Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-01-24
IVAN TURGENIEFF.
Some Descriptive Words of Ono Novel;
isl About Another.

1t is always pleasant to read what
one novelist says of another. and the
paper ON Ivan Turgcnieii, the Russian
writer, by Henry James. in the Janu-
airy atlantic, is full of interest. He
thus describes the personal appearance
of Turgeniefl:
He was with everything that was
said, and the simplicity, naturalness.
bonhomie, of his talk made il as charm
ing as it was Just. His contribution to
every discussion always touched the
essential part OF it.
did not intend TO 90 into these de-
tails Immediately, Tor had only begun
to say what an impression of magniii-
cent manhood he made upon me when
first knew him. That impression, in
deed, always remained with me, even
after it had been brought home to me
how much there was in him of the
quality of genius. He was beautiful
intellect, of course, but above all he
was 4 delightful, mild, masculine
figure, Tho combination of his deep,
soft, lovable spirit, in which one felt
all the tender part of genius, with his
immense, fair Russian physique was
one of the most attractive things | have
known. He had frame which would
have made it perfectly lawful, and
even becoming, for him TO be brutal;
but there was not grain of brutality
in his composition. He had always
been
PASSIONATE SPORTSMAN.
To wander in the woods or the steppes
with his dog and gun was the pleas
ure of his heart. Late in life he con-
tinued TO shoot, and he had friend in
Cambridgeshire for the sake of whose
partridgeS, which were famous, he used
sometimes to cross the channel 1t
would have been impossible to imagine
better representation of a nimrod Of
the north He was exceedingly tall,
and broad and robust in proportion.
His head was one Of the finest, and
though the lines OF his features were
irregular there was great deal of
beauty in his face. 1t was eminently
of the Russian type-almost everything
in it was wide. His expression had a
singular sweetness, with touch of
Slav languor, and his eye, the kindest
of eyes, was deep and melancholy. His
hair, abundant and straight. was as
white as silver; and his beard, which
he wore trimmed quite short. was OF
the color of his hair. Ia his tail per-
son, which was very striking wherever
it appeared, there was an air OF neg
lected strength, as ii it had been a part
of his modeSty never TO remind himself
that he was strong He used some
times to blush like boy OF l6. He
had very few forms and ceremonies
and almost as
LITTLE MANNERS
as was possible to a man OF his natural
preStance. His noble appearance was
in itself manner; but whatever he
did he did very simply and he had not
the slightest pretension OF not being
subject to rcctiiication. | never saw
any one receive it with less irritation
Friendly, candid, unaftectedly benig-
nant, the impression that he produced
most strongly and most generally was,
/ think, simply that OF goodness.
As on the part of other Russians whom
| have known, there was something
almost Asiastic in
MS FACULTY OF MISREPRESENTATION.
But even ii ono suffered from it a Ii tie,
one thought OF it with kindness, rs 4
part of his general mildne,s and want
Of rigidity. He went 10 Russia, at any
.ate, ut intervals not unfrequent, and
ne spoke of these visits rs his best time
for production. He had an estate tar
in the interior and here, amid the still
ness Of the country andthe scenes and
figures which gave such charm to the
Memoirs of a Sportsman, he drove
his pen without interruption.
1t is not out of place to altude to the
fact that he possessed considerable
fortunes for such nm accident in the
life of a man OF letters has the highest
Importance. Ii has been of great value
10 TulGenefl, and | think that much of
the fine quality OF his work is owing TO
IL.