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Article A MODERN NOVEL SOMEWHAT UNDERVALUED. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Modern Novel Somewhat Undervalued.
Jlen have many clangers to encounter , but none are so great , so pressing , or so , . miliar ! If , then , our hero Avas a little weak ancl Avavering , a little inconstant ancl ^ certain , a little beAvildered and bothering , as Ave scan the contour of his moral Character , Ave think that is fairly all that Ave can say . He was at the same time amiable lU ( l menial , comfortable and confiding , kindly ancl considerate , p leasant ancl warmhearted , ' and if slightly impulsive , very honest ; if a little undecided , very honourable . randes aud Grands Sei not
That he should like the society of " G- Dames " " gneurs " Avas yevy blameAvortby . There are very many Avho would give anything in the Avorld to be ; n it , AU through , he seems manfully to have maintained an honest independence of thought ancl action , and to have remained , if a poor man , yet an " Irish gentleman " in name ancl deed . Despite , then , some unavoidable blemishes and some palpable inconnruities , Ave admire Mr . Anthony Trollope ' s conception of Phineas Finn , ancl for tMs reason , that not only do Ave hold it to be a very artistic performance , but also a very true and striking character .
Phineas never , amidst the temptations of ( Society , becomes a dissipated roue or an enervated " vaurien ; " he never allows the seductions of the senses or the sbppery paths of worldly progress to lure Mm into those habits of life or . modes of thought which arc incompatible with honour , chivalry , truth , and morality . If Phineas had , as ive all have had , his weak moments and unguarded hours—Ms seasons Avhen the personal sense of abstract duty is a little lowered amid tbe feverish scenes of gaiety ancl " abandon "—if his were times Avhen strong individual aspirations led him into
, seemingly crooked A . ays or bye-paths , yet on the Avhole how feAV ancl hoAV really venial they Avere ! That Phineas Finn meant to " run straight" we firmly believe , and therefore , despite his amiable shortcomings and his numerous flirtations , we like Mm much . Poor Lady Laura , indeed , might feel a good deal , ancl seems someAvhat to have " hard lines , " but yet Ave are not sure but that Mr . Trollope is ri ght in so " pointing the moral "
m her special case . It is always a mistake in a woman to be too " coming ; to forget that she has always " se faire valob ; " that men , say what they will , always prefer reserve ancl reticence ; and that that affection AAdiich is ready to " devaneer '' the wonted " bienseances " of society and the customs of the world , and even the feelings of the man , is often lightly prized and still oftener rudely thrown aAA'ay . Ancl what shall Ave say of Lord and Lady Chiltern ? Surely Lord Chiltern is an admirable personification , if rougMy drawn . There is a great deal of sense and good after
all in that uncouth , ungainly man ; much promise , let ua hope , of better , of tbe test things ! And is not Violet Chiltern limned Avith a master-band ? We confess that ire hardl y knoAv any character in modern novels , except " Heartsease , " AvMch strikes us ffiore real , more charming , than Violet Chiltern . We feel as Ave gaze upon her gracious and pleasant presence , IIOAV sensible , IIOAV sagacious , how free , ancl yet hoAV hue she really is—no fancy ideal , no inapt model , let us hope ancl believe , of many * British maiden , of many a young married woman amongst us , as stout-hearted , and as beaming , and as delightful as she is !
We hail once more our old friend Lady Clencora , as in former days , with Unalloyed I , ! ' e - Our first acquaintance with Lady Glencora took place in the garden of the Irois Couronnes " at Vevay and the " l ) rei Konigen " at Basle , ancl we never shall 0 l'get the impression she made on us then , and which we retain to this very hour . We aunot j hoAvever , linger with that quaint yet picturesque creation , further than to echo 16 Avorcls of that skilled craftsman Avho made her what she is , and ever must be to
^ ny readers , " Nothing can ever change the Duchess ! ' * lue little episode as between "Spooner of Spoon Hall" and Adelaide Palliser is A ? i , amusin S > and though Ave do not profess to admire Gerald Maule , and think inl t' ^ ^ ^ mn ° h too good for him , ive are heartily glad that she had the sense ' nu the pluck to decline becoming Mrs . Spooner . -leople often talk of our girls as being mercenary , and propound many other hard ; Rations concerning them : but for our part Ave hold them td be more sinned against ^ sinning J 5
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
A Modern Novel Somewhat Undervalued.
Jlen have many clangers to encounter , but none are so great , so pressing , or so , . miliar ! If , then , our hero Avas a little weak ancl Avavering , a little inconstant ancl ^ certain , a little beAvildered and bothering , as Ave scan the contour of his moral Character , Ave think that is fairly all that Ave can say . He was at the same time amiable lU ( l menial , comfortable and confiding , kindly ancl considerate , p leasant ancl warmhearted , ' and if slightly impulsive , very honest ; if a little undecided , very honourable . randes aud Grands Sei not
That he should like the society of " G- Dames " " gneurs " Avas yevy blameAvortby . There are very many Avho would give anything in the Avorld to be ; n it , AU through , he seems manfully to have maintained an honest independence of thought ancl action , and to have remained , if a poor man , yet an " Irish gentleman " in name ancl deed . Despite , then , some unavoidable blemishes and some palpable inconnruities , Ave admire Mr . Anthony Trollope ' s conception of Phineas Finn , ancl for tMs reason , that not only do Ave hold it to be a very artistic performance , but also a very true and striking character .
Phineas never , amidst the temptations of ( Society , becomes a dissipated roue or an enervated " vaurien ; " he never allows the seductions of the senses or the sbppery paths of worldly progress to lure Mm into those habits of life or . modes of thought which arc incompatible with honour , chivalry , truth , and morality . If Phineas had , as ive all have had , his weak moments and unguarded hours—Ms seasons Avhen the personal sense of abstract duty is a little lowered amid tbe feverish scenes of gaiety ancl " abandon "—if his were times Avhen strong individual aspirations led him into
, seemingly crooked A . ays or bye-paths , yet on the Avhole how feAV ancl hoAV really venial they Avere ! That Phineas Finn meant to " run straight" we firmly believe , and therefore , despite his amiable shortcomings and his numerous flirtations , we like Mm much . Poor Lady Laura , indeed , might feel a good deal , ancl seems someAvhat to have " hard lines , " but yet Ave are not sure but that Mr . Trollope is ri ght in so " pointing the moral "
m her special case . It is always a mistake in a woman to be too " coming ; to forget that she has always " se faire valob ; " that men , say what they will , always prefer reserve ancl reticence ; and that that affection AAdiich is ready to " devaneer '' the wonted " bienseances " of society and the customs of the world , and even the feelings of the man , is often lightly prized and still oftener rudely thrown aAA'ay . Ancl what shall Ave say of Lord and Lady Chiltern ? Surely Lord Chiltern is an admirable personification , if rougMy drawn . There is a great deal of sense and good after
all in that uncouth , ungainly man ; much promise , let ua hope , of better , of tbe test things ! And is not Violet Chiltern limned Avith a master-band ? We confess that ire hardl y knoAv any character in modern novels , except " Heartsease , " AvMch strikes us ffiore real , more charming , than Violet Chiltern . We feel as Ave gaze upon her gracious and pleasant presence , IIOAV sensible , IIOAV sagacious , how free , ancl yet hoAV hue she really is—no fancy ideal , no inapt model , let us hope ancl believe , of many * British maiden , of many a young married woman amongst us , as stout-hearted , and as beaming , and as delightful as she is !
We hail once more our old friend Lady Clencora , as in former days , with Unalloyed I , ! ' e - Our first acquaintance with Lady Glencora took place in the garden of the Irois Couronnes " at Vevay and the " l ) rei Konigen " at Basle , ancl we never shall 0 l'get the impression she made on us then , and which we retain to this very hour . We aunot j hoAvever , linger with that quaint yet picturesque creation , further than to echo 16 Avorcls of that skilled craftsman Avho made her what she is , and ever must be to
^ ny readers , " Nothing can ever change the Duchess ! ' * lue little episode as between "Spooner of Spoon Hall" and Adelaide Palliser is A ? i , amusin S > and though Ave do not profess to admire Gerald Maule , and think inl t' ^ ^ ^ mn ° h too good for him , ive are heartily glad that she had the sense ' nu the pluck to decline becoming Mrs . Spooner . -leople often talk of our girls as being mercenary , and propound many other hard ; Rations concerning them : but for our part Ave hold them td be more sinned against ^ sinning J 5