New-York daily tribune., 1857-04-21
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
CHARLOTTE BRONTE.

pathiee, and OF deeply tragic cast from PuIcp Ia"
personal causes, the life of Charlotte Bronte' ss
portrayed in these volumes by her congeniai oio-
grapher, has not little of the somber iascina'io'
which throws such potent spell around 'ne P"su
If "Jane Eyre" and "Villette.' Mrs "a'A'",
az will be- seen on the perusa of the Menioii' n"D
before her task of uncommon dehcac!' i"0
VEIN of bitterness, the pictures OF haro anu ''ro
reality. the want Of hopeful gmpse' oi 'ne 'u'ur'
which mark the writings of Currer Bell, had Their
e.,,,5s,;on in her o,,n experience were the com
bined products of her character and her history.
Involving the misconduct Of Others as they often
do IL was no easy matter to decide now lar justice
TO the dead was compatible with mercy to the iiv-
ing On this point Mrs. Gaskel has acquitted
herself with fidelity to the truth, with commend
able frankness of statement where publicity was
allowable but with modest reserve ID rosaiu
to incidents which belong essentially to the domain
of private life Her narrative is wholly unai-
fectad perhaps slightly tnctured with the severity
that naturally grows out Of the subject, but often
relieved by picturesque details oi 'he iocal scenery
and customs in the quaint region winch VIII hence
forth be associated with the name OF Charlotte
Bronte.
Her father was the rector of the parish church
of Haworth, remote village III Yorkshire,
and inhabited by a primitive race OF people oi
whom few specimens have been left by the progress
Of Improvement in England. The house in which
the author of "Jane Eyre" fouudhe early home
is thus described:
The parsonage stands at right angles to the road,
facing down upon the church; that, III fact pason-
nd balfr sch form
OF an irregular OblOng, of which the fourth Il open 10
the fields and moors that lie beyond The area oil TINS
oblong is filled up by a crowded churchyard ana
small garden or court in front Of the clergyman house
As the entrance this from the road Is at the SIDE the
path goes round the corner into the little plot OF
ground Underneath the windows Is a narrow Hover
border carefully tended in days ot yore although only
the most hardy plants could be made to grow there
Within the stone wall which keeps out the surround
ing chuchyard bushes OF elder and hlac the rest
of the ground il occupied by square grass plot ana
gravel walk. The house is of gray stone, two stories
high heavily rooted with hags, in order to resist the
winds that might strip off lighter covering. Ii ap-
pears 10 have been built about hundred years ago.
and TO consist of four rooms on each story; the TWO
windows the right las the visitor stands, with his
back TO the church. ready tO enter III at the front DOOR
belonging to Mr. Brontes study the two on the left to
the family stting-roOm. Everything about the place
tells of the most dainty order the most exquisite clean
Iness The dOOr-steps spOtless; the small old
fashioned wndow-panes glitter like looking-glas7 ln-
side and outside of that house cleanliness goes up INTO
its essence, purity.
OF the people among whom she passed the years
of childhood and from whom she received her first
impressions of human life, the following description
gives lively idea:
Even an inhabitant Of the neighboring County of
Lancaster is struck by the peculiar force OF character
which the Yorkshiremen display. This makes them
interesting a race; while, at the same tme as lll-
divduas, the remarkable degree of seli-sufiicieney
they possess gives them an air OF independence rather
apt to repel stranger. use this expression sen
sufiicency" in the largest sense. Conscious OF the
strong sagacty and the dOgged power OF will which
almost the birthrght OF the natives OF the West
Riding each man relies upon himself, and seeks no
help al the hands of his ncighbor. From rarely re
ournp the assistance of Others he comes to doubt th
power of besowng IT. from the general success oi hi
efforts he grows to depend upon theIn ana to over
esteem his own energy and power. lie belongs L
that Keen Vet short-sighted class, who consider sus
pciun of all whose honesty ~ not proved a. sign
wisdom. The practical qualities OF man are heiu
great respect; but the want cf faith III strangers an
untried modes of action, extends itself even to IN
manner in which the virtues regarded and If the
produce no immediate and tangible result tney ar
rather put aside unfit for this busy st1viug world
especially if they more of passive than an active
character The affections are strong and their found
ations lie deep: but they nosuch affections se-
dom are-wide-spreadmg; nor do they snow them1
selves the surface Indeed there little display oi
any Of the amenities Of life among thus wild, rough
population Their accost is curt; their accent and
tone of speech blunt and harsh. Something of this
may probably be attributed to the freedom OF noun
tain and of isolated hillside hfe something be de-
rived from their rough Morse ancestry. They have
quick perception of character and keen sense OF hu-
NOR: the dwellers among them must be prepared for
certain uncomplmentary, though most likely true,
observations, pithily expressed. Their feelings are
not easily reused, but their duration ID lasting.
Hence there is much close friendship and faithful SER
vice; and for correct eXempliiCatlon OF the form IN
which the latter frequently appear need only refer
the reader Of "Wuthering Heights to the character
of " Joseph From the cause come also en-
during grudges in cases amounting to hatred,
which occasionally has been bequeathed from genera
ton TO generation. / remember Miss Brone once
telling me that it saying round about Hawoith,
Keep stone in thy pocket seven year turn 1t, and
keep Il seven year longer, that il may be ever ready
to thine hand when thine enemy draws near.
Mr. Bronte was native of Ireland but received
his education at Cambridge, and in subsequent life
kept up little intercourse with his birthplace or his
Irish connections. He is still living at the ad-
vanced age Of eighty stricken and solitary old
man, having survived every member of his large
family but retaining the force of intellect and of
will for WHICH he was always remarkable Char
lotte, who was the third daughter, was born in
1876 Her two sisters Emily and Anne, who
afterward became known as Ellis and Acton Bell,
in the literary trio of which Charlotte was Currer
Bell, were but few years younger than herself
The three sisters, though exhibiting strong
Characteristic differences, had many points III
common were devotedly attached 10 each other,
and formed an inseparable companionship until
the remarkable circle was broken by death. The
TWO elder sisters, who evinced wonderful pre-
cocty of intellect, both died at an early age. An
only brother named Patrick Branwell, was u boy