New-York tribune., 1878-07-10
GAIL HAMILTON AS CRITIC.
MISS PHELPss REVIEWER REVIEWED.

70 the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: One of our most distinguished literary
men said at lunch, yesterday Gail Hamilton Is an
awfully smart woman" and all must agree to this
brilliant, versatile genius shrewd sensible independent
for years she has wonder and admiration Hez
ekiah and have had many discussions about her, and
when speak Of the variety Of themes she has written
on he grOwls, Yes; in this last year the 'Nitrol
Vixen has dosed with yeay novel, as hard to get
through the snowbanks which provoked 1t; dozen
sashing political articles fierce and btteras penned
by disappointed politician, and an elegant religious
brochure Christ whom she thinks kindly Of she is
getting to be a common scOld and pokes her fingers
into every pie that's going. Pm tired OF her The Devil
she has not yet tackled but she would be match Tor
him"
Hezekah used TO like Gail as much as do, and we
have read together all books from her first fresh
essays on Country Life 20 her novel; all but
the Battle Of the Books" That 1 am not literary
enough to care for, and H. says, in his mean
way that cit was the acme egotism TO detail her
sQuabbles with publishers" Then he quoted Wapoles
verdict al think all literary controversies Ridiculous
impertinent and contemplate; don't know who the
publishers are, nor care" Now am proud Of such
clever woman who can understand business matters and
politics and men are willing to own ner power
and good many vince and smart under her blows
which doubt they deserve but Hezekah Is Just nor
ria about the whole matter. He admires Miss Phepss
writings and thought the review Of "Ayis was unmeI-
will believe IT, he has taken down the fifteen volumes of
Gail HamiltOns works from the library and gone
through them just to find flaws. He saws any one,
Judged in the way by taking words and sentences
from their proper connection TO be massed for satirca
critcismsgould appear disadvantage. Most Of all,
he nsuuaes Avis" and other novels reviewed by
Gall are alwavs "Out" Of circulating libraries, while
First Love Best" is unthUmbed and unsought But
that to me is proof that is better than the average
1t is only the trashy stories that are popular.
Hezekiah been busy something for two even
ings and this morning to me with dozen sheets
covered with quotations from my favOlie Gail who,
think is perfectly lovely and too cute for anything.
She had nght to review any novel that out and
how sweetly she spoke OF Miss Phelps If she had had
more time she would have said more nice things. l
haven't read Avis" TO take II 20 Mt Desert this
Summer and try to wade through it, but it must be
ridiculous, and how could such a brilliant woman heIp
laughing at it.
I'm going to give you HezeRiah's selections and re-
marks Just to show how prejUdiced and spitefu
man be when he gets started. took IL from his
desk and send it to you Ito get lid Of m and half hope
dear Miss Hamilton will ii, and show him how stu
pidly he is going If were a man Iwould as soon
throw myself under the wheels of old Roman chariot
with scythes at the side rushing toward its goal He
can't realize how her aim is. Why the only thing
that ever escaped her was a mouse at the
Vandal House, Albany. 1t will be a hard joke
for the poor dear but have learned from Gail not
to spare friend if he needs a setting down.
III give his notes as he took them wish was bright
enough to contradict his assertions and prove him in
the wrong; but give my favorte author chance
TO defend herself
Rrst, his opinion Of "First Love is Best"
Katharine Haviland (the heroine whom Gail
dearly lOves), contradictory unnatural unlnteresting
entered her mind EDeas and Macaulay her only flames
Got up at dawn to study, ate pickles by the jar de,
young moose spell 1t with 81, was alive and alert
Reviews, ali the cloudy German poetry Yet an ig,
nOramus-an ignoramus with power OF close ana con
tinued application enthusiasm foretters and science
Graduating had grand longings for seltsupportlng
career, saying: 90 expect there will be rush when
is not going to hobble along after man: I'm tired to
death OF loving now, and long for something 70 hate
father and EDeas. But Katharine falls deep in
love with the first young man who pays her
owns she was rejected by him; her hero buckram
character, lazy handsome and good for nothing II this
il she made again and again that her heart was
dead her life over; her happiness forever hedi Her
him. He died and left her penness; grand time to
try career to start SCHOOL, But she refused to go
way on living on in the old homestead, to be miraeu
ousy cared for to food and clothes, aud allows her
self be married and taken home To wealth and comfort
by noble man, whom she did not love, treating MN as
her host tor many months she thought, WIN pang
was married; that all her hopes and imaginings had
ended in this his wife, his WIFE his WIFE forever ana
future shut her IN against this blankwa Yet " " mas
yourself the benefit Of that doubt" is unusually
on the sin OF marrying for home good old
Dr Todd, who regards marriage womans true
sphere III there is any moral any lesson is that when
girl Tilted by the LOtharO OF her early dreams and
will support her At the end Of the duh story, waking
up to appreciate the long suffering husband Kate
"turUed upon Mr.. Glynn, and endangering his LIE
through impeded respiration, exclaimed, This THIS,
THIS is first love The triple repetition is frequent as
thought essential TO proper force no. no, no, nor
On Summers evening Kate wedged and wOrmed
her tOused little head in among his various coat col
lars" The clown disrObng he rides at the circus is
the only man who occurs to laborng under va
rety Of coatcoars 1t is said Of MEWalUer Labae the
fr and dawdler that sometimes seemed TO brush away
unshed tears from the depths OF divine despair
After the young moose had been reduced by fever,
tiny tea-set made her fall moaning with delight"
Her conversation was never entertaining. A few
sentences VIII prove that: "YOu just nice as
hsVa Tog WHat mean is that
now YOU knOw-fOr instance when talk talk all dis
%STm water" She is naeniccniy good She is so
diabolealy clever: Give her the knee-pan OF mans
character and she builds up the whole beast on it,
feel lonesome" Her husband who had a sort OF rich
face" made to say: Being stgmataed IN t thds cate
Grundy forbids slang IN women, but she makes up by
tpeaFs of "fuddidudde" 4" and fOpdawdle." The
novel has plot fine bits OF description no analysis
character, good dialogue but zeal OF stupid taB
/ remember Calls good advice, " II a volume is
written under a nom de plume don't NEEDLE with the
author confne your remarks to the book" viii 20 on
to the other fourteen where she has given her opinions
and preached her sermons and hurled her erathemas,
aud cOndescended to be peased ventilaDg her notions
$50 important for the world TO know Missionaries
and fancy farming. sunday-schoOs and wet nurses
politics and pedlars, drunkenness ana phoOgy mems
and shopping, how bring up children, how to manage
husbands etc. Her motto for holds good for
all, At IL again 70
AS traveller she is hard to please. Everything is
eOwy and ruminant in Quebec-few intellectual or ele-
Canooking men or women in Canada. There Is nothing
in Saratoga, Of Saratoga TO see hear or feel Eng
lsh integrity, English stanchness, English lorewhere
are theyi
In Part H. OF the review OF avis" she complains
that Miss Phelps has fallen in love with unusual
words" Glancing hurredly over her own writings,
And crcumocutional" concrete cap hality," "nebu