New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28

THE COMPLETE ANGLER: BY , LEAK "a ,yod"n,
ton by Richard lie Gallienne illustrated py
Edmund H. New Octave PIP. xxxiv' 80 hoh-
don and NewYork: John Lane
After having done everything possible to show MS
inconseauence as a writer. Mr.. lie Gallienne comes
forward and through his capacities as an editor
wins forgetfulness for his sins THE Quest OF the
Golden Girl will happily be forgotten. but THIS
new edition Of Walton will be received among the
latters lovers with reclamation and VIII be treas
ured as a peculiarly artistic and worthy memorial
Of their master. Since the publication OF The
Compleat Angler" for the first time In 1885, there
has been as the present editor Indicates an aver
age of one new edition every two and half years.
There is every to believe that this average
will increase time goes on, for walton mas TO-
day stronger hold upon his readers than ever be-
fore and there are signs of an abatement OF
their enthusiasm. They will value Mr.. LIE Gal
liennes edition for half dozen reasons In the
first place. the book has a good form, and though
a tr!fe bulky has been printed on paper OF such
weight as 10 avoid beaviness. The type is as at
tractve as It Is bold and clear The handsome page
has a generous margin, and 1t is really adorned by
Mr. News pen drawings. Then Mr.. LIE Galliennes
editorial labors have been most discreet. His intro
duction. though marred here and there by one or
his accustomed affectationsas when he says OF Sir
Henry Wotton's "Reiquie" that they contain I'm
the midst like little bunch Of myrrh. handful
OF lyrics OF a medltative sweetness'-s truly
workmanlike essay giving succinctly full account
of Walton's life, aid summarizing with discern
ment his achievements as an author Inere Is also
n dfverting and useful chapter on Charles Cotton,
while an ample appendix presents number OK
poems. prefaces and letters by Walton. Cotton's
verses to the latter on his Life Of Donne." bbli-
oeranhv Of THE Compeat Angler" and some other
interesting Items
Perhaps Mr.. lie Gallienne's most original and
satisfying ribution to the discussion OF The
Compleat Angler is not anything contained In his
pages on Walton. but his chapter on Charles Cot
ton lie has a fondness for that gentleman which
II would be pleasant to see emulated by more
writers on the subject. 1t is OF course. true that
the friendship between Cotton and Walton was
little incongruous a little unexpected. The latter
was a man of pous and gentle temperament. es-
sentially a refined character. Cotton was ribald
gallant and saw life on infinitely more sides than
were ever disclosed to his friend-not all of them
desirable. Lowelrs observation on the matter is
quoted by Mr.. lie Gallienne: There must have
been decatey understood and mutually respectful
conventions Of silence in an intimacy between the
placidly believing author OF the Lives and the
translator OF him who created the essay" But that
very concluding ausion reminds us Of the true
stuff that In Cotton's nature. No man who
could have cared much for Montaignc as to
translate him, practically labor Of love. could
be without certain human verify and sweetness
which would atone for his lapses OF taste. We
know that Cotton wrote like man Of the world
considerable license; but do not know that he
was ntrinscally bad: in fact. Walton's affection
for him justifes the assumption that he was not.
comforting a brevet OF responsibility upon the reck
less young Englishman. There was at any rate no
for DR.. Bethunes castlgation Of Cotton, and
he showed In his otherwise invaluable edtion-a
monument in the history Of American scholarship
that he could sometimes utterly fail In appreciation
OF Waton's own spirit misconceving the attitude
OF the old man toward his intimate. Let us hope"
observes DR., Bethune, that Walton's serious
equations and intercourse with pious Of learn
Ing kept him happily away from companions where
loose writings would be named, and that, ignorant
OF Cotton's vicious folly. he judged him rather
by the truly beautiful sentiments breathed through
the STANCES lrreguliers.' The truth Is that Wal
ton thoroughly understood his friends character
and. looking at 1t in humane. affection ate way
scorned to its shortcomings. Mr. lie Gal
lienne sees this clearly. and. besides he has ten
derness for CoNon on his own account. He por-
SHOWING o,tdn wan engaging sympathy
demeanor. his cleverness and his rightful claim to
Mr. IS IS Ss ns 90
ever; ana we think he Is more than justified that II
TO print Cotton's continuation OF THE Complest
anedx not IN the body Of the book but In
work. and It Is indeed In keeping with his own.
s1 the GO Sse ns quite It, for Walton belonged
enehanmeni which no others can revive, not
angler u, sas Ssns WAS Is .eT a nS
excuse Tor Walton's artless garrulity, a peg on
which to hang his ever rasrant discourse OF stream
ana meadow II is in this spirit that II II perhaps
most Judicous TO read his book and In the present
IN Mr. News illustrations. They are to a great ex-
tent typographical. and they realize wildly the
Nenator and Auceps, Mr.. News style has a sim
S ncuIy which accords well with the text His
even sharp In their reproduction OF landscape and
he psce out IN tSs 6.Ns the Of
readers imagination In following Walton on his ex.
Is noble edition, rejecting the highest credit upon
o sne editor the illustrator and the publisher The
only nav IL the Anglers Calendar" which IL
printed at the back OF the book II is the work Of
a r ~ MWegan who blondy assigns January Il to
utorsc washington as a birthday and proceeds TO
enumerate number of other individuals. not al
Ways .aptiy This calendar has triviality which