New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
CHARLOTTE BRONTE.

to Mrs Gaskclrs Life Of Charlotte Brontd," which,
in his opinion is drawn in too sombcr coorS, exhibit
inc the career of the gifted novelist rs of sad and
cherries character, which is not warranted by the
true version " her remarkable history There IS 10
doubt he suggests that the later years of Charlotte
Brontts life were cloudcd bv sorrow, and oppressed
by physical and mental anguish. Bat it is not cor
rect to suppose that throughout her whole life she
was the victim of the extreme depression of spirits
which Mrs. Gasken hes described with such
vivid emphasis The spirit of Charlotte Broni6
was not IN any degree a morbid or melancholy
one. or singular reserve with all save the members
a her own household, there one solitary friend
t. whom she chung with passionate affection, and 70
whom she always revealed the other SIDE of her
character the silver lights and joyous experiences
which remained necessarily hidden from the world
With this lifelong friend, Charlotte Brcnte from
her schOol-lays down to the time of her last SICK
ness kept up the closest aud most confidential inter
course. She addressed hundreds Of letters to her,
which are full Of Characteristic touches. These let
tiers furnish the chief part Of the material for the
present volume They were addressed to Miss Ellen
Nusser. with whom Charlotte BrontG formed the
acquaintance and friendship at school which contin-
ued until her death. The record extends over five
and-twcnty years and far Miss BrontG's history
as a woman. and the history of her family are
cerned is complete for the whole OF that period.
The father of Charlotte BrontG a specimen Of
wavward and eccentric humanity Of which few eX-
anples are found in the smooth monotOnOus routine
OF modern social life. His peculiariues have been
made known to q certain exteut in Mrs. GaskolFs
biography hut their full measure has ueyfr yet
been revealed to the world He was an IIshman by
birth and one OF "a large family, all of whom were
noted for their +yscal strength and personal
beauty. While still a young man, he settled rs
clergymanin Yorkshire where he remained 10 the end
of his DAYS He was certainly a strange compound of
good and evil. lie had kindly feelings towards most
people, and delighted in the stern rectitude which
distinguished many of his Yorkshire flock. When
his daughter became famous no one was more
pleased at the circumstance than he He cut out
every scrap from the newspapers that referred 10 her.
he was proudof her intellect and jealous for her rcpu
taton. But throughout his whole life he had 10 real
sympathy witt any one bat himself Passionate vain,
and selfvillcd he ccdand distant in his demean
or towards his own household. lie scrupuously
polite TO strangers was Carrulous about his past life,
and needed only glass of wine to become talkatiyc
or the subject of his early conquests.
As YOU listened 10 the qnaiuy-attired old man who
chaticd on with ine1ha'sIb'c Yoinphtv, You possiy
HctVod the idea that lac fIihD.e. gay po-
ceited, har.ocss; but at odd times searching glance
from The keen dceunk eyes warned you that you also
being weighed ia The balance by your companion,
from revealing the real man 10 YOU Only those who
dwell und r the sllne roof know him as he really vas
Among The many stoFe, told C hln by his children there
lis Mic ana Who's lot IL was to submit TO persistent
cOldnes aad neglect. Somebody bad given Mis-. BrOnte
very pretty dress. and cr husband who was rs proud
az he was lfwllcd. nad at the gift.
word 10 Lis wife, who lived in hstua dread OF her
lOrdy master would have secured all he wanted; but IN
the obnoxious garment, De deliberately cut IT to pieces
and presented her with Tic iattered iragnents Even
his meals alone; he constantly carried loaded pistols I'm
ms Ioeke aa wien eNeiiea e "2o n,e nee at rIe
doors 81 tAc ou'uss 50 iii thS NlL"Bfts were quIte
90 the sound OF pisiOs0ts no any hour "
supose t,at violence of the weapons 10 which
Mr. Bontc Hahtudy resorted. However stern and per
lett him spend tucremamder of his life in drcary Wild
owhool his general policy was 10 secure ms end 10y craft
rather than b fcice. profound belief his own spe
and ne fc convinced mat no one was too clever TO be
outwi,icd By ms diplomacy. lie hal also an amazing
which he 6.I embarked with dorged determination Il
happened n later years, when his strength was falling
and when az Last ho began TO see his daughter il her |
character OF onc Of their friends The daughter always
dutN ana itSptcuu FOUND o'al any eh"I' 20 Seln tiS
torrent ~ hs bitter a. unjust "iath Nhen nc SPOKE OF
the friend who bad offended him, attended by conse
bis forehead ,wccd his eyes arcd his voice shook and
she was submit lest her fathers passion sdould
10y hs violence and injustice. she withdrew for few
DAYS from home, and told cr father that she would
receive no letters from him which this friends name
n,s1n H ioe los aud aiccjionac letter. to her on
htte SIP q, PAPER "icl procssed 70 be note from
loved mistress which the dog. declaring that lac
'a good dca. OF human nature that hid from those
who bad the gift OF language was made to repeat me
attacks upon tie obnoxious person which Mr. BrOute
dared no longer make IN his own character.
The period between 1882 and 1885 may be re-
garded as among the happicSt years of the little
parsonage household at the llawarh The young peo
pie were accustomed TO Their fathers coldneSs and &C.
centricity. Peculiar and shy they were both in
their modes Of life and their modes of thought, they
enjoyed a home-born, healthy happiness, that gave
promise of peaceful lives for the future Some
pretending literary efforts frightened their hopes at
this time. III 1888, when Charlotte in her
nineteenth year, her personal appearance by no
means unattactive Though she had no pretenslons
10 beauty her eyes. hair and massive forehead Were
redeeming featurcs. year two after. during her
first engagement rs governess, she had offer of
marriage concerning which she writes character
istic letter 10 her faithful correspondent:
You AK me whether / have received letter from
T | have about "a week since. The contents ] con
feSs did little surprise me- but kept them to myself,
and had questioned me ON the subject would
never have sdyercd IL. T. he il comfortably
settled at - and that ms health il much improved lie
then tmates that d. due time he Will want wife, and
frankly % DC thai wife Altogether the letter Is
written without cant 1attery and In c5uinon-sense
stve which does credit 70 his judgment Now there
i'm ms proposal some thgs that mi-t have proved
sfrong tcmpation thought ii I were to Iaarfv 50 -
could live with me, and how happy SHOULD be- But
again asked myself Two questions; DO love = az
much as "A women ought 10 love her husDandt Am the
pelSon Dest Ne. o y IN bnt ,jaliaf ' ou. 60 s ny
leaning towards lin, because Ire is aIniabe well.
disposed man, yet lad not aud never could have that
for hn-aud ever marry II must be IN that light or
alteration that VIII regard my husband Ten 10 one
over was aware be knew 30 uic OF Lie be could hard
Iy he conscious 20 whom he writing Why, II would
startle him 10 me in NY uaui. home Character lie
would ,liuk Iwas Wild romantic enthusiast indeed i
could all day long making grave lace before my