Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-06
STORIES ABOUT AUTHORS.
The Funny Case Of Elia-Adverse Critics
Tricked.
From the GLASGOW Herald.

From the Glasgow Herald
1t Is, perhaps, not bi. curious that stories
about authors should repeat themselves. Cole
ridge, for instance, who was a great talker,
often lost himself in misty monologue. The
funny case Of Ella will be remembered.
Coleridge, meeting Lamb one day, took him
BY the button, shut his eyes and opened the
oracles. The essayist listened patiently for
awhile; but, at length, getting tired, cut Of
the button, and left Coleridge holding il and
talking, which he continued to do for a full
hour by the neighboring clock. An analogous
story mas Just been reported of Mr.. Swinburne,
the poet. We are told. to begin with. that. like
Wordsworth, Mr.. Swinburne is, or was. fond
OF readlng his own poetry aloud. In his earlier
London days he one evening invited his
tnree friends kosetti, Meredith and Morris,
q the Earthly Paradise" to come and hear
him read Early in the evening the reading
began. and went steadily onward. He be-
came absorbed in his pleasant task. but about
midnight his friends, becoming weary. slipped
one after another away. At O'Clock in the
morning the poet was still heard reading. This
Is the Coleridge-Lamb story with slight yaria-
ton. In the one case it may have had basis
OF fact; In the latter il is rather improbable.
What matter? 1t serves the purpose of the
teller, who no doubt thought he was giving a
good illustration OF poetic vanity. One form
have tricked their adverse critics.
Two modern illustrations NAV be given. the
latter of which has just been revived. When
William Black was coming to the front there
was one notable weekly which had little faith
in him, and persistently knocked him under.
At last it so happened that Mr.. Black. who
has always had power of belief in himself.
published anonymously the first edition of
one of his best novels. Whether meant or
not, this was completely successful as trap.
His adverse critic was caught. He reviewed
the book in the most handsome style. effu-
sively describing it as a masterpiece. When
the second edition came out, the authors
name was on the title page. 1t was great fun.
and no doubt the reviewer himself enjoyed
his own capture, for whether right or
wrong on former occasions, he was this
time altogether right The analogous story
has Robert Buchanan for a hero. He also had
many bitter critics. That was no surprise to
those who knew how admirably he could play
the literary hedgehog. He made himself a
globe fspines and rolled around the literary
heavens, drawing blood from the most sacred
feet. Some of the lesser deities howled. but
the greater tenants of Olympus maintained a
magnificent silence. Mr.. Buchanan, however,
believed in his own star, and foresaw a time
when his very enemies, If he really had any,
would be compelled to dance to his piping.
The story now told refers to an American
critic, but it was true of some of his Brit
ish reviewers. The Drama of Kings" which
is rather mixed lot. was published with
Mr.. Buchanan's name prefixed Rightly
enough it did not escape a rough handling.
Some time afterward st Abe and His Seven
Wives" appeared. followed in due course by
white Rose and Red" both American
themes. Both poems are good. especially the
former. They were published without a
name, and received very high praise all
round. 1t CHANGED, SO the modern version of
the story goes, that one of Buchanan's bitter
est American critics reviewed the two Ameri-
can poems and the Drama of Kings" in the
same batch. The former he praised sky high;
the latter he kicked and cursed The author
of the drama was, in fact. told he was no poet,
and was certainly incapable of rising to the
level of the unknown bard. BY and by il came
ont that Buchanan was the author of all three
works, the publication of which fact gave the
poet a sweet revenge.