The times., 1898-11-13
"Henry Esmt nd. -

The latest volume of the biographical
edition OF Thackeray will be considered by
many readers the gem of the series.
1t contains Henry Esmond," illustrated
by du Maurier; The English Humorists"
and THE Four Georges" " Besides du
Maurier, F. Barnard and Frank Dicksee,
r. s., are represented in the illustrations
The introduction tells of some of Thack-
erays lecturing experiences and of his
travels in America collecting material for
THE Virginians. One of the former is
rather amusing. In 1851 the novelist was
to lecture at Cambridge. and had to obtain
leave to give his entertainment. The dig
nitary to whom he applied had never
heard of Vanity Fair or its author and
someone had TO be found to vouch for the
lecturers responsibility.
In connection with the writing of 'Es-
mond' Mrs. Ritchie mentions a curious
fact which may prove something in re-
gard to the laws of imagination. She says
that her father was possessed of a sort of
second sight, and adds:
Occasionally when he described places he said
he could hardly believe he had not been there
Us that the very details of the foreground were
visible 10 him as he wrote, even TO some reeds
growing by 4 streamet and the curve of the
bank by which it flowed. find sentence in
one Of his letters that corroborates this imures-
sion.
II was pleased to find Blenheim." he wrote to
his mother in August, 1852, Twas Just exactly
the place had figured 10 myself. except that the
village Is Larger; but fancied | had actually
been there, so like the aspect of it was TO what
looked for. | saw the brook which Harry Es-
mond crossed, and almost the spot where he fell
wounded. and walked down TO the Danube and
unused mighty thoughts over it, 1t seems grand
10 walk down 10 the Danube. but the Thames at
Putney is twice as big and handsome as the
river here
1t is pleasant to find that Thackeray.
unlike many other literary Englishmen
in America, had only kind words for this
country. He says in a letter of Decem-
Der, 1852:
''As fer writing about this country. about Gosh
en-, about Canada flowing with milk and honey
about the friends have found here, and who are
helping me to procure independence for nv chill.
dren. II | cut jokes against them may choke on
the instant. II can say anything to show that
my name is really Makepeace, and TO increase the
source of love between the two countries, then
please God WILL
Another passage In an American letter
is thoroughly characteristic of Thack-
S"si A'iN So" " iiiiil Vi tHe conditions
of literary America in the fifties. and of
the power of the press at that time.
Thackeray says:
Everybody lectures in this country and IT
isn't, any trade calling else for that mat
ter, thought mira dig. Nor is man thought the
worse of for showing little independence For
instance, when came here, they told me ii was
usual for lecturers on. b., of London had done i)
to call upon all the editors of all the papers hat
in hand, and ask them TO puff their lectures Says
/: IN see them all in - here | used
strong expression. which YOU will find in the
Athanasian Greed. Well, they were pleased rath
er than otherwise, and now the papers puff
ing so to make me blush.
This introduction is illustrated, as
usual, with sundry small sketches by the
novelist. (New York: Harper & Bros.)