The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-06-01
Charles Reade's Method.
TTinsley's Msgazine.l

He had profound disbelief in himself,
and out OF this persistent habit OF sell
distrust sprang hi, singular aud laborlous
method OF work. OF course, he did not
tell his critics or bis readers that he had no
faith in himself, but to his intimates he was
never tired " declaring that he possessed
neither Imagination nor the gift OF con-
structlon. These fancied defects he set
about to remedy in his own fashion, getting
the plot or framework OF his story where
ever he could, and stimulating his ina
gination by collecting and digesting all
the facts bearing upon 1t that ne could
possibly lay hands on. He liked 10
have a real feeling OF what he wrote
about, and when he was preparing himself
for the novel OF ITS Never Too Late 10
Mendv he not only visited and made
thorough inspection OF one, at least, OF our
principal penal establishments, but had
| himself locked into the dark cell for pc
riod long enough to enable him to realize
some. at any rate. OF its horrors. lie was
not. in general way, wide reader; but
he read infinitely and exclusively on every
subject that he had to write about, and
made n variety OF special studies for each
one of his books. He declared once that
he gathered all his plots from the police
and law reports OF the Times, and it may
certainly be said that no one ever read snch
an amount OF dry or unsavOry literature in
so studious or patient manner, or drew
from il such a store OF useful and enter
tanning matter. He read more OF Blue
books than OF literary compositions pro-
per-ior which productions, by the way,
he never professed much liking or re-
spect-and these, together with his CO.
piOus newspaper cuttings and his count
less letters from persons with grievances,
must have gone far TO compensate that
lack OF imaginative power OF which he so
often complained. The truth was, how
ever, that he had an imagination OF the
most glowing description, and when he
had once got his facts together he could
do with them whatever he pleased. Nor
had he any real lack Of the constructive
gift, though he studied PLAYS to the end
Of his days to make good this imagi-
nary want. His commonplace books
and books OF reference, the immense
| iolios, with their contents classified and
| indeXed with infinite pains, were the Won
| der OF those who saw his work-room; but
| in his latter days he came 10 think that the
| labor he had bestowed on them was very
| largely wasted, and when he showed them
| to Young authors it was that they might he
rather a warning than an example. When
he had at length decided on the subject OF
bis story, drawn out his plot, outlined his
characters, satisfied himself as to the main
| incidents, and was about to give himself to
the actual business OF composing. he would
endeavor to provide fual stimulus to the
imaginative faculty by hanging upon bis
wall. all sorts Of excerpts, guiding phrases,
and inscriptions. MOUNTED on mill-bOard,
| these citations were at once texts to in
spire and signs to guide him. He sat in
the midst OF them like navigator among
charts or a strategist among route maps,
and. thanks or not to the instructions and
warnings on all sides OF him, he never
| failed to guide the incidents and per-
sonages OF bis novel to their proper end"
| He avoided with most deliberate intent all
efforts at fine writing, cheap pathos, and
every sort OF literary prettlness," driving
tight ahead in that vigorous and swinging
style which carries the reader with it..
| or the man himself much has been writ
ten since his death, and from many points
| OF view. He had weaknesses, which he
did not always try to conceal; hot
and hasty temper, which made him
neither q very fair nor very courteous
opponent in controversy, and an occa-
sionally perverse way Of looking at things,
and certain obstinate wrong-headedness.
which rendered him difficult subject to
convince. He had knack OF falling out
with his friends, and said things in his
quarrelsome moments which II was not al
ways easy to forget. But those who knew
him best were his fastest friends, and they
ever found him true and lOyablc man..
The gentle and chiyalrous qualities which
endeared him to them while he lived will
be an enduring memory now that he Is
daod