The times., 1898-12-11
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''Evelina: or. the History of n Young
Iady's Entrance into the World printed
in quaint, old-fashioned type, was often
to be found in our grandmother's libra
ries, but is seldom seen in ours. 1t has
now been republished. with illustrations
by Arthur Rackham. The precise and
stately diction,. the old-time phrases. set
the imagination flying back to the days of
the Georges. One of the things which the
youthful reader will discover in this book
is that once upon time phrases which
are now ridiculed as iliiterate were in the
very best of form, or at least acceptable
in good society. THAT there trouble"
don't choose for to part with her.. and
the double negative are all to be found in
these pages. To those who enjoy such
backward glimpses into their ancestors
society the book will be fascinating. 1t
may be added that Miss Burney dedicated
her novel ITO the Authors of the Month
ly and Critical Reviews and the way in
which she did it may prove amusing to
modern readers. The dedication occupies
two pages ana a half, and is in part as
follows:
Gentlemen: Tire liberty which I take in ad-
dressing to you the trifling production OF few
idle hours. will doubtless move your wonder, and
probably your contempt / will not, however,
with the futility OF apologies. intrude upon your
time. but briefly acknowledge the motives of my
teme.i ity; lest by premature exercise of that
patience which hope will befriend me, should
lessen its beBevolcnce and be accessory to my own
condemnation.
As magistrates of the press. and censors for the
public-to which you bound by the sacred
ties OF integrity TO exert the most spirited i'm
partiality. and to which your sufrages should
carry the mark OF pure, dauntiess. irrefragable
your dishonor; and therefore-though tis sweeter
than irankineeIse- grateful to the sense
| than all the odorous perfumes of Arabia, and
| though
''Tt droppeth like the gentle rain from heaven
| Upon the place beneath"
l court it not. To your justice alone en-
| titled, and by that ! must abide. Your engage
ments not to the supplicatiny authors; but
! to the candid public. which will not fail to
| crave
The penalty and forfeit of your bond"
| No haekneyed writer. Injured to abuse, and cal
| lous to criticism. here braves your severely
neither does haf-staryed earretteer.
| Obliged by hunger anprequests of friends -
! implore your lenity; your examination will be
| alike unbiased by partiality and prejudice; nc
refractory murmurins will follow your censure
NO private interest be gratified by your praise.
Let not the anxious solicitude with which
your derision. Remember, gentlemen, you were
! all young writers once and the most experienced
veteran of your corps may. by rccollecting hi.
first publication, renovate his first terrors and
! learn to allow for mine. For though courage i:
| one Of the noblest virtues of this neither sphere
and though scarcely more requisite in the field
! battle, to guard the fighting hero from disgrace
than in the private commerce Of the world, te
| ward off that littleness of soul which leads, BY
steps imperceptible, to all the base train of tht
inferior passions. and by which the too timit
mind is betrayed into "A servility derogatory tt
| the dignity of human nature. yet is it vir
tue of no necessity in a situation such as mine
| situation which removes, even from cowardic,
itself, the sting Of ignominy-for surely that cour
| age may easily be dispensed with, which woult
| rather excite disgust than admiration. Indeed
| it is the peculiar privilege of an author to rol
terror of contempt and pusillanimity Of re
proach.
philadelphia: ]. B. Lippincott Com
.pany-)