The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1888-10-25
E" The Quick or the Dead ?''
Written for the GOLD LEAF

There nave been so many, and such Sc
; we're criticism upon Miss Rives book The
| Quick or the Dead that it seems almost
overMhe lining to aud another How severe
| they have been, and IN many respects how
| just ! Having but recently read the book,
and more from curiosity than from any
other motive, a few thoughts suggested
t themselves to me, which if the public is
not already tired OF the subject, | will give
! Iot what they are worth. That the book
| is oyerdrawn. and i'll some respects calcu-
lated to inculcatc thoughts and ideas which
had best remain covered With a garment
! OF WOrdleSS weaving we Will all admit !;
! but Will never believe tlata woman re
i fined and modest. Miss Rives must be,
| Ga genuine Southern WOn.an) wrote with
Intention Of giving expression to such sen
timents, as she has been credited with by
| some critics. No doubt in her innocence
and enthusiasm, she forgot she was writ
ing tor the vititted taste of some, and gave
them thoughts which possessed for her no
such meaning ;,s has in some instances been
aScflbed To them, and frequently IN the most
| outrageous, and insulting manner, as for
instance, that articlei in the HOrl6 a little
while ago, which will do credit to the
inoss unkind heart, and loathsome and inl-
pure taste. Our Womanly mOdesty fUrbidS
any fuTthPr alltSion to SO vile produc-
tiOn. Certainly, many of the criticisms
thave been far worse than the book, and
has had the effect Uf increasing, instead of
lessening its circulation. by arousing that
curiosity which is one OF the underlying
/ principles OF every mind, to see and know
whatever Is much talked about. Before
the book had been read by me, had the
pleasure in a conversation with Admiral
Luce, OF listening 10 some comments from
him upon it. This Intelligent and refined
old gentleman, seemed more impressed
, with. the misty, unreal, rather supernatural
aspect of it, than with anything else; say
ing, it would take person of great deal
OF imagination to enter at all INTO it; GER
tainly it wonld never suit the masses. He
said nothing of its immortality, but expressed
his diSapproval by saying he was sorry she
had written it, as he did not think it would
: add to her reputa tion as an authoreSs in
. which L most heartily agree. 10 me il
seems so weak, without force or beauty.
4 There are no true and lofty ideas, clothed
} in beautiful language, to teach some great
: truth after she perhaps has passed away
, There Is not one sttong, grand character in
it, to emulate US to- noble life, but are
S ike the ma iority of. those we meet, Whom
we would never care to copy, ordinary
> and faulty and weak with sBafoara
D morbid conScientOuSueSS to set her apart
u frum the common herd. And as unreal as
We appear to think Barbara's character
5 we ali must have observed at some tiTne
: smne ef these morbldly coiIscientious sis
itels, who are so worked upon by theil
I magiuatiou that what seemed a Sickl
. phlegmatIc, would aSSulne living reality
to tiIem. 1t may not be under the same
IS circumstances, or in so striking mannel
r as BarUara's S was shown. but if we study
: human nature We might find among our ac
: ouaintanceS some who have exhibited sucl
traits to such degree, that we would be Jus
tilted in saying, under similar trials would
4cuine so near Barbara that she would no
. stand alone, as the creation of heated
anu over-imaginative fancy. The love o
= Jack and Barbara, Was To me lacking il
;, all thai makes love desirable, or worth the
having The love that would dare al
L thinys.-sacTifice all tifiugs save honor
4 | which preferred the other before self; based
-, upon that thorough understanding. anC
! sympathy with one another, that afhnity o
# two noble, true, though erring mortals; firm
aud strong, and we'll established, intelli
gent beings, was not theirs; love made
u up of impulses of weak and tickle nature:
q Ilistesd Not that deep, strong affection
: (which makes such silly words as theirs
5 SO meaningless. L have touched upol
/ what appeared TO me the nIain points il
!, tte book ffor 1 must say, there We're very
u few IN il, and Will now draw over it TIA
h veil OF charity aud Indulgence, KNOWN;
T. how few of US eau. develop these creations
: of the brain without flaw or bIeTnish.
c - LOLA.