The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-06-18

CHARLOTTE BRovrK Monograph. BY 7. wemyss
Reid Win Illustrations. New York: Scribner,
Armstrong 4 Co.
the romantic interest hangs around the life OF
Charlotte Brouts, and any writer who attempts to
throw light upon lis dark pages VIII find AN eager
audience. Prom Mr.. Reds preface we are led TO ex
poet that he has quantity OF material 10 lay be-
lore about this remarkable woman, but IN reading
his book find little that has not been better told by
Mrs. GaskelL There number OF letters which
Gid appear in Mrs Gaskelrs life, but twenty OF
shese wore published some 1--WE six years ago In
Hours at Home magazine out OF which Snttners
Nonthiy has grown. We think IL would have been bet
had Mr. Reid let his book speak for itself and lett
his readers decide wherein he has improved upon
Mrs. GasKell. Rather than that, he invites compar-
every page, and boldly insInuates that svo
contains the most important information. He
gives several Instances bits that Mrs.
Gaskell omitted from Miss Bronte's letters,
and in emitting which think She did
wisely. Mr.. Reid does not think that Charlottc's
early life was as dark and dismal ms Mrs. Gaskc
pants H. but he proves nothing TO the contrary in his
story. There DO no doubt but that the
Bronte children little childhood. They never
passed through the happiness OF the rag-do age.
Politics and poetry the themes OF their CONVERSE
lion; they discussed the Duke OF Wellington, Leigh
Hunt and Walter Scott when they should have pratt
tied OF mud pics Mrs. Gaskcil has mado the life at
the Yorkshire parsonage as real TO us MS II wo had
lived in 1t. We have roamcd among the tombsones
and the old churchyard with Charlotte; VIC have wan
dercd through the heather by her sidc and hand.in-
hand have penetrated the awful mystery of the old
church ITSELF The whole village OF Haworth lies like
a panorama before eyes, ana the people by whom
Charlotte ounded are very familiar to us. We
have so burned with indignation at tho crueltes old
Bronic inflicted upon his children that fingers have
lana satza him nv agnora N ueck
and shake little mercy into his Inhuman
heart We can forgive him for cutting his
wie's pretty gown into fine pieces for burning his
childrcn's innocent shoes. Mrs. Gaskell spoke very
severely OF his codness and brutality, but she wrote
under the restraint Of his living presence. Mr.. Reid
has no such embarrassment and he writes him down
in all his narrow mndedness and cruelty. Patrick
Bronte was Irisbman by birth and his real name
was Pounty, but he changed 1t at the request OF his
patron, Mr. righe, for the moro euphonious aprea-
tion BY which his family is known to the world. Tho
most of Mr.. Reid's material was furnished him by
Miss Ellen Nussey, the "dear f." to whom many
OF Charlotte's letters addressed A ardent
mud lasting friendship existed between Miss Nussey
and Miss Brono which only ended In tho death OF the
latter. Miss Nussey apparently was never particu-
larry brilliant woman, and now is rather ordinary
person passed middle life. Sho WILL however, go
down TO posterty as the friend Of one OF
The most remarkable women in literature.
MISS wooer, of the Roe Head School. SIN
lives at the age OF eghty.three has
objection OF her famous pupil as though she had only
just left her. Tho charm OF Mr.. Rcd's monograph is
the enthusiasm and he displays for its SUBJ
ject Charlotte Bronte is not person 70 discuss
would Buwer or Sir Walter Scott. There is veil
of suffering, of mystery, her life that mono but
rever-nt hands should attempt to remove. That 1t
will be entirely removed We doubt, and we
not but that wo prefer It as It H. II suits our
idea OF the woman. We could be bail fellow
with the author oil "Jane Eyre and although every
line concerning her OF the most intense interest
still tho mystery surrounding parts Of her life adds to
its romance and gives her a peculiar claim upon
sympathies and separates her from anything of tho
commonplace. Tho present volume necessary to
tho library OF every admrer Of the great and original
ecnus of whom It is written, and while docs not add
to knowledge OF her personality 1t paints loving
portrait A capital facsimile OF OF MISS Bronte's
letters and several illustrations accompany the book