Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-05-10
ThackeraF and Charlotte Bronte.

From the 81. James GsEette.l
In a recent number of the ST. James
Gazette references Is made to one of Ars.
Ritehie's charming "reminiscences, which
unfortunately revives what believe to be
mistaken impression concerning Mr.
Thackeray's party to msst Charlotte
Bronte, 1 was one of the guests On that
occasion, and remember 1t as one of the
most interesting aud delightful evenings
of my early married life In London. At
that time my dear friend Mrs Richie was
little girl, scarcely more than ten years
old. to the best of my recollection She
was allowed as a great favor, to cit up late
with her still younger sister on the special
occasion of the dinner which her father
gave to welcome the celebrated, and for
1 SONS time anonymous, suthoress of Jane
| Eyrs.' To children of the early age of
l nine or ten an evening assembly of grown
| up people, with no other amusement than
/ taat of conversation with each other,
i mues have appeared a very dull affair.
| To myself aud to my contemporaries i:
was a brilliantly successful and agreeable
evening, although 1t is quite possible that
| Mr. Thsctersy himself msy have called i:
Il :
Ions to max, the sveSing especially pleas
ant and encourag girg tu tais shy AID ret;r-
| ing young authorsse, who had dedicated
her irs. novel to him with such immense
Difference and admiration; and perhaps we
all of us inbibed unconsoiously a rather
moro subdued tone than usual from the in
terest which we felt in the gentle earnest.
ness and originality of this new arrival In
the literary world. When dinner was an
L.,
with the most genial kindliness, saying,
81 must have the pleasure of taking Jane
Eyre in to dinner" Instantly she started
up, erect as an srrow, and answered very
severely and distinctly. Jane Eyre lie not
here, Mr. Thsckersy." For she had not
yet given her name as the suthor of the
book But the next moment she graceful
ly relented, and added, with a smile. Miss
, Broute IL here, and will b. much honored
by taking your arm. She 'oked very
slight aud smslI be.ide Thsck=rsy, slmosl
like a child, just able to reach mp to his
elbow. Her dress was simply msde, but
was of good dark brown satip, with high
neck aud long sleeves, and with the lit
tie peculiarity of q plait made OF the
l ssms brown satin material and forming q
J sort of coronet round her little head Hei
face was pale and thoughtful, lighted ur
by very expressive eyes; aud she gave
1
. happy and interested in Mr.. Thsckersy'i
{ convers alton during our dinner, though
: che was very quiet and reserved In hsl
i own uttersnces.
. In the evening Mr.. Thsckersy kindly
= introduced me to her, and gave her
3 place beside me to allow me really IL
{ make hsr acquaintance. 1 began by ask
0 ing her "Do you like Londonf' Sh,
z hesrd N. in grave silence st first, bu
: after due rejection said, 'In answer Il
= your question, yea and no. Yes," sh,
+ Continued, because of the deep interes
Q she found in meeting in real life so many
+ of the eminent msn and women witt
r whose works che had long been familiar
- but with whom she had scarcely dareC
10 hope she woBld ever become personal
ly Acquainted; and Mo-" because I
, seemed to her there was q want of sinceri
ty In London society. People who sp
e pearsd glad to meet and who talked 70
eether ss IL they were dear friends wonlS
II not scrupls, In each others absence, d
Ia enjoy any ssrossm or playful ridiculs 9
their expense; aud this Mics Bronte con
u demned IS q peculiar failing to be me
q with In London. We argued about Ii
T little: but she did not sppssr 70 agre
r that this want of loyalty, occasionally 3
be found here, was moIe often observf
BILE In narrower spheres of life, such q
ss In the smaller country towns.
ID cannot help adding, In Justice to tho'