The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-17
THE BOOK WORLD.
"RiSle" SAFELY Married. 1.-THE Romance
Of an Honest Woman
POINT LACE AND DIAMONDS.

Henry Holt a Co., have just published volume
OF .Engsn POrtralts.n selected and translated
IRON sainte- Beuve's "Causeries du Lundi." The
volume is introduced with a chapter on SaInte-
Beuve's lie and writings which the reader cannot
afford 10 skip. 1t serves TO wnet the appetite for
the essays which follow. The author OF this in
,roductory chapter, while he has keen appreca-
mon OF the brilliant FrenchmaE, does not hesitate
10 crlticise where criticism Is called for Sainte-
Beuve '1ived ike q hermit and worked ike q
horse.n His .causeries.n which read as though
they lowed inspired from his pen, were laDored
over as newspaper articles never were before.
The "causeries' appeared every Monday morning
IN the Constitutional, conducted by DR.. Veron.
Assisted by his secretary, Sante- Beuve
began every Monday morning 10 prepare the ar
ticle for the following week. Having selected his
subject alter much reflection he dictated q rough
outline OF the article, filing IN blanks and making
additions with mis- own hand This first draIt was
then copied, revised and sometimes written over
again. For twelve hours daily from Monday to
Thursday he labored in his study, refusing to re-
celve visitors or 10 be interrupted in any way and
taking no relaxation till the evening BY Friday
the manuscript was ready for the printer, and on
that day Sainte-Be went and read it 10 DR..
Veron, whose judgment he valued for reason
resembling that which induced Mollere to respect
the verdict OF his old hOusekeeper. After profit
ing by DR.. Verons suggestions or objections he
had the article put in type. Alter the proof hao
been subjected to a revision as minute and search
ing as that which the manuscript had undergone
IL was pronounced ready for publication on Mon
DAY. For TINS exhaustlng labor the first man OF
letters Of his day In Paris received annual
salary OF about So, 200.
saintc- Beuve ranks much higher as a critic than
as q poet or novelist he was born critic, ana
made criticism fine art. It was no pleasure TO
Him TO puncture an author with his caustic pen
and leave him crippled on the field. He was never
moved by personal likes or disllkes but he care
iuy weighed his words and stated his conclusions
without passion prejudice "His goal was truth,
and his guide to 1t was sympathy In his own
words:-"The critic Is but a man who knows how
To read. and VINO teaches Others to read Uriti-
cism as understand and as | should ike TO prac-
iise It, IS an invention, perpetual creation.v The
English portraits in this volume are OF Mary
queen OF Scots. Lord Chesterfield, Ben
lamin Franklln, Edward Glbbon, william
Cowper, -. Tame, and short sketch on
Pope as poet, which IS among the
best drawn in the book. We can scarcely appre-
cate the authors Idea in CHASING Scotlands
MARY, oar own Franklin ana that unmstakable
Frenchman ii. Tame, among his English por-
traits. However we are not disposed TO quarrel
with arrangement when IS 50 greatly 20 our
advantage. Perhaps the best essay in the book j.
Inc ono on Cowper. Sante-Beuye has painted the
author OF the Task in warmer and more attrac-
i've colors Than we have been used TO contemplat-
ing llm. Not long before his death, Salnte- Beuve
to.d friend the perusal OF Cowper's works IS
one Of the sweetest vet bitterest memories Of my
lie: at the time / was Affected with a sort 0l
moral malady somewhat resembling his and this
caused NE 10 take dangerous pleasure In study
ing the poets Of bis school," This accounts Tor
Inc geutleness with which he has dealt with the
poet whose weaknesses have been made repulsive
III less kindly hands Toe portrait Of
FTanEnn is drawn with a vigorous and sympa-
tnetic touch. The brilliant Frencaman entertained
4 profound admiration Tor our supplemented
philosopher, though ne was Often shocked by GER
tam practical qualities that robbed him OF any
thing akin to sentiment. Sainte- Beuve's perfect
mastery Of the English language gave MIN the adj
vantage OF his cOuntrymen In the study OF Eng
ASH literature. No young writer, or old writer
eitneT for that matter, can AFFORD 20 neglect tas
booN. Although Sainte- BeUye was an earnest
scholar ana profound thinker. 1t 10 not 30 much
what he says the way nc says il mat gives his
Writings their charm.
"ELsIR. LowLAND SKETCH
There is The same quiet fascination about all
hacmn.an's popular novels, said Maritana, when
she returned Elsie, d Lowland sketch,n to our
tsn lite among the peasantTy. The story or elise"
y Ihe story OF hundreds Of nerolnes, but II Ia told
pretti,y and freshly that It has all the attrac
Jous OF something entirely new Elsie was the
only daughter OF John Elliot, tue miller, ana
Nary, his WIFE, John was San elder or the kirk
aud sar respectat IN ~ the country siden-whicn
= equivalent to saying lat ne was man with =
mind narrow as knIe bade. he vile, on
the other hand wac more liberal, aud, conse-
ala
u some twelve years young gentleman, HerDers
lases by name. met with an accident and was
lad UP at the miller's house for fortnight.
Elsie acted as his nurse, ana acquitted herself
with credit. Herbert was the urst gentleman she
mad ever seen, and when ne went away sue
treasured his image in her heart and worsnipped
his memory. In six years time he returned 70
the little Scotch village, being visitor at the
house or the laird. lie met Elsie again and was
completely cspuyated by ncr beauty and winning
ways she was above ner station In instructive
refinement, but ner beauty was not that OF
blo0ded lady. She was large ann healtny looking,
and her hands were not small taougn they were
white and shapely. Her neart large and
wnite as her hands and she WAS a. honest as the
sun. Herbert was very handsome also, but OF 4
more conventional type, ana MS hands were
smaller than hers. Elsie used to 20 out nsning
with BIN 70 snow Inn the good places. While
bait MS seductive eyes and an imagined love tor
her. Perhaps ne aid love her, put al the love or
WHICH nc was IdpabtC M0uih hbb nave
sunk a ilne. Elsie was a simple country
gir. and the woTl OF gentleman was 10 her
little snort Ul Gospel. Al last HERBERT declared
MS passion ana proposed TO marry her. In The
meantime her mother had been away ana her
Ialher mad told her that snc was backsllder and
could never De one OF Tie elect. THIS worried the
poor child exceedingly, out sue made up ner mind
tnat Il wnat her Iather sad was true, and she
never doubted ms WORD. tnat there WAS no use IA
changing ner course tneu Herbert was good aud
KIND to her while ner Ia.ner was cross. On, Il the
mother had only been home.
Elsle consented TO HcrDerts proposition, and In
q week RON that time ~ was arranged tuat they
should 20 on and get quietly married, then lhey
would be forgiven and everything would 20 on
smoothly ana pleasantly. Herbert went down 10
Lundon 10 arrange ns plans, leeling very much
pleased with himself to think that ne was gong 10
10 20 vrtuous a tnlng as marry tue glrl. Wnhe
m town he told A Trend OF what be was about 10
a., and tue fellow laughed At him Tor ms SIM
plcity. Inc very tdea OF tying ones self
down 10 a girl ike that-tt was ridiculous.
i il mother had young lady 10 ner eve