The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-05-21

BRIG A BRAC SERIES. PERSONAL REMINIsCENCEs
By CHoRLEy; PLANcHE & YOUNG. Edited by
Richard Henry Stoddard.
From Scribner, Armstrong & Company We
receive handy 16mo., distinctly printed on
ed out with graceful designs in black and
gold. This is the initial volume of the Bric-
a-Brac Series, a new venture in the pleasant
ne1d OF anecd0JIcaI literature. Tne nne OF
Marlowe, "Infinte riches in little room,'
has been selected as the motto, and the OBJ :
ject is to "bring together fund of choice
and fresh arecdote and gossip, and to collect,
from the numerous biographies, autobiograph-
les, and memoirs that have lately appeared,
all the "reminiscences worth preserving of
the men and women who have done so much
to make this country one of most brilliant in
the annals of English literature" The series
is edited by r. II. Stoddard.
This first volume is rich in promise, con-
tanning "reminiscences of Henry Chorley, for
many years musical editor of the 'London
Atheneum," J. r. Planche the dramatist,
and Charles Young, the tragedian. Mr..
is that in men aud women which eludes the
literary artists who essay to paint them elab-
orately, but which is sometimes caught by
others, who are mere sketches, as these al
fists would have us believe, but who, never
thelcss, have the knacS of hitting off like
ness. They seem to come upon character
unawares,
And snatch grace beyond the reach of art.''
These sketches should be faithful, for each
man paints his own portrait-the book be-
ing entirely edited by the scissors, from the
memoirs of its subjects. The choicest bits
are selected, and the reader learns about all
he cares to know of these men and their
friends. 1t is the pleasantest of reading.
Of course many wise and amusing things
are to be found and we are made acquainted
with the best company in the world. OF
N. P. Willis Chorley says che was flimsy in
his requirements and fashy in his manners
a thorough literary getter-on, hut better
natured one than many have since known"
They dreamed and planned together for a
little while, but the intimacy was broken off
by Willis abrupt departure for Scotland to
see countess with red hair, whom he
averred had fallen in love with him. He took
| with him large box full of locks of hair
| trophies of his continental Don Giovannism.
| The Count d. Orsay was another of Chorleys
| acauaintances, a man who spent the money
| of his wealthy friends for them rsyally, and
made them fancy they were inveDting all
81 nf
spending it. OF Bulwer he says che is a
thoroughly satin character, but then it is the
richest satin" Another: The Duke of Os-
suna was rumored to have the largest for
tune in Europe, but none knew its amount.
An English Earl ventured to ask the point
blank question, "what was the amount of his
income?" ''My Lord, said the duke-and
Chorley holds it to be the finest ex-
ample OF evasion and rebuke on
record-''I do not know your English
money" Samuel Rogers greatly disliked
| Chorley, and always asked when he saw him,
"who is that young man with red hair?'
| The dislike doesn't seem to have troubled the
| young man, and he relates, quite kindly
| many amusing anecdotes of the poet. He
says Lady Morgan, who might have sat for
Mrs. Leo Hunter, once asked in all serious
ness "who was Jeremy Taylor?" Quite as
stupid was one of Horace Walpole's Mis-
Berrys, who exclaimed, on hearing Walter
Savage Landor's name mentioned. 'Mr
Landorp What has he writtenP' Camp
bell is described as little man, with
shrewd eye, and a.sort of pedagoguish, par
boiled voice, with plenty to say Tor himself,
especially about other people.
Of Hook he says at party where the host
| ess was coarsely anxious to get him to max
sport for her guests, who were gathere
1 around in ring waiting only words Ell
| couragement to burst into violent laughte
''Do, Mr. Hook, do favor usr' said the lad
for the hundredth time. 'Tndeed, madam
can't; can't indeed. 1 am like that littl
bird, the canary; can't lay my eggs when an
one is looking at me-" OF Jack Reeve an
his funeral, Hook said: Eyes, was out una
day; 1 met him in his pricdte bor' 9"'"' '
the pit" = Iondo
An appreciative description Oh ~
reads: s,.s. man,
..Jondor as usual, the very nnese man u;
~ ioue ever seen, and with all III
] Jobnsonian disposition 70 tyranhiZe anu "a