The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-29

and trials or Socl2t surroundings of
the poorest poor. They get past the
censor but one can read between the
ICES Of the political troubles that have
caused so much suffering. OF late.
however. the government has suspect
er Corky OF revolutionary purposes.
Gorky's real name is Pieschkoh He
could scarcely read at fifteen. He is
now only rhirty-slx. but one OF the
worlds greatest writer's.
What Girls Should Read.
Writing in the Academy. John Oil
yer Hobbies (Mrs ,'raige) advances
the somewhat Startling proposition
that every Girl on reaching the age of
eighteen should be given copy of
tom Jones.
Advice such as this. in an age T. hen
Fielding is generally regarded as an
author whose works are only tit for
consumption by those of mature age
is in itself sufficiently remarkable and
one might we'll be tempted to believe
that Mrs. Craige was not altogether Sc
riouS.
This, however, IS not the case. Mrs
Craige is very much III earnest, and, to
representative Of the Express she
has given some cogent reasons in
support of her unconventional theory
LAS 2 matter OF fact she said. Il
am quite serious about this matter: so
earnest indeed. that | viii even go
earnest indeed OF breaking my rule
against talking for publication.
Fielding is thought broad even
coarse: but if he We're merely broad
and coarse We may be sure that Sir
Walter Scott whose mind was singu-
larly fastidious and refined. would pot
have thought so highly of Tom jones
and Amelia as he did.
speaking for myself, ! consider
Fielding may be regarded as nerve
tonic nova days. an artidote TO the
morbid and neurotic twaddle. which.
under various DISCUSSES omantic,
sentimental, and hisiorical--iS con-
stunned by girl and women readers
IF | had a daughter. ] should Ger
tainly give her the works of Field
ing / should be CORY. of course,
that she would have To make the ac-
quaintance Of mary severe facts with
which Fielding deals. but she would
have TO learn these things at one time
or another. and ] TO not think she
could learn them in better way than
by readi1g Amelia 1t is a true study
of human nature on ROBUST lines. and
the moral F'iei ling draws Is nyaria bly,
sound and reasonable. Unreasonable
novels do enormous harm.
not models OF good conduct but he
is always careful to give them excel
lent hearts. and if they are not cap
able of fights Of poetic feeling. they
are infinitely capable OF steadfast az
lection.
"in modem novels, the tendency is
to draw the men as meek, quiet. and
iady-like. whereas the Women indulge
in extraordinas adventures and emo
= s<.,. l.
heroes would seem To be timid spin
sters. l prefer the old school
What ] most admire about Fielding
is chat, however saIf-indlllsent his men
may be he always does splendid Justice
to the highest type Of women.
They are so strong. SO sensible and
so pure that they always emerge tri-
from all the pcrils, tempta-
tionS, and influences which surround
them.
And that said Mrs Craigie. lis as
it should he. 1t is rs it always is in
real life. The really good woman is
always triumphant IL the end.
But that is not the kind of good
woman we get presented to US In n
great deal of modern fiction Tiack-
erays Amelia tof whom / am fond)
was the beginning Of the decadent
type of stupid merit which has done
SO much to spread the tradition that
a vjrtuous woman must be rather Dor
ing at best. AND s;nce little Amelia
CT Vanity Fair we have had long
procession Of weak, silly. helpless be-
ing. in contrast with the longer train
of brilliant. beautiful. unscrupulous
sirens. There are cirens in Fielding.
but they are drawn from life. and
while he draws them with good hu-
nor, he takes no trouble to conceal
their misery or their failures
Another point is yhat Fieldings
moralizing on the tortured subject Of
love is particularly sane We are given
no false sentiment. and the degrees OF
loye--there are many-are clearly d.
Eided. He shows US the gradual infiu-
cnce over n mans life of the best kind
of devotion, and one should be CRATE
full TO him for showing the process
not as naggiDg, exacting. unimagina-
tive system of rhetoric. but q silent
force working constantly for good
Neither Sophia. nor AMELIA in
dulges in long medtations or morbid
attacks of hysteria. They respect the
laws of life. they realize the enormous
fundamental difference between men
and women. They are neither spas
modic, nor emotional, nor vain, but
they are full Of tenderness and charm,
and. above all high spirits.
III Il modern heroine is tender she
is usually depressed and depressing
Fielding knew how to combine tender
ness with pride and loVe with gayety.
NO doubt, in outward refinement.
manners have improved since Field
iDgs time. But can we say that I'M.
ward refinement has made The same
progress?
SIT SCENE 10 me that where's love
tales were once cheerful, they hi~Vo
become vicious. and when healthy
girls read of the strange do
ings and stranger moods Of the mo-
mentarily popular hercineS. they be-
gin to feel as though they themselves,
in comparison with these invented
creature, were abnornally dull.
Let me entrcat them to realize that
they are not dull. aud that the dull
creature is the artificial creature
Publishers reasons for the success
or failure of particular books or
classes OF literature are always more
or less interesting ana entitled 10 con-
but John Lane, it he is cor
rectly quoted in his own Book Month
ly. propoupds theory which is de-
cidedIy fresh. Discussing the fact that
new poetry does not sell rs well as it
did formerly. Mr.. Lane is made to
say u believe the change--that is.