The New York herald., 1873-12-07
Err A. u R E.
SARA CoLERIDGE.'


II is now nearly forty years since the death Of
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and yet it is fair TO say
that name is more fresh in the literary history
OF England, nor is there any literary celebrity Of
the last hundred years, at least. regarding whom
the more thoughtful and intelligent OF the English
speaking people the wide world over are more
ANXIOUS to learn something new. With what may
be called the student" class Coleridge is
kind OF household word Among the many
great men who at the close OF the eighteenth
and the commencement OF the nineteenth century
adorned English literature Samuel Taylor Coleridge
was by universal consent conceded the first place;
and, notwithstanding the revolutions which
have since taken place in the world of letters, he
STILL in the estimation OF many most competent
judges, retains his high position. We do not say
that Samuel Taylor Coerldge was not in some
respects an overrated man. All that we do say
is that he gave an impulse to English thought
surprising tnat given by any man OF his time, and
that on the literature OF his country he left an
impression which the vcissitudes OF time can
never etiace. Since the death OF Coerdge in 1884
everything which has been printed regarding him
has been eagerly bought up and just as eagerly
read.
The book now before owes much OF it's interest
and not a little OF its success TO the fact that 1t
bears the name of Coleridge. When We say this,
however IL is not to be imagined that the book Is
wanting III intrinsic merits Far from that We
know OF no book OF the Kind given to the public in
recent years which, for general excellence, can be
mentioned in comparison. In the letters OF which
this volume s mainly composed We discover all
the taste OF Mmc de Segigne, with not little Of
the sparkle and vivacity OF Lady Mary Wortley
Montagu. Sara Coleridge, OF whom this book
is q not unworthy memorial was the
only daughter OF the great poet and philos
! opher. she was born at Greta Hail. Reswick
in December, 1902. She was SIX years the junior
OF her brother Hartley and two years the junior
OF her brother Derwent At Greta Hall she lived
with the Southeys until her marriage in 1929. Her
name mas long been well known TO the literary
world She Dora Wordsworth and Edith Southey
are the personages OF Wordsworths poem, "The
Trad''-a poem which, 1t was supposed by some
critics OF the day was intended by Wordsworth
to illustrate tile three Graces-Fath, Hope
and Charity. sara seems to have been
exceedingly beautiful AT Is she is de-
scrbed by Collins, the painter, in these
words :-"Colerioge's elegant daughter, sara,
most interesting creature.n Sir Henry Taylor,
who saw her when she was about twenty, says
IL have always been glad that did see her in her
girlnood because tnen saw her beauty untouched
by time, and ii was beauty which could not but
remain IN ones memory for life, and which is now
distinctly before me rs write The features were
perfectly shaped. and almost minutely deli ;ate,
and the compile xion delicate, also but not wanting
in color and the general effect was that OF
genteness; indeed, | may say OF composure
even to stiffness. Her eyes were large and
they had the sort OF serene lustre which
remember in her father s.u In 1892 she
published translation Of Dobrezhoifer's Account
of the Ahipones, Equestrian People OF Para
quay" ana shortly after translation from the
French OF the sixteenth century Of the Memoirs of
the Cheyaler Bayard by his Loyal Servant The
former OF these the praise OF her father, of
her uncle Southey, cf Charles Lamb and OF Words
worth. Her charming little romance and fairy tale,
''Phantasrnlon," has long been well known to
American readers. As one OF her father's literary
executors she revealed high class OF literary
ablty-an ability which the numerous letters Of
this volume admirably sustain. Her literary
characteristics are wel put in the following ex-
tract from letter OF Aubrey de- yege one OF her
favored correspondents
70 those who knew her she remains an image OF
grace and intellectual beauty that tine can never
tarnish. larger circle Will now know. in part at
least, what she was. With all her high literary pow
she was utterly unlike the mass OF those VINO are
called literary persons. Few have possessed such
learning; and wnen one calls to m,ud the arduous
character OF those studies, which seemed but
reueshment 10 her clear intellect, ike IL
walk IN mountain air, 1t seems a marvel how
womans faculties could have grappled with those
Greek philosophers and Greek fathers, Just as no
doubt IL seemed marvel when her father, at the
age OF ia. woke the echoes OF that famous old
cloister WI n declamations from Plato and Potnus.
But in the daughter as in the iather, the real
marvel was neither the accumulated knowledge,
nor the literary power. II was the spiritual mind.
The rapt ono Of the Godlike forehead,
The heaven eyed creature,
was wordsworth's description Of Coetdge, the
most spiritual perhaps OF England's poets,
taiuy OF her modern poets. or her, some
said ''fler father had looked down into her eyes.
aud lett in them the light OF his own" Her great
Characteristic was the radiant spirituality OF her
intellectual and imaginative being. I hts 1t was
that looked forth from her countenance. Great
and various as were her mothers talents, it was
not non them she derived what was special to
hericd the feminine PORTION OF genius. she had
Reener appreciation OF what was highest and most
orr sinal In thought than of subjects nearer the
range Of ordinary intellects. She moved with the
ghtest step when she moved the loftiest
ground. Her fleet were beautiful on the noun
tain topsn OF ideal thought. She
one OF those whose thoughts are growing while
they speak ana who never speak to surprise. Her
intellectual fervor was not that which runs over Ia
cxcitement; Quietude belonged to IL, and it was
ever moduated by womanly instinct OF reserve
ana dignity. She never Thought Tor eject or
cared 70 nave the last word In discussions or lounu
IT difficult TO conceive how Others would diner rom
those who had not tenth part OF her ln'eheet etuu
energy. The seriousness and the soitness oi ne'
nature raised her above vanity ana lts .oho
Her minu could move at cnce ana pc ~ rest.
IL would not be diiflcult 10 JuslV sven this hish
| praise by extracts FROM the eoMne before Us.
| MANY OF the letters might - well have been lett
imprinted; but some Of them are perfect gems,
and tse.r publication must be regarded as sn ad-