The Washington herald., 1909-05-20
The Passing of Meredith.

Wherever the English language IS
spoken there VIII be grief over the death
of George Meredith. the dean OF English
novelis;s. In his death there fades away
almost the last link that binds the pres
ent to that glorious literary epoch that
has come. largely and broadly. 70 be
called the Victorian. which included such
galaxy OF names as Dickens. Thack-
cray. George Eliot. and Thomas Hardy.
OF these, only Hardy survives to regret
Meredith. who was his master and model
IN the art OF hction-writing.
II has been fifty years since Meredith
first attracted the attention OF dlscrin-
mating critics by his novel. The Ordeal
I OF Richard Feverel' '' which came into
being n IS5s. the same year that saw the
birth OF George Eii0t's Adam Bede. .''
But prior TO the Ordeal OF Richard
Feverel.- which IS 50 vital and appealing
that the years have only increased its
charm. Meredith had done much 70 win
literary fame BY his Arabian Entertain
ment'' (Which. by the way. undoubtedly
Influenced profoundly Robert Louis Ste
venson). by his The Shaving OF ShaEpat
and other works
Although Meredith wrote twelve nov-
els. AL OF them entitled 70 respect. It Is
probable that save for The Ordeal OF
Richard Feverel' he would be much less
widely known as q novelist For that IS
the one novel he wrote in which the
human quality is predominant. and thers
are many Of rs who VIII agree wi.h
Robert Louis Stevenson that the love
scene between Richard and Lucy in that
book IS the strongest scene Of It's kind
written since Shakespeare. In spiritual
exsltation and in poetic quality OF style
George Meredith. in this one scene, sur
/ passed even himself.
Popular in the sense that he was be-
loved Of the masses, George Meredith
never vas and possibly never vii Be
/ His novels were received With apathv
by the English people, and though he
/ confesses that at one time he made an
effort 10 break down the spirit of cold
criticism in which he was regarded. he
soon gave this up. He came 10 believe
that his later contemporaries knew little
about him Or his purposes and he wrote
thereafter 10 suit himself.
As writer Of prose the only conter-
pOrary American writer with whom
! Meredith might be compared would b.
Henry James. Their methods. their
aims. were largely the same. and the
sam Involved style marks many uas-
sages Of their fiction.
It is perhaps as poet and critic that
George Meredith viii be longest rensn-
bered- His services to literature we're ex-
tensive. and as literary adviser and
critic he did much to keep the current
ot English literature pure and whole
some.
The poet was strong within him. and
the fact that he married the daughter Of
that exquisite singer. Thomas Love Pea
cock, probably aided greatly this side OF
his nature bis output vas not large
but there are songs In Poems and Lyrics
Of the Joy OF Earth" IN Poems and
Ballads OF Tragic Life in a Reading
OF Earth" and in The Empty Purse
that wiz not soon be forgotten.
Honored IN his later years by the great
ones OF the earth who paid homage 10
his genius. George Meredith drank desplv
from the cup OF fame. and though. per
haps, his writings won for him little Of
that deeply sentimental affection that was
the portion OF Thackeray and Dickens
there are few who knew him through
his work that will not regard his death
with respectful SORROW. But II Is an
intellectual sorrow. rather than OF the
heart; for his appeal was 10 the mind
always, and IN the list Of England's in
tellectuals the name OF George Meredith
viii always hold high place.
.sPecpie laugh when The ,-,,..+5.- T.