The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-19

1902, and including a probable actual in
crease in per centage, and those not re-
ported, the number would reach 10000 or
10000 even. These figures are alarming
demoralHing. Out of 1898 murders, but
1872 murderers were hanged Something
is very rotten in the exercise of jus
tice and trials by jury in this particular
Denmark"
Marion Crawford does not rank with
the greatest novelists, but / have found
him very interesting in the three works
by him have read in the past. He writes
indeed we'll, like "a gentleman and
scholar" His last novel he calls "Ce
ella: Story of Modern Rome" is we'll
received in England. Such able weeklies
as the London Athenaeum and the
Scotsman give it cordial praise The lat
ter pronounces it IAN exceedingly pow
erful story" 1t is of the supernatural
sort, | gather, and not belevable by sane
people, but is very engaging. Queen
Victoria was specially fond of Mr.. Craw-
ford's novels. He is of American parent
age.
Andrew Lang, certainly a superior man
of letters and many sided. is a critic not
to be scorned but admired. He does not
like Dickenss Little Dorvit," and this
is the case with other writer's and many
readers. Mr.. Alden writes similar
opinion from London. 1t is certainly not
Of his best, and not remotely comparable
to such novels as David Copperfield, =
Great Expectations" Martin Chuz-
zlewit"-his three best probably-and far
below "a Tale of Two Cities not liked
by many critics, but a capital novel in
my opinion, and below "Dombey and
Son." "Pickwick," BLEAK House'-so
very bleak" and perhaps Nicholas
Nicyleby," "Barnaby Dudge,' and "Old
Curiosity Shop Lang thinks Copper
field" the best, then Great EXpecta
tions." The poet Swinburne, l have
seen, also so Classics them. Lang Ju-
diciously uods the immortal "Pickwick
in high favor, and says of it: In all
'Pickwick' | do not remember one person
who has a black drop in his blood. Even
Messrs. DOdson and Fogg are too comic
to be really wicked. You may have OBJ
served Shakespeare's tenderness for his
rogues, Pistol, PAROLES, and score of
others. He let's them off easily; he is
irexhaustibly clement, and in 'Pickwick'
Dickens has the same good humor, the
same smiling tolerance"
But if Little Dorrit" is inferior to the
most of the marvellous productions oil
the very rare genius, Dickens, it is bet
ter than the much-read and over praised
multitudinous fictions of the present day.
am constrained to believe. There is
indeed a great deal of delight and ex-
cellence in it. l have read it at least
twice, and hope to read it again. The
New York Saturday Review said of it re-
Gently: In fact, if one must miss read
ing any novel of Dickens, it must not be
Little Dorrit." which has wonderful
plot, noble purpose, and a group Of
personages equaled only by Shakes
peare."
George Meredith is probably the great !
est living novelist who uses English. He |
was born on 18th February, 1928. He
published his first book (poems) in 1851. |
Thomas Hardy is the only novelist now
living who can be fairly compared with |
him. He has written many very able, |
original novels, the best of which per /
haps are, 1.-THE ordeal of Richard |
Fevverel," " Evan Harrington" 1.-THE |
Egoist," and 'Diana of the Crossways" |
There are perhaps a dozen others. The |
first named, it seems to me, is one of the
most impressive and entertaining novels
of the last half century Meredith has
published two or mere volumes of poetry, |
but he has not won by them the fame
that attaches to his best prose produc-
tons In fact they are not much read.