Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-27
Kind Words for Diamond Dick
Inspired by Writer'S Death

Revised estimates Of the dime novel
Of former generation are offered by
the public as one of the authors of the
Diamond Dick" and Nick Carter"
series. George Charles jerks, is buried
at the age Of 70. It is recognized that
several writer's in turn wrote these sto-
ries Of adventure. but Mr.. jerks is
credited with having produced a sub
stantial number. 1t is pointed out that
m1ny enthusiastic young readers of
these thrillers of yesterday have turned
out to be fairly successful citizens and
this perhaps helps to remove the an
cient prejudice. Many books of today, it
is suggested, are far more devastating
than jerks wild tales.
1T Is realized now" according to the
Rock Island Argus. that his writings
did not demoralize boys. In contrast to
the vicious stuff that is now easily OBJ
tainable. jerks stories were absolutely
harmless. They thrilled a former gen.
Grafton of boys and they were entranc-
ingly interesting. Mr.. jerks took to
more serious writing later in life and
turned out some excellent novels. But
his Diamond Dick" stories will be re-
membered by some readers when his
more ambitious undertakings are for
gotten"
Looking back. the Williamsport Sun
wonders 'if they were dangerous beyond
the fact that they were so tempting
that they lured many boy from his,
chores and caused him to disobey pa =
rental edicts against them. Compared
with magazines and other publications
which are read today, not only by boys,
but by their sisters and their parents,
they would probably be considered clean,
wholesome reading" concludes the Sun.
The Evansville Courier feels sure that
there was nothing evil in them; that
virtue was rewarded unfailingly and
vice was punished" and that "in their
fortnight virility they were infinitely
better for youth than lot Of the silly.
sentimental and sexy fiction that fills
the land today"
"Once despised by the discriminating
and Illuminated against from the pull
pit" says the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
mick Carter and his paper-back con-
temporaries have assumed a certain re-
spectability in these. their later years.
The novels that were sold for a dime,
and often from under the counter, are
now collectors items. and their first
editions bring good prices" The Wor-
cester Evening Gazette believes that
were Mr.. jerks in the vigor Of his art
today. his name, in all probability. would
be on every ones lips and in the realm
of finance he would be rapidly over
taking Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller
and J. P. Morgan" The Gazette Is
convinced that as literature the stories
arr Just as good as the average Western
or detective story current today"
"A search through the attics of many
of our best citizens, men who have
turned out remarkably WELL" asserts
the Providence Bulletin, would reveal
more than a flve-foot shelf Of jerks
works" That paper points out that ito
the dauntless quality Of Diamond Dicks
mind was added marvellous grace and
sense of fair play. Anxious parents
overrated his villainy." adds the Bull
letin. I'm the light of the movies, his
fictitious example becomes quite ex-
eiuplary. Not for his wickedneSs should