The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-10
LITERATURE.
view or VIEW BOOKS.

received Passages from the English Note
books of Nathaniel Hawthorne" Two vol
umes Published by Fields, Osgood & Co.
These extracts from Hawthornes journal are
given, in part at least, as a substitute for
regular biography, and to most of the ad-
mrers of his genius they will probably be
more satisfactory. The extracts from his
American notebook were receivedwith delight,
not only for their intrinsic interest, but for
the curious light they threw upon the deve-
lopment of his genius and his artistic methods.
Hawthorne was one of the very few men of
strongly-marked individuality of genius that
American literature has produced and there
are probably few fragments from his pen,
however unimportant, that are not
worth preserving The extracts in the volume
before MS have been made with loving care
by his widow, who has endeavored to give
everything that the public can properly lay
claim to as illustrating the literary life of the
writer, and they will undoubtedly receive as
cordial a welcome as their predecessors
These English notes were made during Haw-
thorne's residence in England as Consul at
Liverpool, from 1858 to 1853. The ella
borated result of his observations in Eng
sOur Old Home" but as o supplement
to that work, these jottings by the way
will have adistinct value of their own.
They contain many things that of course
were not included in the finished work, and
they show Hawthorne in O most favorable
light as an observer of men and things and
as keen but kindly humorist. During his
residence in England he had unusual facili-
ties for becoming acquainted with the literary
and other celebrities of the day, and his re-
miniscences of the people he met are among
the most entertaining passages in the volume,
The following is description of his meeting
with Jenny Lind, whom he met at an enter
tainment given 10y Mr. and Mrs S. c. Hail.
Soon the servants announced Madam Gold
schmidt, and this famous lady made her ap-
pearance, looking quite different from what
expected Mrs Hall established her in the
inner drawing-room, where were piano and
harp; and shortly after our hostess came to me
and said that Madam Goldschmidt wished to be
introduced to me. There was gentle peremp-
toriness In the summons that made 1t something
like being commanded into the presence of u
princess--a great favor, no doubt, but yet
little humbling to the recipient However, |
acquiesced with due gratitude, and was pre-
sented accordingly. She made room for me on
the sofa, and sat down and began to talk
Jenny Lind is rather tall-quite tall, for
woman-certainly no beauty, but with sense and
self-reiance in her aspect and manners. She
was suffering under severe cold, and seemed
worn down beside, so probably l saw her under
disadvantages Her conversation is quite SIM
pie, and have great faith in her sincerity; and
there is about her the manner of u person who
knows the world, and has conquered it. She
said something or other about the Scarlet Letter;
and on my part, paid her such compliments rs
a man could pay who never heard her sing.
Her conversational voice is an agree
able one, rather Deep and not particularly
smooth. She talked about America, and of our
unwholesome modes of life, as to eating and eX
ercise, and of the ill-health especially of our
women; but l opposed this view so far as
could with any degree of truth, insinuatng my
opinion that we about as healthy as other
people and affirming for a certainty that we
live longer. In good faith, so far as have any
knowledge of the matter the women OF England
are as generally out of health as those of
America; always something has gone wrong
with Them and as for Jenny Lind, she looks
wan and worn enough TO be an American her.
self. This charge of ill-health is almost unver-
sally brought forward against us nowadays
and, taking the whole. country together, do
not believe the statistics will bear it out.
OF Douglas Jerrold, whom Hawthorne met
at a dinner at the Reform Club, we have a
very interesting account
lie was a very short man, but with breadth
enough, and back excessively bent-bowed
almost to deformity, very grey hair, and face
telligence. His profile came out pretty boldly,
and his eyes had the prominence that indicates,
believe, volubility of speech, did he fail to
talk from the instant of his appearance, and in
the tone of his voice. and in his glance, and in
the whole man, there was something racy-a
flavor OF the humorist. His step that of an
aged man, and he put his stick down very de-
cidedly at every football; though as he after
wards told me he was only ifty.two' he need not
have been infrm.
l wish had any faculty whatever of remem-
bering what people say; but, though appreciate
anything good at the moment, it never STAYS in
my memory; nor do | think, in fact, that any
thing definite, rounded, pointed, separable, and
transferable from the general lump of conver-
sation was said by anybody. | recollect that
tear into Scottish river, on occasion of some
literary festival They spoke approvingly
of Bulwer, as valuing his literary position, and
holding himself one of the brotherhood OF
authors; and not so approvingly of Charles
Dickens, who, born plebeian, aspires to aris-
tocratic society. But said it was easy to con-
descend, and that Bulwer knew he could not
put off his rank and that he would have all the
advantages OF it, in spite of his authorship. We
talked about the position of men of letters in
England, and they said that the aristocracy
hated and despised and feared them: and asked
why it was that literary men, having really SC
much power in their hands, were content tC
live unrecognized in the State
Douglas Jerrold talked of Thackeray and his
success in America, and said that he himse
purpOsed going and had been invited thither t.
lecture. l asked him whether it was pleasant tC
writer of plays to see them performed; and ht
said it was intolerable, the presentation of tn,
authors idea being so imperfect; and DR.. -
observed that it was eXcruciating to hear one o
his own songs sung Jerrold spoke of tn,
Duke of Deyonshire with great warmth, as
true, honest, simple, most kind-hearted man
from whom he himself had received great cour