The clarion., 1886-04-21
RICHARD GRANT WHITE.

/ Richard Grant White put his hand to
the plow in many fields of literature.
I and in all be showed the sturdiness that
/ denotes yeoman stock. But. apart from
| his special taste for music. the most of
his studies spranC from his love of Shak-
/, speare- In the case of his theatrical
and pathological writings this is obvious,
and in those which illustrate his attach
ment TO England il is fair TO ascribe no
/ inconsiderable part TO the fondness
which, however inyigorated and broad
ened by other traditions. was primarily
due to the great draunaiist of English
history and life. Essays upon words.
stage-usaccs, and matters OF music. OBJ
seryations upon our cousins ways and
customs and modes of speech, interna-
tonal satire, and squihs of all kinds and
lengths made up large part of his in
duStrlouS literary life; but. for all that
Shakespeare was his profession. and the
principal work of his hands was editori-
al. In some respects this choice of en-
ployment was felicitous. and fell in with
natural intellectual aptitudes. lie had
note-taking mind, and his memory
was retentiye Of details to an extraordi-
nary degrec-a quality invaluable 10 an
editor Of texts; aud in addition to this.
ms clear-he3dedneSS, his shrewd So
orleiy. his content with a plain and
honest-seeming meaning. and especially
MS contempt for the palaver of refining
analysts of the German stripe. stood him
IN such good stead that he holds an hon
orabie place among the students who
have made the critical studs Of Sha&-
speare part and parcel of the pride of
American scholarship
The substance of his attainments is to
DC found, of course, in the various es-
says, predatory either 10 the general
work or TO the individual PLAYS and
poems, which eonduce 50 much TO the
value of his version of Shakespeare in the
way Of expansion, criticism. and infor-
nation; and in these his views are SIT
forth with most modesty. suceinctness.
and moderation, and his knowledge is
deployed with most Swiftness and effect.
They form, however, only small por-
ton of his contributions 10 Shakspearo
literature very much uf his labor in his
chosen subject was off-haud work, and
must he sought in the magazines TO
which he devoted his less serious mo
ments. Such articles-and their num-
Der IS legion usually present some
single phase OF a Shakespeare theme;
and no matter how dry and formal the
topic in itself, he makes il entertaining.
For il is a distinction of Mr.. Whites
that he always interests. he has the secret
of pleasing. His stvle is wonderfully
firm and close-kuit; his facts are cold as
al iceberg and hard as flint; and he
strews the mental way of his readers
with the native nuggets of Yankee sense.
HIS individuality counts for more than
all. He was himself character. in the
special meaning of the word; one of those
impcnetrable pieces Of natures work
manship which are malleable by no ex-
ternal influence ofculture, society, or cir
Such persons cannot open
their lips without some self-exhibition;
their solitude is of the village
or of the study. they always speak from
within. and echo no man Mr.. White.
who VS. as tenac.ous OF hi, peculiari-
ties rs an En-lisnman. stamped them
upon his writings; and it is due 10 this
that when one reads his words it Is, TO
an unusual degree, rs if one heard him
speaking When 4 man of this sort has
the gift Of literary expression. he will be
4 readable author. whatever deficiencies
he may nave; and this Mr.. White was.
The literary form and charm of his
style, the haTdheadcdness of his mind
the practical sense he always displays.
make his work. within the limitations
which he himself assigned il. of great
positive utility; and the sturdin - with
which he stood for common sense. in op-
position to the eulogiStie gush with
which Shakespeare. in common with all
the greatest poets. is overwhelmed in
our times of Swinburnian rhetoric. is
to be very grateful for. He
had his pet notions. as who has not?
and he was a hard hitter-'Ict the gall
I'd jade vince. But he spent his life
With his fayorite author, and made of
him his liberal education; would that
he universities afforded so good one!
His labor was one of love, and It has
the value and respect of the best work a
man can do. being deficient only where
nature herself had denied faculty, IN
this case on the poetic side. He has
gone over TO the shelves Of the great
of acknowledged conmenta-
tors, beneath the Sua'tord bust, and
with him 90 the plaudits Of true lovers
of Shakespeare for such l'flong and
honest service 10 the god of our literary
idolatry. March Atlantic.