76 
of “ Cousin Phyllis.” At any rate it seems certain that her 
Knutsford experiences were woven into the tine texture of 
these and other works. The Lecturer exhibited a slide shewing 
the house in which lived Edward Higgins of “ The Squire’s 
Tale ” fame, and gave an interesting account of this high- 
wayman’s methods. He shewed also a picture of the Royal 
George Hotel at Knutsford, with its ancient staircase and 
panelled wainscot. 
Mrs. Haskell's first literary achievement was “ Mary Barton.” 
When first sent to the publishers the work was returned, 
and it was some time afterwards, in 1818, when she was 
offered £100 for the copyright, that it was published. For 
a time its authorship was a mystery, but when disclosed the 
writer received many letters of congratulation, including 
one from Thomas Carlyle. In this book Mrs. Gaskell draws 
a striking contrast between the opulent ease of the manu- 
facturer on the one side and the extreme poverty of the 
worker on the other, and the following extract shews her 
feelings in the matter : — 
“ Large houses are still occupied, while spinners’ and 
weavers’ cottages stand empty because the families that 
once filled them are obliged to live in rooms or cellars. 
Carriages still roll along the streets, concerts are still crowded 
by subscribers, the shops for expensive luxuries still find 
daily customers, while the workman loiters away his un- 
employed time in watching these things and thinking of 
the pale, uncomplaining wife at home and the wailing 
children asking in vain for enough of food, of the sinking 
health, of the dying life of those near and dear to him. 
The contrast is too great. Why should he alone suffer 
from bad times ? ” 
Hers was not a one-sided view, as some have maintained, 
but she drew her characters faithfully, giving types of good 
and bad workmen and employers. 
After the publication of “ Mary Barton ” she made many 
friends on her visits to London, amongst whom were Charles 
Dickens, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Ruskin, and Miss Florence 
Nightingale. 
In 1853 came the publication of “ Ruth ” and “ Cranford.” 
The former is an extremely well-written story. In this book 
and in “ Lizzie Leigh ” we have every-day characters. 
When “ Mary Barton ” came out, there were many people 
who said that Mrs. Gaskell had no humour, but this notion 
was dispelled when “ Cranford ” was written. 
