New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-12

driven to the verge of distraction. The IN
cidents and surroundings shift from one book
to another, but the characters do not change
the heroines, especially, retaining common
traits and peculiaritics. The commonplace
books furnished the author with great divers
ity of raw material for use and adaptation
But the fame of creative genius burned feebly.
Inherent vitality and intellectual vigor could
not compensate for this default in Imagination
A vigorous lacy style, vivid pictorial
power and dramatic instincts were among his
characteristics His contempt for the con-
ventional processes Of literature was eyinccd
at the outset by absurdities of punctuation and
tvpe. His intense vitality required half a
dozen exclamation points for adequate cX-
preston. In like manner. his eye for dramatic
situations misled him. He sought to time SEN
sational effects so accurately that the close OF
every magazine instalment should leave the
reader in a state of excitement and suspense.
These mannerisms and the constant strain OF
melodrama in his rOmances created prejudice
against him. Yet with all these defects OF
method and original suggestion, how strong,
wholesome and intense were the effects pro-
duced. When he was at his best, every page
seemed to be quyering with nervous energy.
Other novelsts seemed to dip their pens IN
water but he in blood and fire. No
space was wasted in yapid dialogue or
weaIisOme analysis of motives. Character was
not described in set phrase, but was revealed
bv Illuminating flashes of word or deed. Here
a brilliant cpl gram would be inserted, and there
a condensed bit of vivid description would be
used, but the action Of the story was never
nd ba Y pfnpr
was transported with Christie tombstone to the
Scotch fishing coast, or to the medi&yal age
with Gerard and Margaret. whether he was I'M
raycling the mysteries of the Beauepalre man
sion, or following David DodGs fortunes in
sea-fght, or disclosing abuses and wrongs III
lunatic asylum, prison or tIadcs-unlon, never
escaped from the mag nctiC sway of the novel
lists personality.
Charles Reade's biography has never been
compiled. HIS readers have often fancicd that
he must have had actual service as a common
seaman, or have studied and practsed medicine
and law His life has been quiet and unevent-
full. An Oxford man taking high rank for
classical attachments, he was trained for the
law, but was self-apprcnticed as playwright
and novelist Ills novels do not contain auto
biography in disguise. Yet they reveal unerr-
ingly the manliness of his character, the
passionate carncStnCss of his nature His
detestation of hypocrisy and can't his hatred of
injustice and wrong, his splendid courage and
tremendous energy in WORKING out practical
reforms, in pleading the cause OF the oppressed
and in fighting the battle Of the poor prisoner
the plundercd author, and the victim of trades
union or mad-hOuse, gave him a proud pre-
emncnce as a novelist who was not writing
either for money or reputation, but with posi-
tive ends and distinct moral purposes always
before his eyes. In III literary loom which he
so industriousy piled, the strong fibre OF
his own pure, generous and resolutc
manhood was never once broken OIL
The worlds working stock neither OF morals
nor of genius is so large that such
a man can be easily spared THE TRIB-
UNE's circle of readers has special cause
for lamcnting his death. 1t was in these
columns that Mr.. Rcadc first told the touching
story f James Lambert, the Hero and Mar
tyr" and it was here again that he made his
final appeal to Americans for justice in inter
national copyright.