The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-05


present-pictures vivid enough to awaken
tenderly cherished memories.
ESSAYS IN MINIATURE. by Agnes
Repplier. New York: 1892 Charles l..
Webster & Go. Seventy-five GEMS. Fic-
ton. Fact and Fancy Series. For sale
by West. Johnston a. Co.
Miss Repplicr's books are always de-
lightful; such books as one picks up for
relaxation and comes away from refresh
ed and frightened. Instinctlvely the i'm
preston Is produced that behind these
airy. yet wholesome. little essays, where
piquancy and humor take precedence Of
seriousness. there exists a charming,
vivacious personality-one characterized
by freshness of observation and indie
pendence Of Judgments truly feminine
being, flashing forth her bon mots in
spirit OF insuppressibe mirth and buoy
ancy.
In Miss Reppllers latest book. Essays
In Miniature" she exhibits anew won
derful talent for clever expression, while
the individuality of her literary taste
shows itself TO be more marked than In
her previous writings. The first essay
In this volume is entitled "Our Friends,
the Books" This is a wise and timely
little discourse. full Of humor and anec-
dote; plea for more Ieisurely reading,
and that with all the satisfaction In
our power" by the authoritative advice
OF Hazlitt. true bookman. whose great
est friends. through all calamity, had
been his books. The perpetual labor and
speed necessary to keep up with cur
rent literature are condemned by Miss
Repplier with praiseworthy ardor. and
an individual choice In the selection Of
books Is insisted upon as essential TO all
good reading. The reviewer, uncon-
sciously perhaps falls into the habit OF
debating certain courses OF reading to
the public Giving advice, especially adj
vice which is unasked, is human weak
ness so universally INDUCED at the pres
ent time that the poor reviewer stag
gering beneath his many other sins and
dazed at the various and unreasonable
demands made upon his judgment, Is
perhaps TO be pardoned for constituting
himself dictator-general OF the reading
public. To this mistake of the reviewer
Miss Repplier Justly attributes much Of
the false reading Of the day. ut is pre-
cisely because Of the independence as
sumed by books" says she, that we
need TO cherish our own Independence In
return. They will not all be our friends,
and not one Of them will give Itself freely
to us at the dictation Of perempt1Iy
critic"
Not only is a choice OF books spoken
of wisely in this little gem Of an essay.
certain books are to be read is com
mented upon with an equal degree or
sagacity. Certain seasons. certain places
are expressly suited to certain authors; In
certain moods we instinctively fee for
enjoyment or consolation to certain IA
miliar books. What a book says 20 you
whatever of influence a book exercises
over you must be due largely 10 the
conditions of its reading. the general re-
1of nf
this pursuit as in any other. once
heard Of a charming girl. be II said,
who was then quite young, making that
wonderful and beautiful trip OF the 81.
Lawrence. and from day to day, seated
upon deck. reading persistently OAR
wins Origin of the Species" despite the
ordinations of surprise and delight
heard on all sides from admiring tourists.
Surely. such a sight could not have es-
capped an arrow from Miss Reppliers
culver.
The other essay In this volume,
which seems especially delightful TO us,
is that on "Three Famous Old Maids"
These old maids, 1.-The most successful
and eminent literary women In England,
are Miss Austen. Miss Edgeworth and
Miss Milford. Miss Reppller's mirth Is
very hearty and her sarcasm Is trenchant
over the distress exhibited by the critics
because OF the lack Of romance In their
careers. No pains have been spared In |
making search In every direction for some |
hidden secret which might relieve the |
minds of anxious critics. and produce
lovers romance upon the scene, IN the |
case of each one of these ladies' MISS
Repplier seems to have investigator the
matter thoroughly, yet found no taie 10 |
tell only many impossible ones 10 con-
70
charming woman. and yet not weave
romance about her. that the inventive |
audacity of the critics should be pidged
very gently
In regard to Miss Milford. Miss Reppiier
declares. that the search for even the
ghost of a love story is perfectly nope |
less. Miss Milford devoted her life with
great unselhshnCss TO the support or an
exacting father. and our bright, icoho-
elastic essayist suggests that the re-
solve of this lady to remain single snouiu'
no doubt be laid TO the charge OF the
.exasperating qualities" of this parent,
who despite his daughters DEVOTION
must have caused her to regard men very
much as Dolly Winthrop did, IN the
Iieht OF animals. whom 1t had pleased
heaven to make naturally troublesome
Miss Repplier discredts the romance
current about Miss Edgeworth, that she
>efuSed a Nj.
young Swede. and lived to regret 1t;
she believes rather that affection for her
'amily filled and satisfied Miss Edge
worth's cheerful, radiant life, which ex-
tended over a period Of eighty-two years
all apparently of the most contented SIN
gle blessedness.
n Is In the case of Miss Austen, though
hat the most ardent effort has been
made to discover the existence or a
romance. Miss Austen was pretty, she
was gay, she possessed an indefinable at
traction for men, and she was In turn
attracted by them, as a healthy-minded,
Happy hearted girl should be- with
such material In hand. out OF which the
most delicious romance could be- easily
woven. Miss Austens own nephew and
says. "Of Jane herself know
no definite love-tale to relate" and In
he face Of many accounts TO the con-
rary upbraided as she will be by sor-
owful, sentimental maidens who read
hese lines, Miss Repplier seems TO think
hat the nephew's statement Is about the
conclusion of the matter.