Milford High School - Oak Lily and Ivy Yearbook (Milford, MA)

Page 22 text:

18 THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. all that the maturity of art and genius can afterwards cultivate or arrange.” No novel has a more direct opening than “Pamela”; the attention of the reader is instantly captured. In the first paragraph, which follows, both the heroine and villain are introduced. “Dear Father and Mother:—I have great trouble and some comfort to acquaint you with. The trouble is that my good lady died of the illness I men¬ tioned to you, and left us all much grieved for the loss of her; for she was a dear good lady, and kind to all her servants. Much I feared, that as I was taken by her ladyship to wait upon her person, I should be quite destitute again, and forced to return to you, who have enough to do to maintain yourselves; and, as my lady’s goodness had put me to write and cast accounts, and qualified me above my degree, it was not every family that could have found a place that your poor Pamela was fit for; but God, whose graciousness to us we have so often experi¬ enced, put it into my good lady’s heart on her death-bed, just an hour before she expired, to recommend to my young master all her servants, one by one; and when it came to my turn to be recommended (for I was sobbing and crying at her pillow), she could only say, ‘My dear son!’—and so broke off a little; and then recovering—‘Remember my poor Pamela.’ And these were some of her last words! Oh, how my eyes run—don’t wonder to see the paper so blotted. Your dutiful daughter, Pamela Andrews.” Thus Pamela, the poor innocent country girl and maidservant, is placed in the power of “Mr. B.,” the young squire, headstrong and dissipated. She resists every temptation he places before her and with great difficulty defends herself against his attacks. One day the young squire, very angry at what he believes her pretended in¬ nocence, regardless of his mother’s last wish, orders her to go back to her parents in the country. Pamela, happy in the thought of being with her beloved parents once again, prepares at once to depart. But the young squire, who is really in love with Pamela but too proud to admit it, plans to have her brought to his Lincolnshire estate instead of to her own home. So Pamela joyully starts her journey homeward only to find that she has been the victim of a foul plot and is lured to his Lincolnshire estate instead of being allowed to return to her beloved parents. The girl grieves very much, realizing that he wishes to destroy her for she knows that he will never wed a mere servant girl. She feels certain of his wickedness when she learns the evil character of her keeper, Mrs. Jewkes, whose treatment causes her a great deal of unhappiness. Very wretched and with no hope of escape, Pamela decides to ask aid of a Mr. Williams who is a frequent visitor at Lincolnshire. By secret letters she forms a plan of escape, but at the last moment her plans are frustrated and she is once again in the power of Mrs. Jewkes. Realizing now her plight, she decides to send some letters to her parents by Mr. Williams. He consents to be her messenger, but the very night she entrusts her letters to him he is robbed of them. At first she grieves because he received several injuries in trying to retain them, but finally she learns that the robbery was plotted between Mrs. Jewkes and him and she becomes very angry. Now she realizes that she is indeed friendless and alone. . To add to her grief news is received of the expected arrival of Mr. B., which unhappy tidings cause her to make several unsuccessful attempts to escape. Finally Mr. B. arrives, Pamela pleads with him to spare her and to allow her to escape. At first he remains firm, but finally his pride is conquered and he decides to marry Pamela, even though she be a servant girl.

Page 21 text:

THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. 17 since a novel has so strong a moral influence on human life because of its great popularity. The novel is not only valuable because it serves as a recreation, but it is also valuable because of other benefits derived from it. The reader of the novel understands clearly the vast changes that have taken place since the very earliest centuries, and is enabled to observe the progress in civilization. Then again the novels of Dickens and Thackery have served to bring about many social reforms and have enabled people to see the dark side of life without actually experiencing it. These facts show the great importance of the novel. Now let us turn our attention to its origin. It was not until 1740 that the novel as we know it took literary form, but very near to its discovery was Daniel Defoe, the author of “Robinson Crusoe,” His story of “Robinson Crusoe” began by sketching the boyhood of a rogue who had run away to sea. In his story he humanizes adventure. His story may be classed as one of incident, as it merely states one incident after another with very little attempt at characterization or plot. Nevertheless it has its lesson, and a very worthy one, which is: “Be patient, be industrious, be honest and you will at last be rewarded for your labor.” In spite of the fact that some people wish to call “Robinson Crusoe” the first novel, it must be regarded as a tale of adventure, adventure away from the haunts of everyday life rather than life as we know it. It lacks character analysis and a well-constructed plot. The first novel owes its beginning to an accident. Samuel Richardson, a London printer, was invited in 1740 by a publisher “to prepare a volume of letters which might serve as models to country readers.” Richardson thought over the matter and he believed it would be very interesting if he connected his letters in such a way so as to form a love story and point out a moral. The result was “Pamela or “Virtue Rewarded.” Samuel Richardson himself was a common printer, very industrious, up¬ right and honorable in all his dealings. His kindness and generosity alone would have made him a favorite, had he not gained such prominence in literary circles. As Sir Walter Scott remarked, “It may be safely said that Richardson did more good every week of his life than Fielding was ever able to do through¬ out his whole life.” Richardson’s one fault was his great vanity, which was ex¬ cited by his popularity both at home and abroad. He was so vain that he would not engage in conversation with anyone who had not read his works. Had he been a man of firmer character, he probably would have restrained this childish display of conceit which sometimes caused him a great deal of embarrassment. An interesting anecdote told concerning his self-appreciation is as fol¬ lows :—- One day he was at dinner at a country house with a large company. A gentleman just returned from Paris, willing to please Mr. Richardson, men¬ tioned a flattering circumstance—that he had seen his “Clarissa” lying on the table of the King’s brother. Richardson, observing that part of the company were talking to one another and consequently did not hear the remark, affected then not to attend to it. But later, when there was a general silence, he thought that the flattery might be fully heard and so he addressed himself to the gentle¬ man, “I think. Sir, you were saying something about,” - pausing in a high flutter of expectation. The gentleman, provoked at his vanity, resolved not to please him, and with a sly air of indifference answered, to Richardson’s morti¬ fication, “A mere trifle, Sir, not worth repeating!” This is the character of the man who wrote our first novel and is commonly named as “The Father of the English Novel.” His first novel “Pamela” has been called a “flower—one of those flowers which only blossom in a virgin im¬ agination, at the dawn of original invention whose’ charm and freshness surpass

Page 23 text:

THE OAK, LILY AND IVY. 19 Thus Pamela who withstood all temptations earns as a reward for her virtue a promise of marriage from Mr. B. But before her marriage she undertakes the task of reforming him and teaching him the meaning of virtue. Always virtu¬ ous herself she sets such a splendid example that she finally succeeds in reform¬ ing him. Unlike many modern novelists the author of “Pamela” does not con¬ sider his volume ended with the union of his two leading characters, but con¬ tinues to describe the various trials and tribulations of the virtuous Pamela. After her marriage came the ordeal of winning the love of her husband’s sister, Lady Davers, a very proud and haughty young lady, who would not deign to consider a mere servant girl her sister. But pure sweet Pamela slowly earns her way to Lady Daver’s heart and the latter receives her to her heart. Thus reconciled with Mr. B’s relatives and presented in society, Pamela leads a very happy life, a just reward for her virtue. As a result of her marriage she be¬ comes acquainted with several people, among whom are Lady Darnford and her daughter, Mary, who proves to be a great comfort to Pamela in her troubles. During the first winter after her marriage, Pamela pays her first visit to London accompanied by her husband. There they purchase a home and intend to live throughout the season. To Pamela London is a wonder with its large theatres and grand balls which she frequently attends. Her first masquerade ball was destined to stand out in her memory, for there she was disturbed by the obvious attentions paid by her husband to a woman dressed in the garb of a nun. Pamela enjoyed herself as best she could and the evening passed. A few months later a baby boy was born in the home of Mr. B. With the coming of her son there was less time for Pamela to attend social affairs, and she spent most of her time in the nursery with Billy, the baby. But not so with her husband; he still continued to frequent ballrooms and enjoy his London visits. As the days go by, Pamela hears many reports concerning her husband from outsiders, especially from a Mr. Hunter, who delights in tortur¬ ing her by telling of her husband’s frequent visits to the home of “Lady S.,” the nun of the masquerade ball. At first Pamela pays no attention to these reports, but finally she decided to investigate, because she realizes that her husband sel¬ dom seeks her company. Then, too, he receives several letters sealed with the seal of Lady S. The crisis is reached one Saturday night when she received a letter, telling her that her husband left for Tunbridge with Lady S to purchase a home there and marry her. That night her decision is reached; she will give up her husband to this wicked woman but not her child, for he is to comfort her for the loss of her husband. These are her plans and she awaits the return of her husband to inform him of them. Poor Pamela knows not where to begin but finally, believing it best to be prudent, she begins by telling him of the masquerade ball and ends by showing him the letter. He demands to know who her informants are and mentions Mr. Hunter, but she refuses to tell him. Then realizing the virtue of this wife and her desire to sacrifice her happiness for what she believes will be his he takes her into his arms and tells her the truth. “His pride, his vanity and his thoughtlessness had been his misguiders,” he admits, and then he explains to her the truth concerning his apparently guilty friendship with the Lady S, and discloses that the stories of his intended mar¬ riage were all lies told by Mr. Hunter, who was very jealous and tried to cause trouble. Pamela believes and forgives him, and her forgiveness restores peace and happiness. Thus through tides of unhappiness, resisting all evil temptation, Pamela re¬ formed her husband and won as a reward for her virtue and prudence, future happiness for her husband, her children, and herself.