St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-01-24
MRS. HODG>ON BURNETT.

HOlr She Lires In Her Pretty Home at
UTShiHgf0n.
In this interval of publishing which Mrs.
Burnett has allowed herself it is To be hoped
she has learned a lesson---t1at is, that in her
last book she departed from her native heath,
and found herself in u strange and uunatur-
al land. Among all the masters OF dialect
aud strange painting which we
have she has been one of the strongest and
best, and it is only in the hands of a master
that dialect is effective.
This can easily be appreciated and recog-
nized if one remem bers that splendid novel,
That Lass O. Low rie's," AMI her touch
ing and beautiful little story of
louisiana In this sort of ,characteriza-
ton of people who have been developed in
some far locality where habits and customs
have modelled character into something sim
pie and original she works in perfectly I'M
affected aud thoroughly artistic manner
This is far different when she essays to
paint the complex vapidities and insinceri-
ties of modern social life. In the effort to be
strong she is affected, and the whole manner
of work is so Fictitious and artificial that the
soul is weary, and one longs for Lancashire
or South Carolina once more. Mrs. Brunette
herself has certain eccentrlcities almost to be
called falings which are seen in this later
stvle of work. She is of English blood, al
though born in this country, and has all the
uncon seriousness of that downright race. For
instance she poses so pal pably that one is al
most compelled to smile and try to imagine
how woman that can bring into existence
as splendid and simple, and strong Il crea-
tu-e as Joan could be guilty of posing against
a portiere and calling her unfortunate and
unruly boys Lionel and Vivian, while she in
forms everyone with pleasing naiyete that
they are said to look like the Princes in the
tower, She lives in Washington, has her
own little circle of indIscrimi ate adorers,
who seem 10 possess as the bond which
mites them in this circle the one fact that
they adore her This is pity, for she might
| have better things. And to be more explicit
when we note the fact that when Henry
James came to Washington he $pever met
Mrs. Burnett in her widely swinging orbit, 1t
| becomes apparent that ''pity tits its true. /"
| She lives in little house on a side street,
and is at home Informally Tuesday evenings.
| It is a single house with drawing rooms aud
| dining room on the first floor, bedrooms on
the second, and on the third big writing
room she calls her den.
| The house is full Of etchings and odd bits
of sketches in pretty, careless arrange
ment, piano, where the Arbuthnot Of her
Washington story sings to her blue eyes,
while she stands poised against the door-a
pleasant and effective figure in yellow
| gown of old-fashioned cut, holding apeacock
| fan against her lips as she bends her head
! and listens. She Is little under the nedi-
um hight, and of a pleasing plumpuess, has
! a rather large and clever head, intensely
keen blue ewes, which she opens little too
widely and nervously in talking, rather
sharply cut features, and a mop of yellow
hair. Dr. Burnett is quiet gentleman,
who is quite a successful occulist, and has a
| hobby for etchings, and their two boys are
very nearly of a size, biz, handsome urchins
with yellow hair which she curls in papers
overnight, and which falls very prettily, II
not quite naturally over their little slashed
velvet costumes. These picturesque children
she gathers about her skirts in pretty little
way which is somewhat maternal and wholly
effective, II IA little affected. Bertha In "OnC
Administration, ~ who is very clearly herself
In many WAYS, SAYS: II have always con-
graduated myself that my children were be-
coming to me-" This is certainly move
way Of considering one's offspring, ant
b doubtless Mrs. Burnett's kindness TO them
is as elaborate and original as her very ex
traordnarv and artistic treatment of them
as accessories l. is said that one of he
early ltores called Dolly is a history o
her earv life. her family. and her own love
affair aud marriage. II Is the old and pa
thetic story Of young love fettered by tue
worldly lack Of money, its delays and tina
fulGllment. The simple and telling natural
ness Of this early tale as we'll as the easily
recognizable outlines Of herself and her hus
band, lead one 10 believe that this Is rea
life aud her own story, keenly aud person
ally felt.
Her stories have had quite large Euglis
, sale. Her Fair Barbarian WAS au i'm
mense hit, and when it came out one coul
hear Il called out by the train boys in all Ia
q provinces aud dialects of England. Wit
p the one sad aud notable exception OF be
/ last book, with which she has left rs, be
T. work is all doue with a clear aud vigorou
c touch. There is no hopeless comp exity o
b characters. such AS all but Dickens, {
q Thackery. or George Eliot fail in handlin
e firmly. Her people are lfe-sizsd tgures
boldly painted on a biz canvas, and she ha
!. splendid use OF both action and contras. /
]
a another successful novelist Of taking som
a character from primitive life aud utro1uc
ing them into an utterly contrasting envi
+, ronmeut wnile vet tney are young aud irr'
r pressible, aud then letting the reader 81
e how they behave This is an analytic az
but Il presents very interesting speetacl
e under whatever conditions. Her poetry, q
s which she has published out little. IS yer
, sincere aud SWEET, almost her best au
- clearrst note. II is very sympathetic. 4
> most pathetic, bringing the thought that
I was done for loves sJke, some dag while n
9 thoughts in her gentle, wOmanly heart we
2, deepest and most unframed. aud the thoug
a ~ the magazines next months instAlm "a
l. OF her story had been for the nOnee fore
5. ten, Her piay-writiug has heen successfr
d and her only mistake seems 70 have been
Welding TO this literary vogue Of an analys
u which approaches vivisectiOn, Certainly
At cruel process. for in it sill healthy action
q brain aud heart dies. 10 the modern noE
5. there is no plot, 10 stirring life. no emOt.oE
- no herpism. no heroes We fam would II
ID tnrn 10 Tnaddeus Of Warsaw, aud Arsbel
"a in tears. but rather we want more suSh ere
lures as Mrs. Burnet;'s splendid Joan, "
'e saves mau With her strong Young arms, Al
re would die for her love II need b.. We DO
she will give Us smother such.--Er-saags-
% story Of SgHirrsis.
Tue Evan ,slist
~