New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-07

fact and he contradicts himself not only within
the same covers, but within the compass OF the
same paragraph and almost or the same SEN
tencc As if the reader did not already find II
hard enough to keep his bearings the author
sets down his pronOuns with total disregard or
the antecedents they may point TO; not Ariei
among the bell buoys could play such compli-
Gated FRANKS Of instruction When one further
recalls the ingenious errors of the printer. the
sources Of confusion are pretty well accounted
for.
1t is curious fact that. In an age character
lied by exhaustive biographical research so few
good biographies written. Possibly we are
overwhelmed by our material. Certainly In
theory IL is not difficult TO surmise what good
biography should be- 1t should be consistent
portrayal in which every detail IL not only per-
tinent but properly subordinate to the whole
What it presents should be at the same TINE
Characteristic of the man or his circumstances,
and significant to the general reader. Its au-
thor should have not only intellectual sympathy
with the subject Of his memoir and with his
readers, but confidence in himself He should
he willing to work for definite purpose. HIS
point Of view must of necessity be partial, not
complete but II ought never to be ambiguous.
Let him be as candid as he peases, he must edit
his material as well gather II. One who
thinks this ideal impracticabe should turn to
Mr. Stapfcr's French biography OF Sterne. for 1t
Is certainly true that they order this matter
better in France.
As a gatherer OF material. however. Mr.. Fitz-
gerald is pre-emnent among the students OF
Serne. The two volumes Of biography which
he published many years ago have been the
chief resource for a generation of biographers
and critics. These new volumes are still
richer storehouse for whoever VIII punder
them. lie has ferreted among obscure manu-
scripts and letters: he has 'racked the senti-
mental traveller through his picturesque wan
derlngs and gathered from the Frerch inns the
oral traditions that are still cherished Of his
name 1t would hardly be hyperboe to say that
he has at his command some vivid detail OF
every notable person with whom Sterne came
into vital relation. For these services the lover
of old literature can hardly be too grateful.
There is that IN Mr.. Fitzgerald's material
which viii appeal not simply TO readers OF
Sterne. but to all those interested in the social
life OF the latter half Of the eighteenth century
These volumes give such an outlook into the
times as Il would he hard to match In any
other book Of the day. We may the village
rectory. unidealized, yet picturesque the Squire
as in his miniature Capri he plays Tiberus's
role; the ferment of the provincial town. the
dinner companies Of London and Paris. the
rural life OF France ard the self-mportant GUS
toms of the inns. The diversity Of life into
which Serne threw himself so impetuously is
worth readers visit, even at the price of
Sterne's company. and few there are who know
the life better or have keener appreciation Of
it than Mr.. Fitzgerald lie can at times call
up vivid picture vivify a character in
sentence or even in n phrase