The sun., 1897-03-20

70 the Gear. who wns also the god OF war" In
the story Pushhin has publisheda poem called
"The Gypsy Girl" which arouses tho vir-
tuous Indignation Of this guardian Of the
public morals "Do you suppose that lines like
Men incosed within narrow walls arc ashamed
TO love may see the light Humphl OF loving in
the sense Of your fine heroes one might well bo
ashamed Running after gypsy girls, without
tho sanction OF q priest, without wedloek. all
unfettered, pretty incentive TO the young who
would read 1T" But, my dear sir. that is
not my intention. AS the dramatic devel-
opment proceeds propose to show up
my hero's wrongdoing, for which ho has
to atone" Then you should have made
foot note stating that they are not tho authors
views, and that the offender will atone for them
later on" From this curious parallel might
be drawn between the intelligent methods of
the Sujukin of ST. Petersburg in 1926 and
those Of New York's censor In 1897.
Only tho author gifted with especial and pecu-
liar qualifications can hope successfully to treat
OF child-life and tho things pertaining to those
wise little mon and women, whose thoughts,
words. and actions have for tho world an interest
that never wanes, and 1t would perhaps be hard
10 name, among living writer's, one more
fitted for such q task than Mrs. Alice
Meynell. A singular grace of style and
depth and purity Of thought have won
for her an assured place among tho best of
modern essayists, while many Of her poems are
masterpieces Of tender and exquisite simplicity.
In the daintily bound and decorated little
volume OF essays, "The Children John Lanel,
the dominant note Is that of u beautiful
simplicity befitting the subject, and there
is less of that occasional artifciality Of
manner and expression than has been notice
able H. aome of her recent writings. Tho
hnt haa N oh hat
tempts the reader to lingcr over sentences which
stimulate and suggest thoughts that often lie
hid beneath the surface. In Fellow Travellers
with q Bird" Under the Early Stars" and
The Man with Two Heads" this is particular.
ly marked. while the following extract from
The Child In Midwinter" is a fair example of
the quality of the prose:
Now moro than ever must the lover beware Of
making q comparison between tho beauty OF tho
admired woman and the beauty Of q child. He L.
indeed. TOO to make it. So Is the poet A.
comparisons are necessary to him. he will pay
frankly impossible homage. and compare woman's
faco to something too nne, to something IL never
could emulate. The Elizabethan lyrist Is safe
among lilies and cherries. roses, pearls, and snow
He undertakes the beautiful once of nattery and
natters with courage. There is hidden reproach
in the praise. Pearls and snow sufrcr in sham
fight, mimic defeat that does them HARM and no
so impossible She q lily q coral
| In the colors of her face. and their beauty Is
| less hers- But here Is the secret. She is
compared with flower because she could
| not endure 20 be compared with q child. No
color. no surface, no eyes OF woman have been
with the color the surface, and the eyes
OF childhood. And no poet has ever the risk OF
such defeat, Why, 1t is defeat enough for woman
to have her face however well favored. Close TO q
childs even II there Is one by who should be rash
| enough TO approach them still by compari.
| son.
| Mrs. Meyneu quotes incidentally, many good
things said by these indeliberate little authors,
| who. after all, the only real originator
| courageous travellers who, with the smallest
amount Of baggage, set out SO confidently upon
| q journey OF speech. Readers who have q taste
for such trivial things will. we think, find In
| these essays quality as rare as that Of Robert
| Louis Stevensons child 6 play"
| In the course of few general observations,
printed under the comprehensive heading of
Remarks" Mr.. Charles onslow gives his rea-
sons for writing The Foundling-A Village
| Tale" Or W. Anderson & SOM. and tells US why.
In writing 1t, he has elected to drop into poetry.
The story is told in verso and rhyme. TO make
It easy and pleasant reading; perhaps an ex-
cuse should DO given for writing in that style,
when so many readers dislike even the sight of
poetry; but no apology will be made. SO let the
loud Jest be hurled at poetry and the savage
| thrust given; yet will the beauty OF verse rise
like dove above the reach OF its enemies.
and escape their vain efforts to destroy it. '
In pleasant village an infant is AZ dead OF
| night abandoned by its mother on the proverbial
doorstep. Next morning the neighbors gather
around, but none will give II shelter till young
girl, in compassion, takes it to the poorhouse.
Thus far We have briefly condensed the opening
stanzas. Ii is time to let the dove OF poetry here
futter for a brief space:
| When she reached the house, q matroa
l. With pleasant word and snlile
| Kindly bade the maiden enter
In manner free from guile.
On the records quickly written
| These few words were then enrolled,
"Sameiess founding. healthy female.
Neatly dressed, some five months old.
The author has introduced a number OF Incl,
dental pieces which tend to relieve the solemnity
OF the main theme or these, perhaps the most
original is "Maggie's Dream" Maggie in her
sleep strays back TO the scenes OF her childhood
She is once more at the old home. where:
| She can her old father far or on the farm.
| As he stands by q tree with a rake on bis
! Then who should ak In but her very Inst bean,
Tho plough boy, with whom she exchanges some
rustic peasantres, in the course Of which another
young man. a rich neighbor's son, arrives in his
buggy, and drives off with her.
| He boasts Of his fathers great riches and gains,
But. struggling to kiss her. he loses the reins.
With a gu lex sudden ruah like the lash OF q gun
| She sees the proud horse dashing on at run,
| With leaps OF wild terror ns often he feels
The lines that dragging like snakes at his heels
She sees her companion sneak or from her side.
| He has left her alone on that perilouS rido.
.ha aliu1a 10 tha and nka Nit ha,h