The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-13
a SURREJOINDER.
Colonel RuGin Thinks Thomas Nelson
Page is Eestive 1 nder Criticism.

Colonel RuGin Thinks Thomas Nelson
Page is Eestive nder Criticism.
Though Mr.. Thomas Nelson Page is an
aimable man. he is restivc under criticism;
rs appears by his letter in the TINES Of
June 9th, in answer to my observations ON
'Meh Lady" In that letter he informs the
public that ''nO reasonable man can hold
the views that | entertain in regard 10
Men Lady, expresses his surprise that
'aitcr four wears Oi unwOnted' (why UNI
wOntedD "sience have adopted
this yiew," saws IL never got deeper
ihan (what he persists ~ calling) the dia-
lect." 'that have radically misapprehend-
ed his purpose" and that Il undertook
somewhat gratuit0usly to show the en-
thusiastic'' (sicD "but misguided public.
that a story of his was untrue 10 life or 10
art. and was not a tribute OF praise 10 the
South as (he) intended it TO be-"
Now. what / did, was 10 take MIR.
Pages OWN words as con, eying his mean
ing; and they are too plain 10 be misundcr-
stood. Here they are. taken from the con-
cluson Of his letter Of May 23d: :" | respect
fully submit that the conditions Of the plot
are true 10 life and hope to art, and what
ever the impcriectiOn Of my relation, |
meant this story. with its characters, TO
constitute my tribute of praise 10 that civili-
zation which, until my friends letter, had
supposed he appreciated and loved As much
a. do" Just before that. he had said: ''Ihe
isolated condition OF Meh Lady was ne
cessary 10 the perspective Of the story"
Arguing from these propositions, | main
taned that the story was monstrOus, as rep
rcsenting a thoroughly hearlless society,
community, or neighbOrho0d not to be
found anywhere in Virginia. particularly
Al, 1 al
guedl "in that (the IlanOyer) ''ncighbOr-
hood" This | still maintain.
Mr.. Page, denying that our common
friends. the Berkleys, Pages, Nelson's. Dab
neys, MOrriscs, FOntaines, and others. are
the proper figures 10 sit for such "A pie
ture-why, if II was true aud creditable!-
vet by telling me shat with the aid Of a
geography and the census (compassD can
doubtless locate the place." Mr.. Page.
say, admits that there is one such place.
This, afler painting it blacker than it really
is, he has selected as fitting type of
Virginia rural society, to whose civ
ilizatiOn as therein displayed he pays
''tribute of praise" in "Meh Lady," Thus
by his own showing his picture is I'M
true To life, aud, therefore, 10 art, because
he has painted il from the one obscure ex-
ceptiOn instead of the general and cOnspicu-
Ous rule.
Mr.. PAGE, has made another mistake,
owing, ! think to "a radical misappre-
of his subject. Civilization
is the harmonious social express
sion Of many combined traits OF
excellence developed to a high degree. But
Mr.. Pages civilization is represented by
two distressed and neglected ladies, two
faithful old negroes and 1.-THE perspective
OF inhumanity.
To my protest against the truth of such a
picture, MIR. Page informs me, in
a patronizing way that "Meh Lady
il romance"-i should say so-"to bc
judged only by a standard OF romance;
and that idealization is by some deemed
allowable in such cases." That much
had learned in my bellies lettres reading |
many years ago, as also, that this ideali-
zaloD, as Mr.. Page calls il, Is oIten
pushed to the point Of extraya-
ganxa, sometimes Of monstruus ab !