New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12
A GYPSY GENIUS.
GEORGE BORROW AND HIS BOOKS.

with INTRODUCTION by aus
rell. Q. c.. NJ p octave. PIP. XIII, oSt l-o"uoh
and New-York: Macmillan & Co.
THE BIBLE IN SPAIN; or, The Journeys IA,
and Impr.sonments OF an Engns,nf,ahn ian
in an Attempt TO Circulate the scriptures ~ INC
Peninsula. BY George Borrow. New Ed,, ufn,
with Notes and Glossary by LICK na'P n
Two Volumes Octave. pp. xviii. al. VIII 40
Now-York: G.. p. Putnams Sons
In the seventeenth chapter OF George boz
rows semi-autobiographic romance ne de-
scribes n conversation between himself and
Jasper Petulcngro in which. after praising him
for his proficiency In the tongue Of the peo-
pie of Egypt. the gypsy says Well
call Won IAv-engro which. In the lam
puape Of the gorgios. meaneth Word master y"
Over that one sentence alone the battle Of the
critics may go on raging forever. Does IL Imply
simply and solely pride in pathological ca
pacities In linguistic gifts? Borrow knew MS
powers and appreciated them profoundly Does
he put into the mouth of his Romany friend
phrase of appreciation .or that side OF MS eH-
perence which had given him. perhaps more
permanent satisfaction than any other! or
was 1t all n within. like any other of the whims
with which his curious nature was 20 bounu-
fully supplied? While the critics are quarre'-
ling-and Borrow is fruitful source OF con-
troversy-the mere reader OF the WORKS may
lend to young Mr. Petulengro's phrase MS own
interpretation He may take 1t az the uncoh-
scious anticipation Of Borrow's role IN modern
letters as the prophecy which he was des''he'
TO fulfil He Is one Of the great worc-n'as'ers
In English history; not In the same category
with the scientific searchers OF the uhiNc'S''e''
but in that which embraces DE Quincy anu
CARLYLE. Thackeray and Ruskin. and all inc
poets Borrow with all his defects OF dicti'h'
Is vet one OF the great prose writer's OF ms
time He with his discursive ana capric'""S
bent has nevertheless the narrative gifts OF
a master. and his anonymous PRODUCTIONS Ne
long in the front rank OF Enghsh literature
Mr. Augustine BirrelI. in his introduction to the
new edition Of "Lavengr,." hits upon the secret
% Rorrow.s magic and Immortality when he
SAYS that he was not afraid To pc e''P"'"''
md "a really cloquen, book Is great possess
sion"
Near,v all the works Of Borrow are great POI
sessions and why his genius Is 70 ms day 'a'u"y
recognized outside the cul, which has grown
around his name Is one OF the mysteries "a wv
time II IL easy to understand why the alter years
Of his lie were marked by disappointment'
which the immense contemporary vogue Of IT.
Bible in Spain" had III prepared him 70 eNpeo'
"ravengro" is in many respects brutal book
Romany Rye" 1t antagonized still more the CON
seryatiye taste with which Borrow hai never
been In harmony. English opinion In the hf'ies
was not yet sufficiently depersonalized Tor
book like "Lavengro' to be judged solely on Its
merits: It offended deeply rooted prejud'e'. ana
Borrow was reprlma nded ON every side In the
name OF all the urbanitlcs. But whether IL IS
that the literary palate Of the present day ~
stronger or the critical vision sancr. II Is GER
tain that we are qualified now to take a sympa-
tbetic view of Borrow to estimate correctly the
neculiar virtues OF the man. and II r. odd that
anprcciation OF those virtues should be coniinei
N n nublic that u.s. after all. limited. Possibly
tho REMEMBRANCE OF his books In admirable edi-
tons will do something 10 expand his faIne'
'Iavengro" in its latest form Is a hahdsome'
weIl-printed volume. with illustrations that are
really In the spirit Of the text. and Mr.. birre'
writes in his predatory essay as horro''ah
worthy OF his master. The new edition, too. OF
THE Bible in Spain" is calculated to WIN many
a render. for the late ylick r. Burke was an
enthusiastic az well as an crudite editor ana
the book az he left 1t. with Its many Deautifui
plates presents the fascinating narrative In M
perfect a condition as could be desired. Inc
truth is however. that Borrow needs EDITORS iess
than he needs clear type on Opaque paper ana
such binding as will permit the loungcr out OF
doors to handle the book with unceremohi"us
ease. Grant to him these simple things and the
author OF "IAvengro' can work his spell with I'M
Interrupted triumph. for they do nothing 10 divert
the mind into such literary channels as even
the most felicitous introduction or the mott
learned o, notes are sure to open before the
Imagination.
A Mace to speak in-so the most satisfactory
III 80 ha
seems most himself when he is realized as a
familiar presence alive with the potentialities
Of living speech, when not even the printed page
appears to come between him and the reader.
Though he Is one Of the great writer's Of English
prose- II may be said that he does not 80 much
write as talk To write with power is TO con-
yey TO the reader n strange and Irresistible
thrill: greatness lies that way. In spite OF all
that the dettanti OF style may assert, and Bor-
row who found II to his taste to reject all OF
the d!cta OF the academies and most OF the con-
yentions Of his particular time Is one OF the
brilliant Illustrations Of this kind Of unrheorical
rhetoric. AS writer no less than as man he
recalls the familiar distinction between a man
OF action and one Of seden'ary pursuits. The
vrility of Borrow's personality. the keen edge
which life had for him. the vigor Of his deeds. all
of the strength which imagination associates
with soldier or an explorer. Is expressed In
his style His dialogue Is unsurpassed for fresh.
ness and for point. Here and there his eccen-
tricity comes to the surface. and the CONVERSE
ton takes turn which has less Of the flavor
OF nature than Of the mysterious. eerie tempera.
ment which set Borrow apart from most OF his
fellows from all save the dark Romany folk
with whom he loved to Identify himself. But
the uncanny flash comes and Is gone. the scene
resumes Its vivid reality. and while the imag gina
ton may Of Its own accord turn eagerly In pur.
| suit Of the strain which Borrow has introduced
into the narrative. the actual march OF the latter
| continues along the direct. Straightforward lnef
| preferred by the central figure.
| That he will not more fully reveal the elusive
and gypsy traits In his nature Is OF the most
fa In, Rorraur,c a,IA