The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-04-22
So,a1 NEW sOoxA
Isus DsiisAsr.i nsesslsssssas


In the Retrospect Of a Long Life Apple
tons) the well-known English man OF letters.
Mr.. 8. @. HALL. has given us. not diary or
compilation OF secondhand materials. but
genuine rsminiscences OF men and events that
he hes personally seen In the course OF an
acfive professional career that covers moro
than sixty years. Mr.. Hall had great deal OF
Interesting Information 10 communicate. and
his long practice In the art OF arrangement aud
exposition has enabled him to use his matter
TO the best advantage. He has made an OK
ceedingly entertaining book. that deserves a
place OF honor among the volumes OF reminis-
csncss that have OF late been issued with such
profusion from the American press.
The range Of topics discussed and the num-
bsr OF portraits drawn by the writer are 20
great that We can convey by quotation only an
iBklins Of the enjoyment which tho reader will
derive from his teemng pages. It is not OF
course. to be expected that we should agree
with Mr.. Halls estimate Of this or that pnrticu-
lar statesman or man OF letters. Indeed. the
book would have been no worse II tho author
had vigorously eschewed anything like historic
cal or literary criticism. His patronizing air
toward certain writer's who were. in their day
and are still. much more distinguished than
himself Is not little amusing. and
the censure which he sees ft to visit on
some great names has in 1t a dash Of i'm
pertinence. But Mr.. Vail has been book re-
viewer al MS Nie. anu We SUPPOSE .h"' 'ao
naon Oh prohounci"s !u'shoh' oouo ho' po
hinoereo from in.fuuhs oven "ne'e IL 10 ou'
OF p,"ce. wou'u oe uhsr"c'ous' no"eso'' W
owei WIN 'nuch e"phas's y" '"e supef"aou'
injection OF personal OPINION. nor neeo we
touch ON some trivial Diem'shes OF syie' 'he
Iesui.' no oonp'' vi nas'e Ill ','e preparation y.
10 lorO ha MI n
.his largo Volune. ino pIoiesseu ruiposo y.
the oooK' tha' OF setihs ior'h muI''Iuue ..
instructive "no str'Nink ,"c's 10 'no uu'" VI
"h'ch inc writer can tes',y as an e'e a an cur
witness 49, as We nave su'u happhy lun'ie.
we cannot iorpe"l m"kn. rev ,Anuon
oAt."e.s rom 'ne e""p .. VIZ" " ,""yo.s
anu literary peop'e. M.nousn we sh"n mus
s.So '"e re"uo' vo,y iu"ueaua'o eunoor''on
Oh .ns s'oro VI nnoouo'e'. 'n"ny vi uom now
anu al "o,tn tonins, "n,sh ORC note oohoc'eu'
apcopos ., 'esai e.nlo'' m,' MAJ, rea'Ss .na'
o's'insuisheu in"ier 'o,e n,n 'n"' no hau sa,u
W n,' ,',o,' a"Du' op' 'iiou ~. nuiue.' ~,
oseoh',"' t,'''' enou'u An"" 'ae fu.h III 'hl9
oase pu' .ai nav NJ oonioss'on nyou M
yours into your PICKETT The u accused s did the the
latter. He was defended and acquitted. The
author also know well. he says. barrister
that defended client he knew to he
guilty. and who was to be tried with
another man he knew to be innocent. Tho law
yer succeeded 30 Ill TINT both were convicted.
Horrined ut what had happened. he commu-
nlcated. after sentence the whole OF the cir
cumstances to the Judge. and prevailed 80 far
that, although the actual culprit was hanged.
the sentence OF the other was committed to
transportation for life" Arropos OF the
same topic Mr.. Hall tells the following story:
few years ago was playing chess with one
OF the most estimabe and upright men have
ever known-a late Master Of the Rolls in Ire
land: he was playing badly. and told him 30.
Yes. he said. am anxious for messenger
who is to bring me the verdict OF jury le'.
celebrating. expect shall get verdict. al
though l am pretty certain my clicnt
perjured himself could not help exclaim-
Ing. Is it possible you can wish for verdict in
favor OF person who has been guilty Of per-
jury 2 Yes he answered. such is profess
sional esprit" Touching the danger OF trying
to prove too much. Mr.. Hall recalls q case tried
at the Old Bailey. 1t seems that prisoner was
indicted for stealing some goslings from q
farmyard. little girl swore they Wepe her
nnofherH, goslipgs. Now. as goslings are al
~. uen MiAe, II .ie counsel mao ieH tne evidence
~. ,'S ~. .,'on' "ouiu nave reen saie enough:
$500 us e a'u nv no pfV9Seu Nc. 70 answer the
r S,n.ha.,. nHM que y" INV hey weIo nor
IT., -. .-, "ryr
- Oh. "neM,reu' well BIZ you see
w.. w" .ne kos''hss were prouent pacK.
~, "o sos. Tau W .he suShnes. anu the sos-
a "t w uv sooso. Ine Jury al once &C.
~ ~" s1S''noh' VI n".u'e, anu eohvioted
nv, ".u -! way Vi illustrating the
on statutes whereby: up 10 1874. not less
~, 50 '."''n ~ero "'"oe capita! crimes IN
-. VA, nHl lecounts the narrowing
" ono may 'ohss eohv'c,ea IN loie OF
80. s,,,,,,, o"1 oo''oh o'o'h va,ueu al
81 y, mn mary JONES VIC arc Io'd. was
~ t,N,..n m". NJ, husband. an artisan.
49,. w.. -. oeen 9n''oi. anu Us inc uo'ern-
,...a. w. ~ "an. Vi 'ea'heh a' inc ume. ne
''.ss. 'eou v. rfe's gang anu seht 10 sea. HIS
,,,,,' "v .as VI unD'oniishea character. mace
go. -. ..,."n' nv 'ne pfcas.' Inc Journey on
49, =, on w. w hnu. poss,pie' nor husband
..N... nv. suIeoSStul. a ,e1ative Wnom sne
.na: s'u.u GNo NOR 'hei'er. ehe was as
sSrH'"u IN oo.n nopes. ana aher wan
~ Hpout INC rtree" ior some Gays
a." a'v wing sonu'l'oh she. uriven 70 deepera-
mn, M pu.Io'nou io'h shop inc piece OF cioth
ho Wy Was Thiseu unu tN6 master OF the shop