New-York tribune., 1897-10-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
ANOTHER BRONTE BOOK.

THE BRoNTEs IN FACT AND FICTION by BY
Angus NJ Mackay. B. A. lSmo, PIP. ls7. podo'
Mead Co.
Those who read with critical care the melo-
dr.matic and loose -tointed chapters of DR.. Will
lam wrisht's work. THE Brontes in Ireland
could not hut be convinced of the mythical
nature OF most Of the facts related therein
concerning the peasant relatives of the FAMOUS
sisters OF Haworth. So many reviewers now
ever allowed their appreciation OF an ai'us"s
tale 10 overpower their common-sehs ''"'
there became urgent need OF con'rauic''o"
Such a contradiction. as vigorous as II II "P-
parently unanswerable, is supplied IN MI MAJ
kay's book The Irish giants the creatures VI
marvellous genius. who. according TO ~
Wright were at the bottom Of all the achie'e-
men.s Of Charlotte. Anne and Emily broh'e'
drop with one dull thud after another INTO yer!
ordinary tillers of the soil and keepers of she
beens" Even the story OF the big uncie Nis'
TO London. with his blackthorn. in order to
chastise Charlotte's critic the writer Oh 'ne
cruel "ouarterly' article. mets into thin air
under little calm scientific examination
Mr. Mackay takes pains to exercise 'he III
v,ost courtesy in discussing DR.. Wrights far!
tales: but it is difficult to see how in the ilsh'
~ absolute disclaimers from several or the
latter.s most valued authorities these tales can
be called anything but lies. pure ana slinpe'
They may have been the result OF "enthusiash'
as Mr.. Mackay pleasantly intimates nut e"-
thus,asm of that sort should disquaify man
for writing biography.
The paper in which the author finally disposeS
Of the question of Charlotte Bronte's so-caled
heart tragedy" is as reasonable and wise aS
that in which he demolishes Dr. Wrlgh' ; pre-
tensions He believes that it was out o' the iu'
ress of her own sorrow that she wrote the vivid
,bo Of In SNOWp.
Henri and Caroline Helstone: that she had driit-
ed unawares into love as pure as II was NOPE
less for her Brussels teacher. the brilliant &C.
centric and philanthropic NJ. Heger' ne MANI
short work of what can only be described as 'he
,or+ar,n+,hle insinuations of Sir Wemyss Keld
apd Mr. Augustine Brrell. and shows torth 'ie
shv rentle and conscientious Charlotte as
Kingsley has portrayed her. "A valiant Wo'''i"
made perfect by suffering. We agree VII" MI
Nackay that the subject should never nave ~"
publicly touched upon. This EPISODE IN the nov
elists life. he says, was secret "i''" s"o N.Y.
hidden from her dearest friends 1T does hot al
feet though II confirms. our estimate OF hei 'i'a'
acter. and the knowledge of it Is not hecessa'!
10 the appreciation of her art. III shouiu nav
heen ,s,t alone" one Of the queer phases of the
literary trade Of this generation Is us use Vi
eossip Of the ordinary village kind Three-quar-
ters of the stuff that is written ana puplSheu
about the inmost lives and emotions OF famous
.r,hors &c not in the least necessary to the ap-
nrecia,,on of (their9 art" and Is largely maze
IN of impudent conjecture and innuendo but
a serves to make picturesque and to sell
hook or a magazine article. Ii means cold cash
in the pocket OF the gossip. who Is. IN truth
nothing more nor less than gossip, despite HIS
airs of psychologist study; and IL aoos "e"
nenalty to noble work and honorable fame'