The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-07

who is thoroughly equipped Tor MS
work as critic and editor, should oe
owned and read Also DO not reau
Yankee books and know nothing OF
Poe, Timrod, Lanier Hayne ana olheiS
of the gifted Southern choir OF poetlc
singers. In England and in France
among the best class of critics roe
stands at the head of all Americans.
Read Poe, if you would see what true
poetic art means.
There is no doubt, I take it, of the
uncommon excellence of the last mover
of Maurice Hewlett, he calls the
"Queen's QUAR-" 1t is greatly praised
i'm his own country, England, and 1s
claimed by an almost common crltlcal
opinion that it is of most signal merit
and will endure in literature. The
London reviewers with an unlVoccal
voice are proclaiming it of very hlgh
excellence. The London Daily Chronl-
Gle says that the art of the novelist is
behind every word" | have not seen
the book, but as it promises to be the
really greatest novel of recent years.
/ will cite a few opinions that my read
ers may consider 1.-THE Nation says
it is ga direct Inspiration" The New
York "Outlook' says that sit is, from
every point of view, a notable cOntri-
button to historical pOrtraiture in its
subtlety, it's vividness of color, its con-
sistency, and it's fascination. Above
all, it is intensely interesting" The
New York ''Tribune' thinks it IAN en-
thralling work" The New York
"Bookman' says sit may be defined
as the story of idealism, but strong in
every page, with the erratic strength
of human passion and human error
The critic in the able New York Even
ing Post says that Gin it's new telling
of the old romance holds for any
reader of appreciation a fascination, a
charm, an influence which comes as
near to being a spell as anything we'll
can in this unitarian and unimaSina-
tive age"
1t is all about Mary Queen of Scots,
and all agree as to its power and fas-
cination. 1t will be recalled that but
two or three years ago Mr. Hewlett
produced another historical romance
that was widely read and much lauded
as a strong, original, enthralling book.
1t was about Richard Coeur-de-Lion,
the King Richard the First of that
6reat romance-"Ivanhoe," by Sir
Walter Scott, the Prince of Novelists.
Another writer who has visited Vir-
ginia was much amused at certain
"colloquialism' he heard. You can go
into New England, or even to Boston.
and find other "cQlloquialisms"f possibly
as amusing. But no one can complain
of the Northern visitor when he cites
some of the Virginia provincial dialect
that will be found spoken by no other
| people under the sun except the IL
literate mountaineerS who figure in
some of Miss Murfree's really delight
| full novels. The Northern ''chiel
amang' the Virginians writes in the
New York saturday Review" as fol-
lows:
when 1 heard the people in Caro-
| line county, Virginia, talk of the
! "gyardens," 1 thought at first that they
/ were mispronouncing it for fun, but
, later speedily learned that it is Gus
tomary in parts of Virginia to insert
i ''y" before "a a survival of some an
cient mode of expression, doubtless
not even traceable. 1t was delightful
to hear the elderly hostess say one
day to the black servitor: ''Jeems, put
, a piece of cyarpet in the cyart and go
down to the cyars and meet Miss
| Cyarter." Because she said so did
not make her any the less Il gentle,
gracious lady, nor her speech anything
less than properH according to her
training. She also said brad" for
bread, MY years" for my ears, "my
har" for my hair, and "evenin' " for
| afternoon, according to the Biblical
division of the day. Evening and
morning were the first day" They
| also pride themselves over there with
saying skeye and other strange words.
A highly respectable, well-to-do, fair
| ly intelligent Niriginian replying to
| something said, replied: 81 kyarn do
it," meaning Il >cant do it, 1t is
| indeed curious dialect for any peO-
| pie. Then they are famous for say
| ing parSt clarSe FAIRS and the very
| broad accents generally. 1t is more of
an affectation than Il want of educa-
J ton. There is no accounting for taste
any more than for colloquialisms% and
| patois. The Englishmen who are well
| educated and cultured do not pro.
nounce in that barbaric way. BY con-
| sulting the best English standard in
| use, Stornmonth's Dictionary, they
Knight learn no little as to the educat-
ed correct pronunciation of words
among the scholars and literary men
of the "old country" A prominent
Christian minister of Virginia visited
England many years ago, and came III
contact with several ecclesiastical dig
nitaries. He said that they pronounc-
ed like the Virginians pronounce. If
true then, or with those he met, it is
not true now, for StornmOnth gives no
such recommendations 1t is by Rev.
| James Stornmonth, a distinguished
EtymolOgist and an author of a PRO
| nouncing Dictionary of the English
| Language for Colleges" ETC. He was
aided by Rev. p. H. Phelp, NJ. A
Cantab, who carefully revised the
pronunciation" 1t was first publish
| ed in 1885. Both are clergymen in
the Established Church of England
They have evidently revised" the pro-
/