The San Francisco call., 1898-06-26

l
 de la Pluche papers and of the ex- travaRanZas and comicalfties or | the Michael Angelo Titmarsh period.
 The introduction, which comprises for ty-two pages, illustrated with drawings never before published, adds a special tn- terest to this edition
 More and more as Mrs. Ritchie's method unfolds itself does it become evil | dent that these introductions are in fact If not in form, chapters of biography which in their entirety will constitute an official memoir of Thackeray. Mrs. Ritchie deserves the thanks of all Thack- eraymaniacs for having disregarded the spirit of her fathers reported request that no such memoir should ever appear. His reputation has not suffered, but, on the contrary, has gained considerably by the revelations which his daughter makes and allows him to make in the let ters and autobiographical notes included in her scheme.
 | The introduction to "Pendennis'' dealt mainly with Thackerays school and uni versity days The present introduction takes up the thread of the narrative from that point and shows us the future | author in his early struggles for fame ! and fortune in London.
 | He affiliated with several young men who afterward reached the goal of simi- | lar ambitions. Alfred and Frederick Ten | nyson Edward Fitzgerald, Charles But 1 Ter and John and Henry Kemble were among them.
 These young Knights of the Mahogany l Tree used to meet and play and work to- | gether, or sit over their brandy and wa ter discussing men and books and morals l speculating, joking and contradicting one another-liking fun and talk and wit and l human nature and all fanciful and noble | things.
 They all went their own ways. They heartily admired one another (and nc wonder) and they encouraged the minor graces as well as the major virtues.
 Mrs. Ritchie quotes from letter writ ten by Thackeray to Edward Fitzgeralo after the latter's departure from London in November, 1881.
 T don't think my rooms will ever ap- pear comfortable again. says the letter Here are your things lying in the exact place you left them. The Rem bles have called-J. yesterday, Henry to. day; he Is a dear fellow and we talked | about nothing but you and the theater i" Then, again: John Kemble stayed with me till o'clock, when we sci gents Park, and he had the talk to him, self. It was agreeable enough; about his ! Spanish adventures, and his friend Gen eral Torrijo's exploits. He has asked me | to his house : Mrs. Kemble has returned, leaving her daughter in Paris.
 This was at the time Thackeray sat | every day In Lawyer Idprell OIlct perched on a high stool, drawing up lega documents. Mir. Taprell was. specia pleader and conveyancer, and 1t would be curious to come across legal docu ment in his pupils handwriting.
 Almost a year before this time Thack cray and his family had come to the con clusion that he should go to the bar. Ht himself was anxious to begin work Writing to his mother from Germany January 9, 1881, he says: "I do believe mother, that 1t Is not merely an appetite for novelty which prompts me, but really desire to enter a profession and do my duty in it. I am nearly 20 years old-a' that time my father had been for five years engaged on his. l am fully aware how difficult and disagreeable my tasl must be for the first four years, but have an end in view and an independence to gain; and if l can steadily keep thi' before me I shall not, trust. finch iron the pursuit of them" By the autumn O that year the young student was. estab ushed in the Temple.
 But his fancies soon strayed from lav to literature. Perhaps it was his ac ouaintance with William Maginn, tn first professional litterAteur with whom he became intimately acquainted, tha formed the turning point in his career
 The earliest mention of Mag1nn in tn