MEREDITH ON CRITICS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 787, 9 April 1910, Page 9

MEREDITH ON CRITICS.

. The 'Revue de' Paris" publishes an interesting paper on George Meredith, wdneh is the more interesting from being almost entirely mado up of a con-versation-ill 1008 -between tho author, M. Photiades, and tho poet, who seldom favoured strangers : either with interviews or opinions. The following oxtracts are aniong many of the excellent things m the: article. Mr. Meredith professed an intense admiration for tho facility-of Swinburne, and . illustrated this ; by-saying that in 1859-lie was staying with .friends in the Isld of Wight, when they-saw Swinburne approaching, brandishing a tablet.' When-'Swinburne cama-up •'he-began reciting aloud thb beginning of a paragraph of Omar Khayyam which he had just discovered. His enthusiasm was so communicative that twilight came over them all under tho trees, listening, to the sensuous murmur of tho verses.

"After Swinburne sent for writing materials, and .then before our eyes and at'on'efJitting poem, 'Laus Veneris,'. one of the most perfect in English literature." The conversation having led to the mention of "One" of Our Conquerors," .Meredith said it might be considered as a literary vengeance. ~ . "I had discovered at the start of my career-that nothing upse| the. critics so; much,as anything that was out of thb common and required, an'extra-meed of attention. When I was nearly sixty, after a small legacy had assured my pecuniary independence, I.took it into my head to serve these'gentlemen a strong dose, of -my most indigestible production. I slyly-presented them with- 'Diana of the Crossways' and the novels that fok lowed.. But .nothing drove them so crazy as 'One of Our Conquerors.' Tho poor fellows did not, know what saint to call upon or' how to give a notice of the accursed book. Before all it would have ■ been necessary to understand it, and; .these blind men were groping in the'thickness of their shadows." Here Meredith broke into a hearty laugh. He bore small love to critics in general. Further on we read: — - ''The Press, often treated me- as a clown,: or harlequin; yes, With'the less deference, since my fellow-countrymen were not over fond of me.- I do not protest;' certainly at last I have been given a little glory; my name is famous, but nobody reads me. As for my compatriots, I put them to flight because I bpre.them to death. For tho rest, for foreigners I am an illustrious unknown."