The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-18
BOOKS OF THE TIME.
The Thackeray Biographical Edition,
Edited by His Daughter.


Edited by His Daughter.
The Journal has already spoken in COM
mandatory terms of the biographical edi-
ton of Thackeray's complete works now
being issued by Harper Brothers. The chief
merit of the edition, aside from it's excel
lence as a specimen of fine bookmaking. is
the biographical introduction to each
volume by Thackeray's daughter, Mrs.
Anne Thackeray Richie, in which she
gives sketchy bits of the life and Surround
ings of her father at the time of mis- writ
ing the work. These sketches almost invest
the pages with the subtle charm that sur
rounds personal confidence, and they con-
stitute the best personal biography OF
Thackeray there is. Adapted as they are to
the time and conditions under which each
work was written. they seem to make the
authors characters as real to the reader
they were to him when they were born in
his brain. The third volume of the edition,
now at hand, contains The Memoirs of
Mr.. c. ]. Yellowplush,' commonly called
the Yellowplush papers, The History of
Samuel Titmarsh and the Great Hogarty
Diamond, and few more of the authors
earliest stories and sketches. All of these
are in somewhat exaggerated vein of
irony, with more than a touch of bitter
ness, which Mrs. Ritchie sufficiently ac-
counts for in her introduction, while re-
marking its absence in the later works. She
tells of her fathers early years of literary
labor in London from 1881 to 1887. He mar
rled in 1886 Miss Shave, to whom he was
deVotedly attached. Shortly after his mar
rage he went to Paris a newspaper cor
respondent, doing some magazine and liter
afy work at the same time. Mrs. Ritehie
gives parts of some letters written by him
10 MS young wife during this period of
newspaper drudgery and literary activity
one is dated at Paris in 1898:
Here we have been two years
married and not single unhappy day Oh!
l do bless God for all this happiness which
ne mas given me- 1t is so great that 1 al
most tremble for the future, except that
L humbly hope (for what man is certain
ABOUT his own weakness or Wickedness) our
rove Is strong enough to withstand any
pressure from without, and as it is a gift
greater than any fortune, is likewise one
superior TO poverty or sickness or any other
WofIoly evil with which Providence may
vlsll US. Let US pray, as / trust there is no
hafm, that none of these may come upon
US; as the best and wisest Man in the
t Mopla prayed that He might not be led into
temptation. l think happiness is as
SooQ as prayers, and l feel in nv heart
KIND OF overlooking THANKSGIVING which is
I I; TOO great to describe in writing This
hlnd or happiness is like fine picture. you
only see little bit of it when YOU are
cIose 10 the canvas; go little distance and
k knew you you see now beautiful it is 1 don't
ing away, except being SO awfully Glad to
get back again.
su nnis is in very curious mood, with no
SUGGESTION OF the authors satirical vein.
Another letter, dated Paris, March 20 1S3S
seems more like Thackeray ''
mere is chance of $3.50 a year here
Poor H. is dying, and his place is worth as
Inucn; out then | throw away a very good
pUsdi,on IN LONDON, where I can make as
MY game. as far as / can see it, is to Stick
~! ~ Inc IlmeS. have just come from seeing
H aap1an an 11eiorme. the tragedy of Victor
with the horrid piece that have hardly
near TO write; The last act ends with an
execution, and you are kept a long hour
: listening to the agonies of parting lovers
ana grim speculation about head chopping.
DEAD bodies. collins, and what mott am as
SICK as II l had taken an emetc
have been writing all day, and finished
ana af dlspatched an article for the Times.
t my next tb visit will be to the Spanish pic
lures tne next to Versailles, and on Monday
next, please God, 1 will be home
Today have been to Versailles, and after
ward to the opera-it was benefit, and all
sorts of oddities from all sorts of theaters
were piayed-everything intolerably tedious.
S.0S Tebd,,I an act from very old opera,
more nor less than sublime. Dupre is the
most delightful tenor l ever heard, with a
SIMPLICITY OF voice and method quite deli
cious, as good as Rudini, without his faults;
singing MS notes steadily, with no trick or
catcnes or quavers and much music: like
a very fine Mozart. so simple and melodious
thing like it. any
The Versailles gallery is a humbug-a
hundred gllded rooms with looking glasses
ana carved ceilings, and 1900 bad pictures
TO ornament Them
Thackeray's income could not have been
prlncely at this time, as he refers to the
chance of getting $1,75O a year as a good
prospect, which. however, did not tempt
Times. From these quotations the reader
will readily see that the introductions to the
several volumes of this edition contain much
new and original matter concerning the dis
tinguished author. The illustrations are
also an attractive feature.