The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-20
SALTED WITH FIRE.
A Comparison Of Miss Cameron's Book
With 1.-The Quick or The Dead"

comparison or MISS Cameron'S Book
With '"The Quick or The Dead"
To the Editor: Looking idly thro' my
scrap book of treasures, | came upon
poem, cut many years ago from the
gallant Shotwell's paper, and written by
Miss Cameron, of Hillsboro, and tho it
had been read and re-read, its beauty
appealed to me as at first and struck
me as equalhng any of the famous poets
IN sweetness. The poem recalled pass
ages in "Salted With Fire." and ! fell
to thinking. Years ago ! read it from
beginning to ending, and was charmed
with it, and after q long time read it
again, and found it as beautiful as be-
fore, and it has surprised me that so
few of our people have read it.
A Young friend of mine desiring to get
it, after trying i'm vain at book stores.
wrote to the talented author and she
kindly loaned him her copy, thus show
ing it was out of print.
Years after Sailed With Fire came
out, another lady wrote II novel. of no
plot, not much literary merit no depth,
and the reading world went wild over
it. making the writer rich and famous
at once. and it IT look we'll for the
novel reading public to treat so differ
emily the two books.
Miss Calneron's plot was we'll con-
ceived, the characters finely drawn-the
language pure and pretty-tfhe love
scenes exquisite in feeling and portrayal
the pathos tender and sweet. A wo-
imam Of any sentiment cOnld herself
feel what IIa,en suffered when she
turned from poor De We're, whose love
was strong ard true. tho some would
condemn him. and kept her faith with
the noble Stuart
The book ends so sadly novel readers
scold because the writer didn't have it
otherwise but it ended naturally for
such people as she described. Fiction
can't always conclude as we might wish,
however much writer likes to please.
The other novel spoken of describes
very graphically the heroine's return
to her home az a young widow, how she
sObbed and cried-her feelings upon
meeting her husbands cousin. who re-
sembled the dear departed; tells of races,
and slides down hay mOws, II pastime
genera..y left to children, and containing
more scratching than romance; OF
how the hero and heroine kissed,
and the way hcr hair tumbled down on
all occasions. of the struggle she had
with herself when she couldn't decide
whether or not she would let the Quick
take the place of the Dead in her heart;
calls the name of the Deity so often
it seems profane-w allows about on the
floor with her hair down as usuaD
while she sobs and hunts for her ring.
and then sends big-hcarted. loving Jack
away and he was so loyal and nice he
deserved better treatment, besides
1T, II -, Il
ments and caresses.
Perhaps had Miss CamerOn's book
been somewhat suggestive or salacioJs it
might have drought its writer more
money and fame. burt it shows better for
her, while it reflects sadly on the taste
Of those who pass it by. for the other.
North Chrolinians are charged with
being negligent in according recognition
Of work done 10y our own people, till
outsiders have discovered merit and
praised and we are too slow. Miss
Cameron's work did not receive the
treatment il nlerited, neither did Ed
win Fuller's. but as he is now an angel
above the clouds st matters nothing to
him if he sung to ears that heard not
or told to unsympathetic heiats of his
pretty Sea Gift" Nothing that | have
read from the pen of the prolific and
readable Roe is more interesting and
just see the difference in the way we
treat them. 1t is gratifying to know thar
Miss Fisher won recognition as she did,
and that North Carolina is proud of her
and it is not State pride alone that
prompts this feeling. All these books
are as meTitOrious as many we receive
with warm praise. Comparing "Salted
With Fire with 1.-The Quick or Ths
Dead" to the diSparagement of the lat
ter, is not done because of any personal
feeling and | am sorry the cratic and
beautiful aarthOress is suffering because
of the adverse criticisms of her work.
never thought there was reason for
going to such lengths in talking about
it as such an impure creation. The
heroine was certainly n woman Of con
siderable Passion-unmindfu OF c0nven,
tionalities. and impulsive to the last de-
grce-dOing ridiculous things-but all the
the time desiring 20 be honest with
herself and lover.
Miss CamerOn's heroine had sufficient
feeling, while she was as chaste as
woman need he, and capable of insph
ing deathlcss devotion in a world-weary
man like De We're. and worthy of the
love of man like De We're, and worthy
Of the love Of the great hearted Stuart.
ROBERTA X. DUNIAAY.
Ansonvile n. CO. Feb 8, 1893