The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-10-11
OR LITERARY BUDGET.
"reminiscences Of the Custodian Of London
Library.
CARLYLE, THlCKERIY, ELIOT, LYTTON.
Characteristic apecches Of These Great Writ
srs-Ths Valuable Support Which Mr.. Glad
stone Has Always Given the Library.

stone Has Always Given the Library.
Mr.. Robert Harrison. who has been librarian
OF the London Library for moro than thirty
four years. In the course Of his presidential
address at the Librarians Conference at Not
tinghsm recently. gave some interesting
"reminiscences of Carlyle and other eminent
men who were accustomed to frequent the
library: The most conspicuously original
man among them was Carlyle. who often Wis
tied the library. His conversation was most
amusing. full Of sxtravagant and exaggerated
statements and always ending with q loud
laugh apparently At himself He used the
library books extensively for his later works
and was guilty Of the reprehensible practice
OF writing on the margin of their books. he
must admit that his remarks were
never meaningless, but chiefly consisted
of corrections Of date or errors IN
the text. Ono remark Of his however, which
was pretty well known. was criticism. 1t
occurred in Charles Dibdens collection of
songs. the last page of which contained the
ordinary version of Rule Britannia At
the foot OF this boastful song Carlyle had
written 'Cock-a-doode-doo' with q small for
est OF notes of exclamation alter 1t. In case
like that the librarian would be a martinez,
indeed if he etaced from tho book An ex-
preston so characteristic ofthe man of genius
who wrote it. Ho hoped they would pardon
him for thus dwelling q few moments on the
name Of Carlyle. If only for the sake OF his
pregnant saying so interesting TO them
all: Why 10 there not a Maiesty's
library in every county town. There
is Majesty's jail and gallows in every
one OF Thaokeray, another eminent men,
Dor of the London Library he had An
anecdote which they probably had heard be-
came to him (the speaker for a life of Gene
raj Wolfe. L don't want, he said, an histor-
ical account of his career-Lord hahon's book
gives me that-but want something that will
tell me tho color of his breeches.' so he had
the pleasure also of helping Charles Reade to
find materials for his splendid story of The
Closter and tho Hearth Tho late Lord Lyt-
WAS also the author Of Westward Ho' and
the great novelist known by the name of
George Eliot He was quite astonished at 1rst
10 see what pains and research were applied to
the production of books so easy to read as
were their best novels. An illustrlous living
member Of tho London Library. Mr.. Glad
stone had always taken an interest in their
prosperity, and had often given them his
valuable support at their meetings. He made
use chiefly Of their works of reference. He
remembered with pleasure small incident
that occurred when Juyentus Mundr was
going to tho press. Mr.. Gladstone called to
verify line In 'Propertius' or 'Ausonius, he
forgot which. He told his need to one of the
masters who happened to he present. The
line was found. and it differed slightly from
that which Mr.. Gladstone had quoted. But
said tho Eaton master to him atterward: his
line was much finer than the one which We
found in print. Pail Mall Gazette.
-.
There is but one opinion as TO the supre-
macy Shakespeare. He is the greatest poet
of all time But he is also the most careless.
the most ungrammstlcal the most needless Of
time. place circumstances, the one who IS
guilty ct will of anachronism after anachro-
nism. and who created hundreds of words to
suit him. used more words than any other
English writer and was a law unto himself;
He makes Cleopatra "tawny" IN one placeand
BLACK" in another place. The Egyptian Queen
speak. OF herself as black in the play. But
she was not either. She was Greek, was the
daughter of Ptolemy and was no doubt
brunette of the darkest shade. Richard
Grant White says "she was not probably OF
Teutonic whteness." Let US say here that
the lest working edition of Shakespeare Is
Whites three volume editon-not his large
work. The notes are very brief, but they ex-
plain the very difficulties the intelligent
reader needs to have cleared up. Roles
edition is very full and excellent. but his
notes are longer than the original text. And
now let US refer for moment 70 the great
and Cleopatra" This
beautiful and inspired work IS based
upon the most unreliable of ancient writers
EXCEPT that unrivaled liar-Liyy. Plutarch's
lives are not to be trusted. Shakespeare uses
this writer's account. but sublimates it and
refines it in the alembic of his own mighty
genius He mover wrote any poetry so splen-
did in tho estimation Of one OF the acutest.
best equipped. most enthusiastic and most
critics of the greatest poet
we mean White. We copy for the benefit of
our readers part of what be says OF the
play:
but POLITICALLY Anthony and Cleopatra is
the most splendid production OF Shakespeare
genius. Not even Hamlet. with all its phi
Othello. with all It's passion; King
Lear. with all its strength and its pathetic
grandeur, equal it as an exhibition OF Shakes
oeares cunning in dramatic poetry: Within
the whole wide range of literature there is no
such magnificent utterance OF human thought
md feeling nothing 80 rich, so lofty. so daz-
ling. SO impressive: no such concentration
If all the power and al the beauties OF Ian
,uage. IL il Shakespeare, pure and simple,
n his richest and strongest period. Wi
nington Messenger
The Rev John w. Chadwick. IN the Chris-
ian Register. says: 1t was about 1857 that
feorge william Curtis assumed tho Easy
CHAIR of Harpers Magazine, and his dis
course from it has bean full Of genial wisdom
md of varied o iarm.
IL is, however. as an orator rather than as a
writer or editor that Mr.. Curtis genius is most
-emarkable and his fame 10 most unique. As
IN orator he remains alone among us az rep
.esentstive of that classic school which had
n Edward Everett Its best example in
ormer generation. But Mr. Curtis has what
Everett never had warm and sympathetic
leart beating through all the substance
If his sustained and lofty eloqusnce.
The rhetoric of his orations is eIpan-
i've rather than compact for be IS
master of the art of persuasion, and. wnen he
writes what he would speak he writes it with
10 audience in his mind. IL is impossible 70
ay whether we more admire the felicity or
particular expressions aud the delicious
.adence Of each separate phrase or the con
ent of every part to make whole as perfect
- any structure of mighty builders shaping
land. But all these things would be far less
han what they are. were it not that they are
seconded by voice that seeks and
inds spontaneously note for every shade Of
bought and varying emotion, and which.
hough it habituaily gives forth the music of
mild utes and silver-coated flutes" can ring
magnificent with the scorn of servile politics
Il. L.