The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-07-15


how, and for vivid life he may compete
with any one, ancient or modern, that
We know. 1t is the best and truest of
compliments to say that he makes US
call louder than ever for the lost
Menander. But perhaps a good time is
yet coming
Since | have been enjoying leisure and
liberty | have been reading more than
ever the great writings-Shakespear
1alne, Scott, Thackeray, Dickens, George
Eliot, with some nineteenth century
writer's Of merit and entertainment
Saintsbury and Andrew Lang and Henley.
have for the first time read a novel
by Dickens that l had neglected. and
do not know why. | found in Great
Expectation" a great surprise. A lover
of Dickens for half century or more,
reading several times many of his ia
nous novels l had given the go-by''
to this novel in many particulars one
of his most enjoying and original. Dick
ems, died on the 9TH of June, 1870. and
what loss it was to letters. He pub
lished Great Expectations in 1861. He
published but two others after this
THE monumental Traveller" and "Our
Mutual Friend" He had begun to write
Edwin Drood'' but died some two
months later leaving it but partly writ
ten. If any one has read this, and
relishes Dickens and has not read "Great
Expectations" then let me urge him not
to postpone Indefinitely great pleasure
that awaits him. Critics differ as to
which are the best of Dickens works,
and some are put first that | would
leave out and substitute others. But
there are so many that are superlatively
delightful and fresh and overfowing
with the richest humor the most boist-
erous, rollicking fun, and the purest,
most touching pathos, it is really no
| easy thing to name safely the cleverest
and best. In mentioning his greatest
| creations of genius, l would never omit
| David Copperfield," the Tale of Two
Cities,'' Martin Chuzzlewit,'' Pick
wick" Great Expectations, "Our Mu-
tual Friend" and perhaps Nicholas
Nickleby:" There are other charming
and most original novels, that may not
rank with these. but are rich and crea-
tive, and would then given fame to any
novelist who ever lived. Those that
ever read .Oliver Twist" and THE Old
Curiosity Shop and .Domby and Son.
and BLEAK House forget
them? On Great Expectations let
me dwell for a few moments. 1t is
prodi giously original conception worked
out with consummate Skill and is very
strong in character drawing and in inven-
4. ton. After you get fairly into the story
it becomes of absorbing interest, and
| this grows to the end. We doubt if
| Dickens ever produced a more strictly
original novel. 1t is wholly unlike all
other novels. 1t has the peculiar man
nerisms of the author, but it is full of
! nd cfo hut
how rich in incident, virile in portrayal,
something melodramatic of course, and
yet instinct with life and passion
and power. Many capable readers have
placed it high as we learn from the ia
, NOUS British critic quoted above. Prot.
Salntsbury, in his very valuable and
! acute '.History of Nineteenth Century
| Literatu He says of it that many re-
/ gard It as the closest attempt at real
! modern life (With fantastic admiXture
! of course) and in its heroine Estella, his
! almost sole creation of & live girl He
| does not give his own opinion. Andrew
| Lang a many-sided author If original
| gifts, is sometimes eXcentric in his iudg-
/ mentS but as a whole IS sane and Judlci-
/ ous. He reads Dickens with a relish, but
| has some opinions l must reject. He
| condemns "A Tale of Two Cities,' as
|
delight and splendid powers. 1t is not
! probab his greatest but surely one of
| the highest expressions of a most fertile
| imaeination uneXhausted and in new
and hitherto untrodden field by him.
| Lang even wearies of David Copper
| field" and thinks it should have been
| made much shorter. Strange 70 say, ne
praises much Great ExpectatNs and
places it among his five first novels
He finds 1.-The plot comparatively clear
and intelligible." Indeed there is no
/ cloud or doubt about it. 1t may surprise
| in it's denouement. but everything WORKS
around with lucidity and intense interest.
He writes that for "a plenty OF honest
explosive fun. there is no later pook OF
Dickens' like Great Expectations. He
names the most striking characters ana
eavs that "Pip and Pumblechook and
| Mr. Wopsle and 10 are all 1mHortdl anu
cause laughter inextinguishable The
n,ot is rot obscure. whatever may be
cal, r., some others by Dickens. II you
love originality and fun, uncommon
characters and scenes, brllllancy
and absolute wealth of creation,
trv this really great mover by
writer whose genius had in no sense de-
| cayed This novel and Our mutual
Friend" show conclusiVely no" the olu
biob gifts were still his, and prove be-
vond doubt that his ease as 10 "rllihs
grew with his years, and MS Stsle was
! better and purer than in the pest Oh MS
earliest books. He was d cohooieh'iou'
artist and aimed at best results ne
~. hoop treated unjustly here by some
| critics
| Dickens was never more loved tnan
now. His works have appeared In hve
years in dozens of editions, some OF
them very costly. Some OF the later
writer's are foolish enough to say
that they cannot read Dickens. y! course
not. There are recent authors VINO can
not read Thackeray =,
n.o,;n and so on. Individual taste
| rt itedf How can man ENJOY
Dante or Milton, who really has no
noetic taste and sensibility? How can
fo,1ou re1isb Mozart or Mendelssohn who
haa ..no musir in his soul" The men