New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-06
CHRISTINA ROSSETII.
A PIETIsTIC FIGURE IN ENGLISH LIT
FRATURE.

Critical study, BY Mackenzie aeli with SIX
%S Boston: Roberts Brothers.
The Rossetts have not been wholly fortunate
in the official or self appointed custodians Of
their fame. Dante Rossetti was treated with
good taste in the volumes Of Mr.. William Sharp
and Mr. Joseph knight but Mr.. Hall Gaines
"Recollections" have had anything but pleas
ant notoriety. and MI William Rossettis
pioitaton Of his brothers position has been
marked by infelicities not much less distressing
than Mr. Gaines own. Christina Rossetu owes
no less than Dante Gabriel TO their brothers
indiscretion The posthumous volumes which he
has published for her-"New Poems and
"Maude"-were both Ill advised the first partly
the second altogether. And now Mr. Mackenzie
Bell has written just that voluminous and nabby
biography which should never have been writ
ten. The pre-Raphaelite coterie seems to have
had one very bad effect upon its admirers; II
has turned many Of them into maudin ways
has made their enthusiasm a matter of almost
hysterical Stiffness Mr.. Bell has occasion TO
refer TO Dante Rossetti's advice to his mother
and sister touching the rental Of the house In
which they were living The poet and painter
thought il too high. He suggested that they
find q less expensive house. Enter Nj Macken-
Lit BEL cannot Dun lnlnk lhdt IN making
this remark the poet painter gave proof Of
that strong practical common-se which, when
allied 10 great imaginative power. is itself an
evidence of genius" Then We suppose that TO
carry an umbrella out into a shower is. when
combined with the great Imaginative idea OF
opening it, an indication Of Mltonic powers.
M. Bell describes the exterior Of the conven-
tional London house in which his heroine lived
for some years. The small windows" he owl
ishly informs Us. were Of usual shape. The
trent door. slightly raised above the level OF
the square. was approached by stone steps.
There was the inevitable area But we
pause, leaving Mr.. Bell in the area where he
seems much at home. and proceed 10 the
consideration Of his subject
Christina Rossett's biography could be ade-
Quateiy written In fifty small octave pages.
Her life undisturbed by activities Of any
but poetical character That she never entered
a conventual order is the sole surprise offered
In survey Of her career for the religious life
in It's most retired phase seems that 10 which
she was most manfesty called. II she re-
jected il. We fancy il was more because Of her
love for her family, her happy companionship
with her mother sister and brothers, than
because she was disncliaed to assume its
sponsibilites. She had romance in her nature
every member OF the Rossett family save VIII
lam Michael Rossetti seems 10 have had that
and she had tho artistic. the poetic temperament,
but she had. most If all devotional mind and
a deep contentment with the quietest side Of
life. 1t is no wonder that Mr.. Bell has eked out
his substantial volume with fatuities. He can
put his finger upon such actual adventure.
for example. as the elopement in the biography
Of Mrs. Browning. Christmas contemporary and
peer The only tangible incidents OF the
mildest character; the only anecdotes Of the
poet are colorless. The one point at which she