The herald., 1896-06-14
f3UQKS ANe l1ls 1sfesg!|'T HEM
n Y -, vftu MAtQE \ ~1c.a
EDITED BY ENocn KNIGHT
nard). J. B. Lippincott 4 Co.. Phila-


nard): J. B. Lippincott 4 Co.. Phila-
delphia.
This is No. 1872 of Lippincott's Library
of Select Novels. and Is fully worthy OF
place in this honorable line. 1t is
story Of London life and society, simple
in plot, but symmetrical and satisfying
in tone and construction.
One thing can always be said of Mrs.
Stannard's stories and that Is they show
ability somewhat above the average.
and the cheap paper-covered volume of
hers Is sure to be a safe book, too. for
any summer traveller to buy and read.
Besides, this series has a guaranty Of
responsibility and wholesomeness be-
hind 1t, anyway.
KATE FIELD.
Mr.. Glider of the Critic thus writes
OF Kate Field, whose death has just
been announced:
one OF the very first of contemporary
women'S names that remember in con-
nection with literature is that of Kate
Field. A copy of her Pen Photographs
of Charles Dickens Readings came into
my hands as long ago as 1868; and it
gave me thrill, for 1 had heard that
she was young woman Il suppose she
was about twenty-eight at the time)
ana the name of young woman on the
title-page of book seemed me great
ana glorious thing.
Many years after met Miss Field and
came to know her we'll She was a wo-
man who had her enemies, but she also
had great many friends. Her enemies
were those who did not understand her;
those who did understand her were her
friends. She was peculiar, because it
Is peculiar to be plain-spoken; but she
was one OF the kindest- hearted women
l ever knew. If she had not been so
kin0-hearfad she would hoon
ter off. and she would not have had to
work as hard as she did during the last
years of her life.
When I first turned my attention to
journalism with serious intent, talked
the matter over with Miss Field, as
suppose dozens Of other young women
had done before. She gave me good ad-
vice; and she gave me more. She gave
me letter Of Introduction to Mr. James
Gordon Bennett, who at once made me
position on the editorial staff of the
Herald.
A good many years later Miss Field
wanted to establish a paper of her own,
and was the first person whom she con-
suited in the matter Here the tables
were turned; she had given me my ear
list advice, and now IwaS to advise her.
l am afraid. however. that she did not
follow all my advice when she estab-
lished Kate Fields Washington, for
tOiu ucr tIidt iIlOIlty diu 6oOu JUST
ness manager" were essential Miss
Field was aggressive. as most people
with very decided opinions are; but she
did not know how to take care of her
SELF Anybody could get the better OF
her in business matters, though she
thought herself very shrewd.
She had left literature for while and
gone into a commercial enterprise
known as the Cooperative Dress asso-
citation, which began in blaze of glory
and ended in bankruptcy, Miss Field
being the greatest sufferer, for she had
put time money and great deal of hard
work into it.
She was good musician, an accom-
plished linguiSt and an exceptionally
clever woman. Although she was the
daughter of actors, she did not inherit
much of their dramatic talent Perhaps
if she had gone on the stage at an earlier
age she might have made good actress.
But when she essayed the role of Peg
Wellington in this city, she had been too
long lecturer to make a good player.
AS a lecturer she had the stage to her
self; as an actress she had to share it
with others. Moreover, she could never
sink her own individuality in that of
the character she played. She was more
successful in the musical monologue that
she gave in the style of George Gros-
smith, which was a bright performance
1t was as a newspaper correspond
ent that Miss Field shone to best ad-
vantage. She had quick observation, a
keen sense of humor and facile pen.
In the early days Of her career there
was no more popular newspaper writer
in America. But towards the end she
got worn out; she had worked too hard
and things had not gone we'll with her
The old snap and spirit were missing.
But she worked on with as much energy
as when she was young and strong.
At her death she was Sc years old
This Is not very advanced age; but if
one has been in the harness without rest
which one might we'll wish to lay down
ones burdens.
Some plodder has unearthed the fol-
lowing rhymes, which are declared to
have been Thackery's first attempt at
poetry:
Arthur Waugh thus treats of modern
book notes: In all the wilderness of re-
viewing, how seldom it is that we en-
counter real review. l do not allude for
the moment to the increasing venality
of editors, which is manifested every
week by eulogies and attacks based
upon personal bias, or the animosities
OF newspaper proprietors; for these
them. But how many conscientious re-
views do We find that are better than a
tasting" or running analysis of the
contents, eked out by unhelpful COM
ment? How many books in a year are
treated to sound criticism from a man
who really knows more about the sub
ject than the writer he Is estimating
There is very little such reviewing now
adays; and one was reminded of the
nakedness of the land the more insis-
tently one day this week by reading IN
The st. James Gazette what / may cal
"a real review" of the highest and most
suggestive kind. The subject was Mark
Twain's Joan Of Arc. and the reviewer
was Mr.. Andrew Lang. A better piece
of journalistic literature I never read
The reviewer was saturated with the
topic; and at every turn he had his au-
thor by the wrist. One was set a-won'
dering as to how the successes of any
judged after this competent and dis
cerning sort! We should hear less about
"epoch- making volumes" if there was a
little more knowledge of the epoch-o1
any epoch, Of anything at all-in the
gentlemen who dispense regulations
Would 1t be better or worse for letters
Who can say? Meanwhile, thanks tc
Mr.. Andrew Lang for reminding us Of
the responsibilities of criticism, no less
than Of its possibilities!
Loves like a mutton-chop,
Soon it grows cold,
All its attractions hop
Ere it grows old.
Loves like the collie, sure,
Both painful to endure;
Brandys for both cure,
l. q heen tn