New-York tribune., 1899-05-14

borrow CTedttu ny ptIlciNiu iSoucio oue VI hto
most celebrated books. He had romantic SOUL
one of the most romantic in English letters, but
II was not a soul above duty. and until 1899,
when he terminated his official relations with
the Bible Society, and prepared for his marriage
In the following year-a marriage which was to
make him independent-his labors In the dis
semination of the Scriptures were carried on in
a manner that may not have always been dis
Greet but was always creditable to his good
faith and assiduity. When the rupture came
Il was due largely to circumstances over which
he had no control 1t is idle to assume as has
eften been assumed. that Borrow's retirement
from the staff Of the Society was owing to
natural conflict between his eccentric person
ahty and a pragmatic Board of Directors, with
no sympathy for the ways OF genius. The rev.
erend gentlemen and sedate officials whose
councils directed the enterprises of that insti-
tuition could hardly be expected to divine in
Borrow the imaginative artist familiar to his
readers to-day, and when the trend Of political
events in Spain created obstacle after n
other in the path of their benefcent campaign.
they naturally did not think Of continuing their
representative in office for the sheer pleasure Of
assisting him in his curious researches. Some
Misunderstanding were inevitable between
them; but when all of DR.. Knapps documents
have been considered the Bible Society episode
fails into a correct perspective and shows us
Borrow simply as the careful worker that he
was. earning encomiums from his employers
and generally receiving them
Ills marriage to Mrs. Clarke gave him com
Portable home in England, and the leisure neces-
sary for the composition Of his books. The tran
sition from the bright skies of Andausia" to a
colder cline seems to have had an effect upon
his nature. Says DR.. Knapp, "A spirit Of irrita-
bility, unrest and melancholy seemed to acquire
new force over his will" These traits manifest
ed themselves sometimes in ways distressing
to those with whom he had dealings. He was
always something Of an egotist and as he grew
older he became more self-centred He was
quick TO quarrel; In his explosions OF rage he
often forgot entirely to be just He hated DR..
Martineau because that individual had borne
part in a humiliation of his schooldays; and late
in life he would express his loathing Of any one
who bore his old comrades name. When his
dog fought with a neighbor's the incident led to
an interchange OF notes in which Borrow was
almost truculent. He dearly loved row. In
his young manhood he had witnessed pugilistic |
combats, and every one who remembers the
encounter between Lavengro and the Flaming
Tinman in "Lavengro" knows how the thrill
OF DLttI6 caused BOTTON : nerves 10 llUSlt bul
Dr Knapp only introduces in casual way
anecdotes OF his heros pugnacity. The bulk of
his text is devoted to an exposition of the |
growth of those writings with which Borrow |
was occupied after his marriage; and he gives
us matter of fact record of mere matters of
fact.
This as have indicated above, is worth .
having II is interesting 10 follow Borrow's re-
.lations with his publishers. to see him moving !
somewhat at a disadvantage amid the cOndi-
tions Of authorship and periodical journalism
of the London of the '40s and sos. 1t is char
acteristic to find him repayng the generous
friendship OF Richard Ford by writing review
of that authors Handbook for SPAIN which
was not review at all but disquistion on
certain phases Of the theme which happened to
appeal to him. Again, it was Characteristic of
him to forbid Lockhart to add anything giving
his essay relevance. He preferred to let the
matter go imprinted. But this sort Of thing is
not all that we want to know about Borrow,
and we weigh Dr. Knapps volumes with feel
ing of deep disappointment He does not dis
guise his inadequacy 10y occasional attempts at
cheap Carlylese. When his style is not com
monplace il is inflated. When he Wishes in tell
ing a story of a general who escaped in box
from captivity TO say that the made ar
rangements to get some fresh air into the said
box he observes: Then he obtained piece of
pipe and so fitted ii in the chest that the pull
monary functions might not be paralyzed" 1t
Is a little droll, too to find him over and over
again speaking of "Mr" Borrow. But in that
pedagogic sOlicitude for the prefix our biOg-
rapher gives the measure of his insensbty TO
the true character of the man ne has essayed
To celebrate.