The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1921-05-19

some time recently Sne mas oeeAi "VIh'
ing as bookkeeper and stenographe1
for firm in Minneapolis. f
GEORGE MEREDITH
"Modern British Novelists" was the
general subject at the Faculty Club
meeting on Wednesday evening May
II. Miss Olga Stevning presented
a paper on George Meredith from
which we take the following extracts
Eleven years ago, or directly a1tei
the death Of George Meredith, 1T would
have been easier to get consensus OF
opinion regarding his work than it is
today. His greatest novels deal with
Victorian England, with the manners
and motives Of the landed arisSocracy.
His art at times is universal, ,embrac-
ing all peoples and all times, and yet
the limitations of time, nationality,
and social stratum may prove heavy
burden upon his fame. The actions,
motives, passions of his characters are
the actions, motives, passions, not OF
universal nature, but of the upper
classes of nineteenth century England.
And vet when all is said, it is with a
delicious sense of relief that we turn
to the pages of his books, artificial
though they may seem to MS; for
in this hectic age of realism his work
seems like a towering snoW-capped
mountain peak.
Before discussing his novels / want
to quote tribute which was given
him on his SEVENTEEN birthday and
signed by thirty notable people:
among whom were j. M. Barrie:
Thomas Hardy, Swinburne, and henry
James.
"Some comrades in letters who have
long valued your work send you cor
dial greeting upon your seventeen
birthday. You have attained the first
rank in literature after many years
of inadequate recognition. From hrst
to last YOU have been true to yourself
and have always aimed at the nigh
est mark. We are rejoiced to know
that merits once perceived by only a
few are now appreciated by wide
and steadily growing circle. We wish
vbu MANY years Of life during which
YOU may continue to do good WORK. !;
cheered by the consciousness OF good
work already achieved, and encourage
ed by the certainty OF a hearty wei
come from many sympathetic read
ers."
Many friends have described him.
In few lines Mr.. Frank Harris gives
us a vivid impression: "A most noble
and inspiring personality, perhaps
the widest and deepest mind born IN
England since Shakespeare. l was as
tonished by the Greek beauty OF his
face set off by wavy silvery hair; and
the extraordinary variety OF ever
changing expression; astonished too
by the high loud voice which he used
in ordinary conversation, and by the
uuick-glancing eyes which never
seemed to rest for moment on any
object, but fitted about curiously like
a child's." ,l,,, ,s.-..-
Born. on the twelfth Of February
1928, his life spanned the whole OF the
Victorian Era. He died on the elgh-
teenth of May, 1919. -
Two of his greatest novels were the
"Egoist" and the "Ordeal OF Richard
Feyerel." Perhaps the "Egoist" is the
best example of his brilliant, scintil-
lating STYLE. but the "Ordeal of Rich
ard Feverel" has far more of gripping:
human emotions about it. When you
read the "Egoist" you feel that you see
people in a mirror, but never see the
real flesh and blood people. It gives
one the feeling Of viewing a land
scape only through windows and never
being able to feel the warmth Of the
ann. the play of the wind or the smell!
If the earth. But the universally OF
the "Egoist" will make it immortal
or a. long as egoism is frailty Of hu.
man nature. The whole book and not
only Six Willoughby Patterne, is 9
study Of egoism-the egolsm OF peo'
pie seeking their own qualifications
and personal desire.
It has no plot; it is the tragic com
edy of narrowing engagement
Handsome, generous, rich and titled
Sir Willoughby Patterne was the lido
of the county. His admirable passion
to excel, however, was chiefly directed
in his youth upon sport; and SO great
was the passion in him that it was
commonly the presence Of rivals which
led him to the declaration Of love
Money. health, and beauty was the
triune he sought in his loves. But 4
the recipient of his affections did not
show him sufficient adulation, he al
ways found it in Laetitia Dale, the
daughter of an army surgeon from
India, and tenant OF one OF Sir WI;
loughby's cottages: She was a 1ra tran;
slip Of girl, intellectual, timid, and
loved Sir Willoughby with con-
stancy which pleased him nightly
even though he cared for it only t.
satisfy his passion for admiration. He
wanted to keep that poor love o.
Laetitia's alive and if she looked less
pale he famed the spark ever 50
slightly to keep it burning. He talked t.
her Of platonic friendship. She could
have borne his Indifference, but this
tortured her. He became engaged tc
Clara Middleton-a beautiful, wealthy
lively. brilliant girl. He aired his
superlatives, captured her from 9
crowd Of ardent lovers. and within q
month Of their meeting they were en-.
q = = .