[O'BRIEN] HALIBURTON 43 



It is necessary, in order to a better understanding of his works, to 

 note the lines upon which he strove to educate and to amuse. Staunch 

 imperialism is continually in evidence, especially in his later works. A 

 strong champion of British connection, he makes Sam Slick say, in the 

 Clockmiaker, that it should not be dissolved '' even at the desire of the 

 colonists." Again, he felt that in its present state the Empire v:as 

 like a barrel without hoops, which must be bound together more securely 

 or else tumble to pieces; or like a bundle of sticks which needed to be 

 tied or glued more firmly, or they would fail apart. In another place 

 he says that one of liis intentions was to strengthen the bond of union 

 between the colonies and the parent state. 



He opposed granting responsible government to the colonies, and 

 in " The Attaclié " Mr. Hopwell is made to utter a set tirade against 

 it. He considered that if Canada was to remain a part of the British 

 Empire the authority of the Mother Country should be greater. His 

 opinion is crystallized in " The Clockmaker," where he defines a " true 

 patriot •■" as a high-minded tory, " who supports ^istin' institutions as 

 & whole, but is willin' to mend or repair any part that is defective." 



As a humorist he is best and most widely known. Artemus Ward 

 has called him the founder of the American school of humour; and the 

 London Spectator described him as " one of the shrewdest of humorists." 

 Principal Grant, late President of Queen's University, wiiting in The 

 Westminster (Toronto), said, "He is the one British- American whose 

 reputation, as a man of letters who had opened up a new field of humour, 

 is unquestioned in Britain and the States." 



Of his humour, the Illustrated London News said; "It combines 

 the qualities of English and Scotch humour — the hearty, mellow spirit 

 of the one, and the shrewd, caustic qualities of the other. It derives 

 little help from the fancy, but has its ground-work in the understanding, 

 and affects us by its quiet truth and force, and the piquant satire with 

 which it is flavoured. In a word — it is the sunny side of common 

 sense." 



A keen student of human nature, his observation of national and 

 personal character was acute, correct and humorous, and thoroughly 

 original withal. His cliaracters are usually types, and he emplo5^s them 

 to fill useful purposes. It has been said that no writer has produced 

 better conceptions of the female characttr than those found in his works. 



In style he is somewhat diffuse, and occasionally careless. He 

 appears at his best in conversational passages. In ordinary narrative 

 he is sometimes dull, and frequently prosy. 



"NTot the least important of his services to liis native province was 

 that of trying to induce the people to take life more seriously in those 



