JANE AUSTEN'S PARENTS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 8 September 1930, Page 13

JANE AUSTEN'S PARENTS.

TO THE EDITOB OF THE PES S3 Sir.—Your * readers take up The Pbess daily and scan through . its pages to see how the world goes round. The amusements, financial." and political columns'give us all the news that we care for,.and after digesting those items re the ■ bankruptcy. of Australia, trade depression, or the scandals of the modern, dance halls (more imaginary than real), etc., etc., one turns in relief to your Saturday edition for its Literary Page., lam one amongst thousands who. look out for this each week, and always find pleasure in digesting it from Col. 1 to Col 8. ■ This week you give us an article from : "Nation" on Jane Austen's ' parental characters. The writer is rather late in the day with his acrimonious article, for Jane

Austeii has been dead 120 years, and in spite of this lengthy period! ..still is verv high in the lists of. repainted authors. Critics from Jeffrey or Dilke ■ may criticise - and criticise, butthe fact remains that the final critics ar® . the,. great .public body of readers tnfe world, oyer. They anally decide" and Jeffrey and his successors may Btay all their, criticisms after the publics verdict ,is known, . Now as to Jane Austen's characters. From the enormous sale of her . works one. may conclude, thev are acceptable, and true to form (in the language the racing world). Her . characters, plots, and scenes are vividly , real, not overdrawn'or distorted as s<>me of our best sellers of to-dav_ would be. _ Jane Austen's reputation in the literal world: is assured .if after 121) years he' works. command such a large, and universal demand; asthev do.. . • RuH through the , lists of authors aj sellers over • say .the past 50 years, and how many to-dav are asked for in the book shops? Ruskin and Carlyle are practically • .as dead as doornails, yet 50 years ago had a large sale. Then take the novelists s Mrs H. Wood. Miss Braddon. Rhoda, Broughton, Marie Corelli» and many others. I doubt, if one single work- of- any of these was sold in Christchurcb: last, week; they have all had' their day. ' and. - notreaching the eminence of -public esteem as Jano Attsten's-workshave, have died'/out; like the; summer flies. Jane Austen's literary' reputation . tb-day stands as high "as it ever did, ; an d after her present-dav critics- are dead •and' forgotten . still will be in the front ranks of those who have given pleasure to millions, -and been, the means of preserving our common, language in its uniformity and elegance.—Yours, etc., W. H. 6AXBY. . Christchurch, September 6th, 1930. r