The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-19

when they learn that he was the original
OF THE Laird" in "Trilhy." He and Du
Maurter were felow-students of art. He
was born sxty-fve years ago the son Of
a banker OF Greencock. and as an artist
worked chiefly with water-coIors. though
he also did much as an Illustrator of
books. and In black and white for the
magazines. So we know now what be-
came Of Little Biliee" and The Laird"
and there Is only ''Taffy' left
correspondent Of The London Academy
says. apropos OF an unsuccessful poetic ef-
fort upon Gordon in Africa The poet
had risen 10 a height Of emotion In descrlb-
ing the horrors OF Gordons life In Khar-
toum. and was suddenly reminded of the
religious consultations likely TO be present
10 the great generals mind. Hence the
Nne-~a masterpiece
The lions were tearing him piecemeal; but
he knew 1t was all for the best"'
Regarding the opportunity in America
for a literary critic OF high and authori.a-
tive rank. Mr.. Henry James writes as fo,-
lows in his regular fortnigh,iy letter 20
Literature; Il can speak but for myself.
but nothing. In the United States. appeals
So 10 the attention at any moment as the
symptom. in any quarter OF the world Of
letters. Of the possible growth Of a real
Influence in criticism. The opportunity for
critic OF authority In the field speak oe
strikes me az, at the present hour on the
whole. so much one Of the most dazzling
In the world that there is no precaution IN
favor % his advent that Ii y not positively
criminal to neglect. The signs Of his pres
enee are as vet so incommensura.e with
the need ~ him that the spectacle Is
among tAe peoples almost a thing by itself
And let no one. looking az our literature
with an interrogative eye say that hi.
work is not cut out for him: II IL be 4
question OF subject he has surely the larg-
est he need desire Such a public is in
Itself 81 suhisct-ths greatest mass Of con-
suueTs. I conjecture. that since the be-
ginning OF time have been left. In their
consumption. 50 gregarously, as IL were.
alone"
The specula.ions. rife Just now. as TO who
VIE write the life Of Afr. Gladstone. brings
direct attention 20 an interesting change N
Biographical literature brought about IN
recent time. says the New York Tribune
The late statesman has left an enormous
number Of documents behind him. ample
material. In fact. for the fullest kind Of
fife but II is reported that these Include
practically nothing from Glaas.ons's own
hand the cnlv fra gment Of an autobto-
gra phNsal nature being a very small! sray-
r3cnt indeed. Il reminds ne that the day
II autobiography has gore by and We nat
ural.y seek he causes. First among them
S the decrease II leisure and win il the
disc ppearsnce e what might b. called the
lesur~ly temperament w. doubt II many
men would feel juc.inesi 20 write their own
lives nowadays even II they had the time
Then the daily paper and the monthly
magazine have fores tailed the pubic man
me former keeping close record az his
PUZZLE and private life fo- him. ths latter
aHordu< him many opportunities 10 prins
casual ''rrcoGect3aus" o. ihe celebrated
people Ae has known. This latter profit
abe intercourse with tae periodical press
Is ao doubt 5 tremendous factor I'm the de-
rrra%a ~ au;uoogyaphies and memoirs.
No mar os sers3us character wants today
20 rr;e a volume ef pure xeIf-ansiysss
Il - writes 81 himself ~ ait he wants -
nswrate has experiences with important
people, 20 dss Fto@ MS relation 70 Important
events Hct the temptation - constantly
placed before him 10 tel; ali hs anecdotes
Il famous contemporary t.si dead 70
.-ecerd All Ne knawS about sorTse foreign
country fhat - Visited ia his yowsn AZ a
yze~icA ~ crisis ard - which ruislie Inter
sss Aas fust bsen renewed. or 20 relate .ne
iasds history e n poill5eal episode IN
whgeh Be- sss once involved II he sac
eGrnhs 70 the temptation "a he goes
through life. ard re generally Goes. then
q ~ elise OK his career be Ards that hs