New-York tribune., 1875-01-12

real features Of an unrvaled act utterly
washed away and all because this worthy man, with
al his desire James Lambert took the account
secondhand, instead OF going, like Jupiter CARLYLE to
saving Of the old woman aud what followed the bank
He says that the woman sank that Lambert uVed ana
% ana then ne ges Su be osrases
aduterated and more less bOoky and English there
was most precise on tha, pont' sr noated with her
head down, and he saId he that happen be-
the generaties correct the sentlmens are sound
aud in advance OF his time but the consequence OF
ana yet IN both instances he vtnIiy
each incident ana robbed II OF all its value by removing
its distinctive feature Item although scotehman he
has Angliczed the Dialogue, every syllable OF which
WIS far beyond any writer's power 10 improye And
this is how nearly all biography IL written.
Let me now explain the method pursued NY nara
tive consists OF two branches In the first am a wit
admissible to the witness box upon every
ment make. In the second, James Lambert Is such
witness, und am sort Of commissioner taxing evil
dence. crossexlmning and reporting faithfully As 60
me preliminary gossip and all the thlnss declare
upon the Gospels. As to the cream OF the narrative
thls was my method listened 10 no evidence Dut
LImberts. took his words down In "A sort II short
hand. and tested narrative by getting from him
tWce-OGce IN the house, and once by the Clyde at the
site Of each exploit. am 10y nature drudge, and take
rare pains TO yet at the truth watched james Lam
bert, and crOss-examlncd Lin, aud one occasion
applied a test winch might be called OH steal cross
examination OF course nobody noticed that passage
IL Is tue custom to skim my work and never u study
II. But III the readers OF " Seepticus" Will Oe
so obnGng as TO imaglue that am Dead and by that
stroke OF genius have become worth wing and then
hey VIII study that Passage. in which Tell now
Ie the pulse OF James Lambert he related the saving
OF the boy near the deadnouse, ant the insight OBJ
taned bY that novel means they Will see thar not only
nave singular pains been taken but also some caution
and sagacy appoj 10 learn the truth. But truth OF
biography lies not only the facts but the words To
secure TINS element or truth cOpiOus notes. and
as possess two humble hut useful gifts. attention and
appreciation, never let slip paragraph or line or
word. lOtted them all down swiftly and emhalned
them The number OF paragraphs, sentences. and lines
tnat are Lamberts TO a syllable Is remarkable This Is
written or else .et alone. Ii IA not written With
few welknOwn exceptions t never was 40 written;
and, therefore, 10 "SoeDcus" aud every other natten
tive reader OF my lines, this IS reply: Ny narrative
Is little piece or biography, narrow IN Its compass ana
not complete picture or human life but as TO it nde
y have no doubt IL IA aDOuL the ruest piece or OOg
raphy that exists In the whole Of letters an
cient modern.
As To tine hcuOns have written at proper times and
IN proper places, II has nothing in common wth them
except order and construction. II will disentangle
itself from that ridiculous association by mighty simple
process; It VIII Outlive Them hundred years. aud II 1t
should Outlve them thousand L shall not DO surprised
am, SIR, with many apologies fOr Catchpenny and SELF
your ObetieDt servant, CuARLEs READE.
KntOhtSbrtd0e, London, DEC. %, 1874