The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-09-13

under conditions the most extraordinary
such as no other section Of this country
ever had the faintest glimpse OF. it was
time of peril, of perplexity, of character
sitting. of tremendous demands upon
courage, fidelity, honor, capability, and
forbearance 1t was altogether unique,
astonishing, shifting and solidifyng.
This novel has unmistakable vigor, dash.
clearness, comprehensiveness, and fairly
accurate understanding of actual condi-
tons and bodness of action. Considering
that the author did not live in those dark,
troublous times, he has drawn as a
whole a very vivifying, shining, appealing
picture. 1t is an attempt to treat of an
era of most marked peculiarities and
temptations and excuses 1t is an AMI
mated, forceful portrayal of the mot ex-
traordinary times a great, brave, free
people were ever called upon to pass
through; times so very extraordinary they
had necessarily to be marked by extror-
binary events. No doubt there is some
exaggeration in the book which is not
surprising. Everything took on then in
the mighty upheaval most exaggerated,
astonishing form. The Overdrawing-the
too free use of colors here and there is
only necessary cOncomltant of the seeth-
ing pot and the angry growing and multi
plying scoundreliSm of the darksome
period that sifted the wheat from the
chaff. 1t was a cleansing, purifying, up
building ordeal and only true, noble man
hood was able to bear the shock, and to
come out of it all with the stamp of
virtue and patriotism and love upon it.
fi<<,,
in THE Leopard's Spots than mark the
best stories placed amid stormy scenes
and in the needs of a great social. poll
teal and financial cataclysm. Exaggera-
ton, if there be such, is permissible Are
the scenes and character painting amy
more excessive than they are found in
Victor Hugos splendid novel. THE
Hunchbaok of Notre Dame" or in
Dumas's great Trilogy, or Scott's splendid
triad, Guy Mannering,' tIvanhoe," an
''Kenilworth" that equal any other three
great novels by the Great Wizard of the
North" or by any other master in the
mighty realms Of creative fiction? Is
there more of exaggeration in Dixon than
can be found in the masterpieces of
Dickens, one of the worlds supreme mas
! ters-in Great Expectations in Martin
Chuzzlewit or "a Tale of Two Cities"
and of one or two others?
am delighted that Mr.. Dixon has writ
| ten the novel 1 am considering. l re
joice In it's success, because it is of North
Carolina warp and wool and filing, and
that it is now rapidly advancing in its
sale in its second hundred thousand. The
South should buy at least a quarter of a
million copies. 1t is capital offset to
the book of Mrs. Harriet Stowe. the New
England woman, who did so much harm in
her day and generation. Her book Is
| lauded in Yankee-doodledom as a splendid
work of genius, and dangerous as il
proved to be, it has placed the writer OF
it on the highest round of pedestals in
the New England Valhalla along with
Lincoln, John Brown, and some other OF
the foremost people who are idolized up
there" "The Leopards Spots" is very
clever strike-back at Uncle Toms
| Cabin" The Yankees will not read it
because of its truth, and the shifting il
| gives the North. That is very bright