The sun., 1892-10-23
SOME xEH hooks


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Nine. D'Arsiay's Diary auA Letters
The Diary and Letters Of Nina DArbidv
were originally published In seven volumes
about City years ago. Almost oil the interest
ng parts of the work have been selected by
MIR. W. @. WARD and arc now brought together
In three small volumes issued by Frederick
Warne Co. Regarded as series OF pictures
OF society OF the time. the diary Ia remarkable
for truthful delineation. and It's historical i'm
portance Is increased by tho fact TINT tho fig
uros In the foreground arethose OF the most
distin guished mon OF the day. such. for In
stance. as Johnson and Burke. Reynolds and
Sheridan. Windham and Warren Hastings. The
selections begin with the publication OF " Eve
lima" in January. 1878. when the author was
in her, 18th year and they end In 1910. the
year OF her DEATH The editor has thrown
light on the text by many foot notes and hns
printed Macaulays well-known essay ut tho
beginning Of tho first volume.
Frances Burncy was born Mt Lynn in June.
1752 Hor father. Charles Burney. was
teacher OF music and a writer upon musical
subjects. whose professional morit gained for
him the degree OF Doctor OF Music from the Uni
versity of oxford. Fanny Burncy was consiAr
cred Ounce by her brothers and sisters. ah
It Is certain that at 8 years old she did not
know her letters. No governess or teacher OF
any kind was provided for her. but ultimately
one OF her sisters taught her how to write.
and before she was IA she began to find pleas
ure In reading 1t does not scem. however. to
have been by reading that her intcllect was
formed Even when her best novels we're pro-
duced her knowledge OF literature was very
email An education. however. which suited
her mind better than the academical process
went on during her passage from childhood
TO womanhood. Hor peculiar circumstances
enabled her to study the book Of human
nature Her fathers social position was
one which brought her in contact with many
sections OF the community In fortune and
station he belonged to the middle class. yet
his daughters were suffered to mix freely with
people in humber position. We are told. for
instance. that they were in the habit of play
inR with the children OF a wgmaker. On the
other hand. few MOBILES could assemble in their
mansions more various and brilliant society
than was sometimes to be found In DR.. Bur-
ney's house. His mind was restlessly active.
and he had contrived to lay up much miscel-
lAneous information. His attainments, the
suavity OF his temper. and the simplicity OF his
manner had obtained for him admission to tho
nSst literary circles. DR.. johnson conds-
scsnded to growl out that Burney was an hon
est fellow. a man whom it was impossible not
to like. Garrick. too. was frequent visitor.
CsE OOSuub AeyHoluSs buTTys SOlmdus IWll-
anR. Harris. Hawkesworth. and many other
artists and men OF letters were to be met
with at the tea table and supper tray In the
dwelling Of Fanny Burney's father.
This was not all. The distinction which DR..
Burney had acquired as a musician and as q
historian attracted to his house the most omi-
nent musical performers Of that day. The
greatest Italian singers who visited England
we're eager to obtain his commendation and
were glad to sing at his house. On such oc-
casions the quiet street in which he lived was
blocked up by coroneted chariots. and his
little drawing room was crowded with peers.
peeresses. ministers. ana ambassadors Such
were the opportunities of observation open to
Fanny Burney. and that she made an unsus-
pected use OF them her first novel was to show.
We say unsuspected because sho was shy al
most to awkwardness. and did not often join
in tho conversation. The slightest remark
from stranger disconnected her. aud even
the old friends OF her fa .her who tried to draw
her out could seldom extract more than a
morosyllable. Her figure was small. her
face, not distinguished by beauty. She
was therefore suffered to withdraw quietly
Into the background and unobserved her.
self to observe all that passed. Under
her demure and bashful department, however.
wero concealed fertile invention and keen
sense OF the ridiculous. Every marked pecu-
liarity instantly caught her notice and re-
NAMED engraven on her imagination. Thus, |
while still girl. she had accumulated Q great |
store Of materials for fiction. and SO strong |
was the impression made upon her mind by |
what she was in the habit Of sesing and hear
ing. that she began to write little fictitious |
narratives as soon as she could use her pen |
with sase. After a time. however. she .ein-
Quished this pursuit. in compliance with tho |
n nj I'M or fhnr A.,
bonfire OF her manuscripts. l3u the person.
ages Of the tales still haunted Sr imagina-
tion. and eventually. the imN Nh'e which |
urged her to write became irresiN %. The |
result was the History OF EveliA With |
the publication OF this novel in JanuN #779. |
the diary from which We shall quoS no |
passages beCins-
'.'Eveliua" was published anonymo week
for some time the secret OF its authol
we'll kept. The novel had q sudden
traordinary success. nnd was generaS
nounced the best work Of fiction that haS9 ~.
peared since the death OF Smollett. DR.. John |
son told Mrs. Thralo that there were passages |
In 1t which might do honor to Richardson. |
Having heard what tho arbiter of letters had |
said. Miss Burney makes the following entry |
in her diary: Dr. Johnson's approval!-it al |
most crazed me with agreeable surprise-it |
gave me such a flght OF spirits that danced |
= jig to Mr.. Crisp without any preparation. |
music. or explanation. to his no small amaze-
ment and diversion. left him. however. to |
mako his own comments upon my iriskiness
without affording him the smallest assistance.
Susan also writes me word that when my
father went last to Streatham DIR. johnson
was not there but Mrs. Thrale recounted that |
whom he gave her the FIRST volume OF Eve
lins.' which sho had lent him. he said. Why.
madam. why. what q charming book you lent |
me- and eagerly inquired for tho rest l !
think I should love DR.. johnson for such |
lenity to poor. more worm in literature. |
even II were not myself the identical grub
hs has obliged"
BY and by Miss Burney's secret was COM
municatod to Mrs. Thrale by whom. Of course.
It was given to tho world. We find in tho |
diary an account OF tho authors first visit to |