The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-02-08
LOCAL MAN WRITES
OF MARIE CORELLI

have been greatly interesed in the
editorials on literary subjects that
have appeared in the Oregonian from
time to time. Your rather high appre-
cation of Arnold Bennett, Jr., your
almost sartling opinion that Gertrude
Atharton's work ''is probably as pow
erful as George Eliot's" show that you
| have convictions as 10 the merits of
present-day writers.
Among general readers, ! have found
decided diversity of opinion as to the
quality of Marie Corelli's books. In
deed, have been present when discus
sion has become acrimonious through
the ardor of advocates pro and con.
will you try 10 help US to some fair
conclusion?
Will you kindly give us a literary
estimate of her work? Was Arnold
Bennett fair TO Corelli in saying, as
quoted by the Literary Digest. that
a" David Harum' is infinitely nearer
to literature than The Master Chris
tian' -? Do YOU consider "The Mas
| ter Christian" COreli's best book?
From literary standpoint is it worthy
to be called masterpiece
Does her best work rank with Mark
Twain's best? Do you think she has
been anything thus far that will win
her permanent place in English liter
ature? In your opinion, are there any
American noyelists living that are
doing work superior to Corelli?
George W. Karback.
Commenting editorially on Mr.. Kar-
backs inquiries the Oregonian said =
A reader of the 0regonian at Hood
River, Mr.. George W. Karback, asks
a number of questions about the lit
erary work" of Marie Coreli. The
answers to them may be of some use
to others and for that reason they are
/ given here. Our correspondent says
there is a good deal of discussion cur
rent in literary circles at Hood River
over Marie Corelli's merits. Perhaps
the same malady may be prevalent in
other towns. We should be highly
gratified were it possible to add any
thing of value to controversy of so
much moment
MIR. Karback's first question refers
to Arnold Benefits remark that "Da-
vid Harum" is more literary than
Marie Corelis master Christian. "
"Do we think this judgement is cor
rect?" Yes, we do. There is nothing
literary about 'The Master Christian"
or any other of Miss Corelli's books.
This particular book is one third igno-
rance, one-third bigotry and the rest
false sentimentality. The next ques-
tion is whether or not we should 'call
The Master Christian masterpiece
of literature?" We should call it a
masterpiece of nonsense.
Does Miss Corelli's best work rank
with Mark Twain 81" About the same
as a flea with an elephant.
"Do you think she has done any
thing thus far that will win her per-
manent place in English literature?'
Yes; she will probably always be re-
membered as the greatest humbug OF
the century.
"In your opinion, are there any
American novelists living that are
doing work superior to Corelli's?" In
our opinion there are probably 10, 1000
who are doing it, including most school
children in the eighth grade who write
STORES for their compositions.
What sort of English teaching are
the common schools doing when pre-
sumably mature and fairly well-edu-
Gated American citizens can gravely
think of comparing Marie Corelli and
Mark Twan. 1t ought to be possible
to give pupils in the common schools
enough literary sense so that they will
not class this silly woman among the
Immortals.