The Portland daily press., 1891-06-22
CONCERNING BOOKS
BY e. CAVAZZA.

Life and Letters of Robert Browning. BY
Mrs. Sutherland Orr. Two volumes. This
memoir of the poet is authoritative, and can
not TAIL to be acceptable to the admirers and
students of his works Mr.. Orr had the in
valuable support Of the memories of his sis
ter, Miss Browning-without which, she
gratefully says, the biography could not
nave been undertaken. 1t is a thorough and
well proportioned sketch of The characters
tics Of Mr. Browning's nature and genius
and is almost invariably wri;ren with good
taste and the dignifed reserve as to person
alities which was an instinct and a principle
with the poet himself. Rarely does the biog
rapher permit the reader to inter- too inti
mately within the sphere of sentiments
which-poet or peasant-each individual
holds sacred to the one or the few nearest TO
his spirit. Perhaps the analysis of the mo-
tives for Mr.. Browning's marriage is slightly
too curious; however, 1t does not lessen the
worth or the beauty of the wonderful union
OF the two poets. The origin of the Brown
ing family is traced; and the possible infiu-
ences OF .heredity in forming his genius are
Interestingly noted. The accounts of Rob.
ert Browning's childhood are significant. as
evidence OF the vigor and fearlessness of his
nature. When his little head was hardly
ABOVE the level OF the table he would walk
around and around the family board imnro-
vlsing verses; and his fondness for animals
was so tender that new endings had TO ne in
vented for stories in which beasts or birds
came to tragic end before the little Robert
could endure to hear them. Neither did this
trait disappear in his later life, as his verse
more than once attests. His early poem.
Pauline, showed the poet more mature than
the man; this first publication was encour-
agingly reviewed by Mr.. Fox, then editor of
the Monthly Repository, and afterward with
strong appreciation by Mr.. John Forster In
Inc Examiner. In 1888 Mr.. Browning made
MS hrst journey into Italy, whose name-as
ne declared-remained craven upon his
heart His third Italian Journey was in
company with mis- wife, and It is easv 10 inn
as'ne tne eployments reflected back and
ioitn between the two poets, amid the beau
Ties Oh ART and OF nature. In italy their son
was porn; and Mrs. Browning's expressions
OF delight In her boy, and of solicitude for
his daintily embroidered clothes mora than
for her own MS. Of Aurora Leigh. in hov
temporarily astray, are as natural and charm
Ing as the phrases of the simplest little
mother. Naturally, the record of the life and
friendships of the Brownings includes MANY
famous names and significant events. Bv
means of letters and Of personal memories.
Mrs. Orr gives many details of the philoso.
ply, the opinions and the habits of work of
MI. Browning A nature at once powerful
and sensitive, he appears to have lived his
life with full sense of enjoyment and with
an unfailing impulse toward the attainment
Of his ideals. Perhaps this practical opti-
mism of his. unafraid to question itself; this
superb reliance, upon ultimate good, ex-
pressed in subtle and involved phrases-may
be the secret of his power with his contem-
poraries. 1t is not possible in the brief lin
its Of review to follow in detail the present