thus swayed? Aud
again, it must be allowed that many
of his works contain an clement,
however slight, cf sensuality, esps-
cially is this the case in the "llea'l
of Mid Lothian" We feel that We
have no right to con slider he lives "'
Efie Dean and "Gentle Gcordic, even
> as more interesting,not to say delight
, full than those Of JEANNE and Butler.
Could wc, if placed upon our ollh,
declare that truth, moral purity an'
Justice form the most attractive t'a-
3 lures of this work9 No, we sincere.
ly believe not. Then the fact that
we arc to be amused, ahd in nowisr
Influenced. is open to the most srri-
ous objection, for the yer, fascinaIio"
proves veil TO the subtle mannrI'
of exercising influence Everything
has an influential power, and the
more unconscious we are at the tim
; may only prove how completely w.
are cngrossed, and aIreudy influenced
to tho very highest degree.
But the true answer to the object
Tons here enumerated, is one which