New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-27

Quoted In conversational tones ana tle oooiS
cape and the House empues whenever there are
fervid passages delivered In distinctly ora
torical style. Lucdity of exposition, 1enctous
phrasing and a talent for amusing perstase ana
play full banter are the chief characteristics Oh
Parliamentary oratory; and the literary artist
who knows how to speak with distinction of
style and to invent epigrams suffcienty prili-
liant TO be remembered and quoted becomes a
welcome figure In debate. The best debater IN
the House is Mr. Chamberlain. and while he is
not a man Of letters he is an industrious reader
with distinctly literary tastes. The greatest
parliament tartan AS well debater Of the reign,
Mr.. Gladstone has been conspicuous for schol-
arship and intellectual refinement The period
of high debate In the Commons has passed with
the storm and stress of the Home Rule move
ment: but the literary men remain the most CON
spicuous figures Of historic Westminster.
Mr. George Merediths friends have contrived
to surprise him to-day. 1t Is his SEVENTEEN
birthday. and he has received at his breakfast
table the congratulations Of thirty we-known
writer's In the form of simple and unaffected
letter, which must have touched him deeply. The
letter signed by J. NJ. Barrie, Sir Walter
Besant Augustine Birrell. James Bryce, Austin
Dobson. Conan Doyle. Edmund Gosse, r. b.
Haldane. Thomas Hardy, Frederick Harrison.
John Oliver Hobbies" Henry James. r. C.
Jebb. Andrew Lang. w. E. Fl. Lecky. the Bishop
Of London. +. w. Maitland. Mrs. Alice Meynell,
John Morley. r. w. H. Myers, J. Payn. Sir Fred
erick Pollock Mrs. Anne Thackeray Richie,
Henry Sidgwck, Leslie Stephen. Algernon c.
Swinburne Mrs. Humphry Ward. c. +. Watts,
Theodore Wat -Dunton and Lord Woseiey. The
text Of the letter. which was written by Mr..
Leslie Stephen. this:
To George Meredith.
Some comrades in letters who have long
valued your work send you a cordial greeting
upon your seventeen birthday. You have at
tanned the first rank In literature after many
years OF inadequate recognition. From first TO
last you have been true to yourself. and have
always aimed at the highest mark. We are re
joiced to know that merits once perceived by
only few are now appreciated by a wide and
steadily growing circle. We wish you many
years OF life. during which you may continue to
do good work, cheered by the consciousness Of
good work already achieved. and encouraged by
the certainty OF a hearty welcome from many
sympathetic readers.
The idea originated believe. with Mr. Gosse,
and based upon similar tribute paid to
Thomas Carlyle his eightieth birthday By
eminent men Of letters Mr. Meredith has never
beef regarded as a popular novelist but his
reputation a literary artist has been steadily
Increasing during the last thirty years and he
has jealousy guarded 1t by refusing to alter his
style or TO make any concessions to the prevail
ing taste OF larger circle OF readers He has
the supreme satisfaction Of knowing that his
work Is appreciated by readers Of the highest
intellectual and artistic attainments, and that
his growing influence as a writer who never
swerves from his own standards is now gen
orally acknowledged by critical students of
English literature. The new edition Of his
novels, essays and poems which will be com
pleted early in the spring. has been well taken
up both here and IN America The success Of
this collected edition Is a signal proof that It Ia
no longer allowable to speak Of him az the
novelist "of the cultured few
Mr. Meredith's curiously involved styia which