Middletown transcript., 1896-09-05

l fact that their wives are such admin
! able critics, capable of revising, II
t,uching and enliving their husband
works of genius.
Tom Hood had such confidence in hi
wife's judgment that he read, re-rea
. and corrected with her all he wrote
Many Of his articles were first dictate,
to her, and her ready memory supple,
him with his references and quotations
In the dedication of his book ssOn Lib
ertyo to his wife, John Stuart Mill say
that she was 'sthe inspirer, and in par
the author, of all that is best in N,
writings"
Anthony Trollope said that no person
but his wife had ever read line of hi
manuscript, "to my very great advant
J age in matters of TASTE" Robert j
Burdette tells us how he has beer
helped in this way by "Her Little
Serene Higbness," as he calls his wife.
She was chrouic invalid and great
sufferer, but no manuscript went to
the printer without being read by her.
She added thought here and there,
suggested change of word or phrase
and so tenderly that, in her trembling
hand, the usually dreaded and remorse-
less "blue pencil'' became wand of
blessing, struck out entire sentences
and pet paragraphs.
/ Were it not for their wives, a great
many celebrated authors would never
have written at all. Fenimore Cooper
became novelist through his wife's
challenge. One evening, while reading
a novel, he threw it down, saying: "I
believe I could write a better book
myself 'Let me see you do it," said
his wife with a smile. In a few days
he had written several chapters of
"Precaution," which, when finished,
he published at his own expense. The
novel attracted attention, but it gave
Cooper an inkling of his capacity for
story writing, and "The Spy," his next
novel, appealed SO strongly to the
patriotic sympathies of his countrymen
that it became great success. Haw-
thorne, too, was induced to write 'sThe
Scarlet Letter" by remark of his
wife; and he acknowledged that, but
for the domestic environment which
she supplied he could not have pro-
duced his contributions to American
classics.
1t might be thought that an autocrat
Of a breakfast table could not be
married man, but this Oliver Wendell
Holmes was for forty-eight years; and
we are told that his wife, though
woman of great gentleness, stood as a
breakWater between her husband and
the prying, pushing world.
Mrs. Haggard ard Mrs. Hardy give
much literary help to their husbands.
The latter urged Mr.. Hardy to forsake
architecture for literature as a profess
sion. When he had written his first
novel, desperate Remedies, p his wife
copied out the entire work from his
manuscript and sent it to the publisher.
As part of her work, she keeps her.
self we'll posted up in the literature of
the day., and her husband constantly
draws from her knowledge. The works
Of Max O'Rell IN. Paul Blouet) were
first written in French and then trans
lated into English by his wife, who is
the daughter of Devonsllire ship
owner. When girl Nine. Blouet |
learned French with great care, little
thinking how useful the language
would be to her afterward.
xx
Many of my pupils commence to |
paint, suffering under the immense |
disadvantage of an admiring famiIy,o
said a Well-known master, in address
ing the assemblage of art students
gathered together in the large studio
to hear his comments and criticism of
their weekly work. "a most fatal in
fiuence,o he went Oh, (which cannot
be too strongly deplored. and which
has ruined many an otherwise prolnis-
ing artist. Why, I have had pupils
who actually existed on praise, who re-
quired it as a daily stimulant, as a
drunkard does alcohol; and the craving
for its unhealthy influence is for art
nearly rs bad as is that of the dipso-
maniac for the drug which saps his
manhood. Praise used with discrimi-
nation to revive fainting courage, or
stimulate exertioD, has its undeniable
use: but the foolish fattery of friends,
and especially of your immediate
family. is stultifying. You should
consider your mother as your worst
snemyl' he concluded vehemsntly,
amid the general Laughter. for il seemed
new light in which to regard the
lender, loving, albeit the somewhat ,
.
proud aud fond parent atit
home, whose influence was deemed so !
Never heless, in way the master i
vas right, too much prai Q in any i
direction is not apt to help success !
abroad, and the conceit and self-satis-
action engendered in early youth by
often handicapes q man or
woman through life. Every one knows
low the mutual admiration that Is
'ampant In some families bores their
'riends, who long sometimes to tell
inch people that Mary is not beautiful,
hat Bob II not extraordinarily clever,
hat Carrie is not . born artist, nor
3allIe the heayea-end ,wed musicIan-all
i which special attl libutes they seem