The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-17
THOMAS HARDY
A Great and Original Writer Ranking
With Scott, Fielding and Thaekeray.
Lecture by Prof. J. G. Carter Troop.

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With Scott, Fielding and Thackeray.
Lecture by Prof. j.. G. Carter Troop.
Thomas Hardy, 1S4O-)" formed
the topic of Prof j. G.. Carter Troops
lecture under the auspices of the
Teachers club of Canton, at the First
Presbyterian church last night To
lovers of literature, who have in the
past been greatly attracted by the
lectures, the disagreeable weather
which prevailed during the evening,
formed no obstacle and the attend
ance was as large as that of any other
previous night of the series.
The embittered and discouraging
character of Thomas Hardy which
stands predominant, also, in all of his
works, was dwelt upon with particu-
lar emphasis by Prof. Troop. His al
most sinister literary genius and un-
wholesomness of thoughts combined
to blend all of his novels with an
acrid style, that is almost Tepulsive
at times. Prof. Troop says with all of
! these undesirable qualities, Thomas
Hardy is "a great and original writer,
ranking with Scott, Fielding and
Trackeray, but lacking their sane and
wholesome art" Hardy's interpreta-
tion of nature is an extremely rare
one. He believed in the existence of
an Almighty being, yet he believed
| that this same supreme spirit was an
evil one; that mans struggle was
not only against his fellow man, but
also against nature itself. This NOR
bid doctrine is largely responsible for
the style of his work His later nov
els contained increased bitterness and
gravity.
Hardy was born June 2, 1910. near
Dorchester, where with few inter
missions he has always lived. At an
early age he became a student of lit
erature, classics and theology, and in
1860 he went to London, where for a
| long time he followed the profession
| of architecture. He finally turned TO
| literature, and from 1871 to 1895, he
! produced sixteen volumes. His first
novel was rejected by the publishers,
! but later they accepted one of his
works, Desperate Remedies" a book
which attracted very little attention
in the literary world. One of the best
novels, Far From the Maddening
| Crowd" appeared in 1874, shortly aft
er he had entered the literary arena.
THE book" says Prof Troop, con-
| tains the essence of his genius; il is
at once comedy, tragedy, idyl rustic
chronicle and shepherds calendar"
! His other novel which ranks with
! Far From the Maddening Crowd" is
the Return of the Native" published
| in 1878. In commenting upon the
work. Prof. Troop says: at is per
vaded with a serene sense of unity,
| and remarkable for its breadth of con-
ception, and the simplicity of it's de-
tails; it's characters are the sport of
irresistible destiny and it is drawn
with the broad lines of ancient trag-
! edy."
The book which finally gave Hardy
| a standing in the eyes of the reading
public, was Tess of the D'Ubervilles"
and the widespread attention which it
attracted can be attributed to the sub
title, "The Pure Woman" Jude the
! Obscure" which appeared in 1895.
falls far below the standard of his
former works.
The last of the series of lectures be-
fore the holidays will be given next
Friday night, upon "The Short Story"
! So charming in lecture has Prof.
| Troop proved, and so widespread has
been the interest he has created, that
| the officials of the Teachers club are
contemplating securing his services
after the holidays.