New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-27
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MEMOIR OF ANNIE KEARY: BY HER SISTER
Crown syo PIP. $50 Macmillan 20

MEMOIR OF ANNIE KEARY: BY HER SISTER
Crown svo. PIP. $50. Macmillan * 20 -,
This sketch of the author of "a Doubling Heart
castle DAILY" and other popular DOCKS Is IT,
esting, not at all for its Incidents, but as
thetic and vivid representation of most eneae'Ok
personality The narrative, strictly spe"Ains' -
very slight ones There is no other chanse u ~'
than such as presents itself in voyage on the Ni'e
and a hrief visit to the South OF frahcei IL
the subiect of the biography was often thrown in'o
The society of notable people, there lsiite trace vi
fhe 1ntercorrse here and the splritaal trlais anu
experences which the writer has to des ribe are po'
so remarkable in themselves nor so clear In 'her
lessons that the record of them can be regarded rs
of cspecial value Yet the book, as we have sald'
il interesiing. Miss Eliza Ksary writes In strain
Of strong sisterly affection, but generally wan
sinplicty and drectness which apt to he lacAihs
in snch family memorials: and she succeeds there
fore in making attractive to the OUTSIDE "or'u a
character. which, according TO all accounts. must
have xhbt red an irresistible charm ID the doiles-
4ic CIRCLE Warm hearted, unseltsh, and always
deenly concerned for Others Annie Keary found tue
satisfaction of her highest impulses III making people
happy. Even her literary work was never aiio"eu
TO interfere with this gentle mission; ana .noio
seems TO MS great significance In the iact nne"
TONED by her sister that although she ma
little facility in composition one maui
no claim OF provision for conditions such as "oui'
have enabled her to write more easily, ou' "''s"'
have caused inconvenience to the hOuseholu' ueNo
60 much as the taking OF room for heisei' oNe", -
the demanding of hours OF silence anywheto' 0"'
never dreamed of making her own purpose '"'
trolling power over any one else. On the oo"""'S,
she ussd TO settle herself work in the midst Oh al"
sorts If amenities. at the mothers bedside often
writing there dnrinx intervals of talk or she wouiu
take hsr Mace with her MS before her at the COM
mon table where every one else was reading, OF
working or even talking, as the case might De- III
was in her intercourse with children that she
showed the most remarkable qualities. All chioren
took to her Immediately. Her comprehension OIL
Child nature was almost an instinct ana her iacuy
of dsnlayine and developing its best side was in
fahble 1t was not Only her affectonate disposition
and her keen insight which gave her such influence
over the young she had also rare knack oil ADAPT
ing to childish very fertile and original mag
ipation. This gift of imagination was obvious
when she was a child herself; and perhaps the most
fascinating part of the memoir is that when ue
scribes the amusements of the Keary brothers and
sisters under the direction of Annie's exuDerant
fancy. creating for them mysteries and Iomances
which left creduhty in a state OF delightful douDt
Sometimes the children half persuaded themselves
of the reality of their own notions; ana there Is
very dro story of expedition they organized lor
the release of an imaginary nun whom they tancied
to be imprisoned under the floor OF ceriain pas
sage This adventure, the consequence Of reading
O urid tale of the excellent Mrs. Sterwoods, caused
some scandal IN the neghborhood Annie's visitors
went home too terrified TO sleep, ravlng about
priests and dungeons; and her father, quiet IN
valid clergyman. was in danger of passing LOT
bigoted mischief-maker. tribute TO her gil'
of fascinating children is quoted from memo
,;ol a,ticle in UaoniIlan's Afdgazine. by Stanley
Lane Poole. at is impossible" he wrote. to de-
scribe the peculiar charm of her storytelling the
quaint humor, the naive reasoning, the rich imagi'
nation. and the rare of bringing it all home
to child-nnnds, which only comes to those who love
children as Annie Keary loved them. To make
children happy was passion with her; how sue
cessfully gratiIied can bear witness"