The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-29
THE CRITICS CORNER.
WEEKLY CHAT RkGLRDING WRIT
ERS and BOOKS.
Hrs. Humphrey Ward--Ths Capitol of
virEinia--An Aid to Correct Pronuncis-
sion-Literary Notes.


disnihed expression. she has inherited, to-
gether with some OF bis most striking
racial characteristics. not a little OF the
poetry OF her famous uncle, Matthew
Arnold She cannot do good creative
work unless she Is undisturbed and
amid healthy rustic surroundings The
bulk OF Robert Elsmere" was written
In a lovely house situated at Haslemere
on the Surrey hills. Gabled and many
windowed. the birthplace of Robert
Elsmere" IS an ideal English home Mr..
Ward having spared neither time nor
money to make mis- wife's country retreat
little paradise.
Mrs. Ward cannot be said TO have any
special methods of work. Still, it is
impossible for the mother of a family
TO bury herself in a Cariyiean solitude
and SO. though she prefers the morning
hours, she writes when and how she can.
Robert Elsmere'' was commenced in
1875, but the writing and revision occu-
pied the author nearly three years. and
the manuscript underwent many changes,
three hundred pages being finally cut out
no easy task when we consider how
carefully each incident and description
was thought out with reference TO what
was TO follow. Those who wish to know
what Surrey is like carnot do better than
turn TO the famous novel, for there they
will find some OF the most delightful
descriptions of hill and down scenery
ever written.
The fashion In which Robert Elsmere"
was received by both critics and public
Is now matter OF ancient hietory and,
though Mr.. Gladstone's elaborate criti-
cism OF the book in The Nineteenth Cen
fury undoubtedly stimulated the sale, il
did not make Il. for the novel had pre-
viously achieved a success unknown since
the days OF the publication OF Adam
Bede.'
Mrs Humphrey Ward is OF a remarka-
bly, modest and retiring disposition, and
though she has lived in the London
world for many years. was known by
sight to but few OF those who were pres
ent when she was given the place of hon.
or at the Society of Authors Annual
Dinner. two years ago. Devoted to her
nondays m 5 sS1Srs''y spenas ner rare
friends The present London home of
SQUARE waa ana tseyA h anss
Surrey cottage for the beautiful old
country house Of Stocks (near Tring),
an estate mentioned in Domesday Book.
and celebrated in the annals OF both
Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire Cfor
the dividing line between the two coun-
ties runs through the garden) as the
birthplace OF the poet Waller. In the
garden is a huge tree. whose girth is
forty-three feet, near its base is niche
cut into IL for seat. and II Is there, ac-
cordirg TO local tradition that Waller
wrote much of his best verse. Though
within an hour OF London. Stocks is
buried in belt of beautiful country; and
whenever she can take a few days rest
the novelist finds refuge there from the
bustie OF London life
Those who best know Mrs. Ward de-
clare that the great interests of her life
are in the curious missionary settiemen,
OF University Hail. started by her and q
group of friends some three or four
years ago Although confessedly more oil
less inspired by the example OF Toynbe,
Hall. unlike that and similar organiza
ton. Mrs Humphrey Wards experiment
Is entirelywithout sectarian attachment
LIS promoters consider that orthodoxy
In the old-fashioned sense of the word
has been undermine by the new socia
urheavais. and that more pop,.la,
form OF religious teaching is required I
is hoped that this want will he supple
ny the Han; for. as the Foundress wrot
In the preliminary circular: THE So
ciety Will aim rather at representing
school OF thought than any particula
religious body OF the present day
Men want the help OF their fellowmel
they need TO feel themselves member
one OF another heirs OF a common hor
and faith II IS in the desire Of coir
something to meet this need among tho.
who are stil wandering and driftin
without the direction or help that com.
frcm associated life that the scheme y.
been suggested
Among the widely different men ar
women who meet there on CONNIE
ground may be mentioned the Rev Sto
ford Brooke. the Earl of Carlisle Nj
Frarces Power Cobbe. the Rev Jam
Martineau. the Dowager Countess Russo
pr. Blake Rogers. and James Drcnnor
This group Of peopie-gUided and inspir
by the noveiist-are making q galla
effort 10 better the condition OF the
who come from far and near in the no
OF gaining spiritual comfort ana ASST
arce from these uncorN cntional lead'
OF religious thought.
THE CAPITOL OF VIRGINIA An
THE CoNFEDERATE STATES: II
tor.cai and descriptive. BY w.
S-..l 4. S.-.,.a.a