The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-07-15
4 SCHOLAR Of RELLAS
Przkin and His WondeJfu Gift of
Expression.
SbINT,BURY'S OPINION OF RUSKlN
Or krgsburY Finds in "Great Expectations
One Of the Most Original and Abso' bing
# dickens Great Works. Andrew
Lang's Judgement
Lang's Judgement.

Ruskin, the great English author and
.tvIIst. preferred "Redgauntlet' to all of
Seotf's greatest novels, Mr.. Gladstone's
tatorite was "Kenilworth." 1t is not
usual with critical readers to choose
-Reigauntlet'' as their favorite. Ruskin
was accustomed to read aloud pages
from this novel to visitors and friends.
He read capitally and entertainingly.
While "Redgauntlet'' cannot be classed
with such great novels as Guy Man
uaring." The AntiQuary,' Heart OF
Midlothian" "Ivanhoe," ''KenilWorth,
.Ouentin Durward,' and two or three
others it is very strong novel in parts,
i'm scenes. 1t is not so artistic and clear
as most Of his other works, but 1T is rich
i'm character studies, and in scenes Of
extraordinary force and dramatic in
tercst. 1t is too fine work of genius
to be overlooked. And let me say here
that Ruskin is far too great an author
10 be forgotten or ignored. | recall
with pleasure that / made the acqualn-
tauce Of this great master of English
and distinctly great prose writer in my
youth before l was twenty two. | read
his famous Modern Painters first
voumc-"The Seven Lamps Of Architec-
tUre" and The Story of Venice"'-three
very remarkable works that made a de-
cdcd impression at the time they were
published. His books can be counted
hv the score. Let me add that he was
not only great admirer of "Redgaunt-
let" hut was an enthusiastic admirer of
Scott and all his life was the staunchest
OF
Saintsbury writes of him. that eminent
Professor of English Literature in the
University of Edinburgh, says that ''he
has been a great prose writer from the
trst' He thinks that after discounting
all serious objections as to his flambOy-
ami styIe-its excess in ornament and
cE'ravagancc in style. that he was
far ahead of all that had preceded him.
His words are: What an enormous ad-
vance there is on anything that had
gone before His gift of expression
WAS very great, and equalled all rivals
fun rival in all English writers-De
QUu"ey alone possible-n the richness,
beauty. perfection of his descriptive
Passages. Prof. Santsbury does not be-
Ifor" that the Wave Studies in the
first volume of Modern Printers" the
Pine Forest in Jura," '*the Angel of the
~oa. had even been equalled before
and have none been ecualIed since, al
trough written from thrty-five to forty
years ago. Read, if no others, Sesame and
.iUta. The Ethics of Dust" The
rnHn Of Wild Olive" and "Fors CIavig
SOM" five years ago the literary and
-"0olarly world was much interested in
'N'n recent discoveries of some remains
%. the illustriOus Greek philosopher,
.'liototlo. Then followed another highly
interesting find" by the British Museum
3. London. 1t was regarded as very
@a'"4hIe. 1t concerned a forgotten, an
".."pst unknown Greek writer. 1t was
hndlng of certain manuscripts OF
1907 la5 1t was known to SavanS that
'H writer had lived and that he
'"2arded as the most learned Of the
.'"Aa. The find" contained poems.
.- were ten manuscripts in all. There
dramatic sketches in verse, in the
htlect, written on papy-
HerodaS was not great poet,
appears, but his writings are classed
"-' ny scholars. He resembles Theo-
VINO was an idyllic poet of rarest
ana most enhancing freshness
'Ilnality who founded the now
GRATED Greek idyllc school, and to
4 I"nnyson was so greatly indebted
FORM, rythmical effects, manner,
+"'- sweetness, influence suggestion
perfection of rythm. Theocritus
greater master than Herodas, and
'+ much more Doetical in its finer
man the other. The 'find"-the
.-'ai portions-was discussed at the
WIN much appreciation. The Lon
saturday Review, for more than
teaFs a distinguished authority in
"''re had thiS-now some clever
ago which ] prcservcd-of the
I"nod poet, and it is informing:
MS manner, as Mr.. Kenyon says
7, "L.oenth idyll of Theocritus, called
women of Syracuse will give q
~ i'ea. Mr. Kenyon adds that Theo
t .S the greater master; it might be
10 say that he is the greater
=. h'rodas, in fact. is not poetica
III That sense which makes poetry
'1Nd on certain unreality of atmos
ana circumstance That he writes