AMERICAN AND ENGLISH NOVELS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 09, 11 January 1908, Page 6

AMERICAN AND ENGLISH NOVELS.

. «. . TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — In a suggestive interview, which appeared in your yesterday's issue, a Wellington bookseller staunchly holds by the American novel. To him, its excellence is ineffable. Over English efforts in the field of imagination, he shakes his head portentously. In Johnsonian style, he accuses them not only of decadence, but, worst of all, he says the English novels are wearisome. They make him fret and long for tho healthy breezes, the buoyancy, the sincerity, the humour of the American word spinner. Poor novelist of England ; he is engaged like Nickleby to a Victor Crummies public who insist that he shall construct stories round a motor-car — a yacht, or what not. But there are noyelists and novelists. Popularity is a poor criterion of literary craftsmanship. It has bean said before, but must ,be' repeated, that Came, Corelli, the Castles, Lyall, and Baroness Orezy do not adequately represent the English school of There are others. But, aftor all, comparisons between the two schools are futile. ' The differences are too deeply scored. Tho English naturally have not the wide and varied scope and almost inimitable horizon of the American. But to condemn the English of snobbishn.ps3 whilst acquitting the American writer is surely unkind. The average American novel loves a millionaire! as dearly as the English are said to love a lord. The Yankee novel not infrequently reeks of th© slang of tape and pit. Sympathy and dignity are not conspicuous, and the polish and technique of the best English writers will be sought for in vain. The new school in England makes quality its ideal. Just quietly read, say, Richard Whiteing's "King in the N«w;" H. G. Well's "Kipps," and Pett Eidge's "The Wickhainses," and it will be hard if the reader does not admit that .for sympathetic treatment, humour, pathos, and charm there are English novelists who are yet supreme. — I am, etc. BOOKLOVER. Wellington, 10th January, 1908.

This week's Customs return and beer duty amount to £20,995 19s, and £256 16s 10(1 respectively. To-day's Customs return is £984 17s 3d. Mr. Charles Parker, for several years with Messrs. \V. E. Clouston and Co., of Blenheim, has severed his connection with that firm, having taken over the produce and auctioneering business of Mi. Nicol in Wellington. Mr. Nicol (says the Marl borough Express) is joining his brothers, of Blenheim, in the; working of a large farm in the Waikato. Mr. Parker arrived in Wellington today. The Tramways Band will give a performance at the Newtown Park to-mor-row afternoon. Mis. Evanp, of Sliakespearp-torraec, Lower Mortlakp-road, Richmond England, claims that she is the only woman entitled to wear the Alma, Balaclava, and Inkermm medals. A concession to wear the medals was granted her on the death of her husband, who had belonged to the 4th (King's Own) Regiment. Mrs. Evans was often under firo during thp Crimea War She used frequently to carry her husband's gun on tho march, and rogularlj' went down to tho trenches with him to bro.-k the long watchps. She receives a pen- ' cion from tbe Patriotic Fund of 5s a