Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-01-19
TALES OF AUTHORS.
Coicrldge's Meeting with Lamb-Cleve
Ruses to Catch Critics.

N~AoAANBoo HAocbthk WIN hAnD-NI6N0T
Ruses to Catch Critics.
1t Is, perhaps, not bit curious that
stories about authors should repeat
themselves. Coleridge, for instance,
who was a great talker. often lost him
self in misty monologue. The funny
case Of Ella will he remembered. Cole
ridge 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 off the button and
left Coleridge holding it and talking,
which he continued to do for full
hour by the neighboring clock.
An analogous story has just
been reported Of Mr.. Swinburne,
the poet, We are told, to begin
with, that, like Wordsworth, Mr..
Swinburne is, or was, fond of reading
his own poetry aloud. In his earlier
London days he one evening invited
his three friends, Rossetti, Meredith
and Morris, of the Earthly Paradise, +"
to come and hear him read. Early in
the evening the reading began, and
went steadily onward. He became alb
sorbed in his pleasant task, but about
midnight his friends, becoming weary,
slipped, one after another, away. At
three o'clock in the morning the poet
was still heard reading. This is the
Coleridge-Lamb story with slight
variation. In the one case it may have
had basis of fact; in the latter it was
rather improbable. What matter? 1t
serves the purpose OF the teller, who,
no doubt, thought he was giving good
illustration of poetic vanity. One form
of literary story tells us how GER ain
authors have tricked their adverse
| critics.
Two modern illustrations may 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 per5istently knocked him
under. At last it so happened that
Mr.. Black, who has always had a
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 a trap. His adverse critic
was caught He reviewed the
book in the most handsome
style, etfusivoly describing it as a mas
ter-piece When the second edition
came out, the authors name was on
the title page. 1t was great fun, and
no doubt the reviewer himself en-.
jOyed 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 Of spines and rolled
round 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 hi:
own star, and foresaw time when his
very enemies, if he really had any
would be compelled to dance to his
piping. The story as now told refers
to an American critic, but it was a.
true of some of his British reviewers
The Drama of Kings" which is rath
err a mixed lot, was published with Mr.
Buchanan's name prcfXed Rightly
enough it did not escape ii 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 II name, anC
received very high praise all round
1t CHANGED, so the modern version o
the story goes, that one of Buchanan
bitterest American critics reviewed tn
two American poems and the "Dram
: Of Kings" in the same batch. TIL
! former he praised sky high; the latte
he kicked and cursed. The author G
r the drama was, in fact, told he was n
poet, and was certainly incapable o
rising to the level of the unknown
, bard. BY and by it came out tina
l Buchanan was the author of all tire
works, the publication of which fac
gave the poet sweet revenge. - Gldl
| g0l0 Journal.