The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-26

eutreated me- to take Bulwer as the
theme of one of my papers for The
News and Observer. l did not set out
To treat BulWer With fulness. but TO
glance at him, the discussion in the
London Times suggesting points tor
comment as vel. as offering entertain
ing and acute observations. / will
enlarge here TO meet my friends re-
quest Sir Walter Scott. has had in
Vulnerable imitators. Their name is
legion. Probably hundreds of novels
have been published within decade
that would have remained uuwritten
if Scotts rich and delightful ro-
manceS had never been produced
with such consummate mastershlp
In all countries there are many imi-
ators, the most at very long range.
Writers like c.. p. r. James, AIMS
worth. Bulwer, Dumas, Balzac, Hugo
and hundreds of others have essayed
TO catch the manner of Scott and
have learned from him no little o.
their art, while not being able to re-
produce completely. his fascination
in historical fictions his high, essen
tial characteristics. such as simpiici-
", ease, etc. natural and unforced
"pathoS," and fresh and manly
drollery." Bulwer, AS suggested be-
fore, has shown so much versatility:
has written III SO many styles; has
produced so many varieties in the
novel kind, that really he almost
stands alone. without classification or
adoption. His earlier novels not only
attracted much attention. but were
warmly and discrinlinatinGiy praised.
An old English critic contemporary
with him. and writing prior to 1850.
recognized in his early works three
classes or qualities, each presenting
Il distinct epoch. He referred to
pelham" Eugene r4 Ara m. ano :
'iiyely and a, somewhat ironic reffcc-
ton of the manners of the higher
classes" sometimes "conic and far
cicai"; the second was ian attempt at
the ideal in art: the third was a
mixture OF the pure ideal with pre-
vaiIing tone of philosophic analysis
OF character, and meta physical and
abstract investigation into the prin-
cinles OF human passion and human
life" This contemporary critic
thought well of Pelham" as gay and
brilliant. with many good things, but
stated that il was sadly deficient IN
one most important particular-thGt
there was mot a single parsonage
drawn with consistency and force
He held that the hero Pelham "pears
the same relation to Tom Jones. that
a painters lay figure bears To liv-
ing man." L cannot follow this pcne-
tratlng critic In his early study OF
Bulwer's first productions. which he
examines in detail. and with decided
disapprobation In some important
particulars. They are lacking In CO.
herency, in real dramatic features.
while showing much perverted ability.
do not give my own view as / have
not read the novels discussed with
keenncss OF critical insight and
analysis 1t seems that the old conf
nonsense English critics dealt with
the earlier novels In manly. positive
manner. condemning and yet recoG-
nizing certain conspicuous qualities
One able writer said that there Is
more depth. true knowledge, true Wis
dom, In a single. fresh. Vigorous I'M
affected. strongly drawn scene of
Fielding or Scott, than in whole iiora-
ries OF such cloudy raptures< as
'Zanoni' and Alice
His greatest, most perfect his
torical novel, "The Last DAYS OF
fonpeii," Is of high literary interest.
and is brilliant and vigorous. have
always liked "RieneZi.' his best his
torieai romance after the one just re-,
ferred to. II is not great but lnterest-
ing. His Last of the Barons" and
Harold" fell rather fiat ,tpon the
public recognition. but they have
some merit If really heavy and extra
VACANT. A Scottish critic of the mid
die of the last century deprecated
somewhat Bulwer's style and novels.
but admitted that they We're less
wearlsome than others, and because
Of ''thn. artistic skill with which he
interminglcs his points. of humof
with those of sententious. reflection or
10 n hsA
liant. full of point. raillery and light
dialogue with bursts Of feeling and
Santure<s of poetical description -
that he is really. "a great novelist.
without patriotism and with hops
steps and jumps" in his writings. Let
me : giye - an entire passage
from him as he considers his
style and its manifold defects:
.tHis style is vicious from
cxcess OF virtue. weak from repieuon
OF strength. Every word is point.
every clause q beauty, the close of
every sentence a, climax And still
ID IS not difficult to find admirable
Snecimens OF rhetorical beauty, finish,
excellence, in his Astounding prodIc-
tons. so vast, so exuberant, SD at
iractive Our Scotch complainant
says that 'te generally writes his
hest: and our great quarrel with him
Us, that he is too uniformly erect III
the stirrups. too conscious of himself
of his exquisite management of his
complete equipment, of the speed
with which he devours the dust. Re-
member that when this writer, and
the English critic above quoted from
wrote, Bu.wer had not then written
the best of his novels. those liked by
the London Times and SO favorably
commended. i find the Scotsman
praising "Zanoni." of which / have no
personal knowledge. i quote 4 few
words from his commentator: Its
beauties are not of thee earth
earthly Its very faults, cloudy. colos-
sal. tower above our petty Judgment
seats. towards some higher tribunal.
Best of al is that shade of mourn
full grandeur which rests upon it,"
Ii VII be seen that with all the CEN
sure. the critical dissection by writer's
enough remains to Rulwer to make
him a distinct. manifold important
creator in English literature. He
wroterver much ia many fields. and
as I have said. and with no little
mastery as to style and artistic skill.
His Conversations with an Ambitious
Student in IL HEALTH is much