Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-06-02
!" THE LITTLE CLASSICS"
WHITTIER'S PRAISE OF MISS
EDNA PROCTOR.
Helen Hendricks Roddy's Ro-
nance Rooster Johnson's
Works-Etc.

THE following paper is made timely by
the recent visit 10 Sacramento of Rossiter
Johnson and his wife Helen Kendrick),
distinguished in the literary world. 1t is
from the columns of the Albany EUeEiHg
Journal, having appeared in that paper
several years ago in its New York cor
respondence. Its author is writer
whose frequent contributions TO the
RECORD UNION have familarized our read.
ers with his papers and his clear and
forcible style of criticism.-EDs. UNION
My notes of Miss Proctor, which found a
place in many papers throughout the coun-
try, were simply valuable, if at all, as be-
ing the only sketch of the literary career of
that gifted woman ever previously pab-
lished. The very brief tribute l was en-
abled TO passingly pay her splendid per
sonal characteristics brought me a large
number of hearty responses from those
who had known her in the various rels-
tons of life, all attesting with singular
unanimity to her unobtrusiveness and
sweetly-tempered ways. From New En-
gland two unexpected recognitions of that
letter are now lying before me on NV
table both of which may count on being
treasured and cherished all through life
with very grateful and pleasurable emo
tons. One is in the form Of q letter from
Whittier-the Quaker poet who, it is said,
has known the poeteSs from her tiniesI
girlhood days, and has followed her sue
cessfal career all through with reverent
and loving solicitude. 1t needs no syllable
of explanation, although in publishing it
oil HlNFN 10 ,,-ls ,f
sonal compliment it contains
AsIESBUEY, 10, 81 mo.
My DEAR FRIEND: I have received and read
with great pleasure thy well written and gen
erouS tribute TO the genius and worth of our
dear friend Edna Proctor. II is fully deserved.
Why such pure, true and noble woman should
be called TO suffer as she has been is To me 81
mystery. But the sore trial am sure convinced
her that the love and faith of her friends have
never wavered for Il moment. l thank thee for
sending me the paper, and am very truly thy
friend, JOHN G. MHIUUER
The other was embodied in a cordial
word of praise from Osgood the genial
Boston publisher, accompanied with
unique little bundle, in which upon OPEN
ing found to be The Little Classics, =" a
series of superbly bound books, of which
eight have been published and four more
are yet to follow. | had become familiar
with them in occasionally picking one up
in stray places, and in common with thou
sands had admired them for their compact
form and the taste and rare genius with
which they have been edited. Let me take
you to a pleasant house in Ninth street, a
few doors west of Broadway, and in well.
appointed apartments, with q great profu-
sion of books, all orderly Shelved, we shall
find RossiteT johnson, their editor, New
York State man all through, although for
three or four years the editor of the Con-
cord Statesman, and his gifted little wife,
the daughter of the eminent Greek Pro-
lessor. DR.. Kendrick A word OF her first.
A half merry, half pathetic story, "Roddy's
Romance" published a short time since
by Putnam and written by Helen
kendrick Johnson, is the talk of
every boy and girl in the town,
and has been praised and read and sold
among that class who used to throw up
their caps and bonnets for Miss Alcotts
" Little Women" She seems at first
simply good and amiable, but no sooner
did we strike living subjects than her eye
flashed fire and her tongue warbled out
strains equal to the brightest and the mer-
riest. When tell you that no compilation
of the kind or of any kind has perhaps
equalled in this country the success of
these Little Classics" you will deem me
justified in runningly chatting of their his
tory and their collator. To say he is a
graduate of Rochester University is to say
almost of course he is scholar
l know of no institution of learning
which is turning out stronger men to-day
than Professor Anderson's. Wherever you
meet them they impress you both for
vigor and solidity. By a single stroke
of familiarity with popular apprecia-
ton Johnson has sprung into a rep
utation as general and almost as
substantial as though he had written some
great work. The logic of his plan and the
way he is proceeding to carry it out are
themes of animated discussion in literary
circles, producing IN some quarters APPROX
ing and in others fierce and belligerent
comment. He, as associate, and Robert
Carter, as chief (who wrote so well "a
Summer Cruise on the Coast of New Eng
land }, for three or four years ran the edit
orial part of the Rochester Democrat, and
need | say while they were with it made it
strong in al its parts. From his New
Hampshire labors he came TO New York
to become one of the editors of the Anleri
can Cyclopedtd, and is perhaps the most in
dustrlous man on that-since its revision
almost perfect work. His field is largely
editorial, though many of the best articles
are written by him, among others Horace
Greeley, U. S. Grant, Andrew Johnson,
Charles Dickens and Abraham Lincoln,
which last includes history of his Admin
istratiOn, which, as a piece of condensa-
ton, is perfect piece of work. His occa-
sional poems and sketches in ApDLetOnS
Journal, 50. Nicholas. and other magazines
have attracted wide attention for their del
icate finish and quiet humor. But the
work which is to give him his highest
standing and most permanent fame-on
which he is outstanding all his resources
and concentrating his best endeayors-
is an edition of the British Poets from
Chaucer to Morris, with biographical and
critical sketches, to be issued in three SVo
volumes. He is now far in the third vol
ume, all three of which will be published
simultaneously early in the autumn. The
whole of the immense labor he has done
entirely unassisted. The selections will be
without exception entire poems-neyer
extracts. 1t requires no gift of prophecy
for those who have examined selections of
his work to anticipate that even among
scholars it will outrank in time the AL
dine" as well as Professor Child's volumin-
Gus work, both because it will be easier for
handling and reference, and, rs its title in
dictates, it will be brought down to the
present day.
Mr.. Johnson is still young man, with
out any pretension, the paragon of pains
takers, aftable IN his manners though ter
ribly undemonstrative, and an admirable
illustrator of how to labor and to wait"
He was always fond of short stories, short
sketches, of everything short, provided it
was good, in preference to the greatest
works of genius drawn out to the accus-
toned interminable lengths. He had got
together number of little pamphlets like
"Rab and His Friends, "a Man Without
Country" etc. and having them bound
the question arose what the volume should
be called. The title did not come easy, but
after some days thinking, he told the
binder to label the back simply The Lit
lie Classics" 1t made pretty book, was
convenient, everybody picked il up, and in
time the thought occurred to him, what
pleased circle of friends might give salts
faction to the whole reading world. He
sounded the great publishing firm in Bos-
| ton; they applauded, and in few weeks
he had his happy plan full under way
Right here let me say the stories are not
fitted to the titles of the Volumes as has
heen repeatedly CHARGED Int are selected