Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-18
aG@.ss& g: &a0:
Harvard University.
STUDENTS NOTES AND or1Es.
TIONS

TIONS.
L. Everything relating to the Broptas
mas an interest begotten partly of sv,n-
pathy-their lives characteristics nv 90
much that was depressing; what thcv
did was done with much reticenco 80
attempt at self-conccalment For n lonsr
time a sort of mystery seemed TO hnnS
over their biographies. But sympotbv
ana curiosity are strongs factors in hin.
graphical research and in the case or
me me lrohlos these factors have been ef-
fective. The pathetic history of tho
gifted sisters is now pretty well nm
derstood.
,. First may be mentioned the bio
graphical notice of ELLIS and Acton
by "Currer Bell" (Charlotte Rronto1
preiiXed to the edition OF Emily Bronte's
"Wuthering Heights and Anna
Bronte,s Agnes Grey" published in
1890. The biographical notice is now
s s,i,iy round as preface in all good
EDITIONS of "Wuthering Heights"
3. Then next to be mentioned irr orr
opinion. is Miss a.. Mary +. Robinson's
monograph on Emily Bronte" in
Eminent Women" series Gondon: w.
II. Allen G. Coz. There are not n few
critics. it may be remarked, who think
mat In Emily Bronte lay the greatest
genius OF all the sisters. But unfortu-
nately Emily Bronte died when she
was only 80, and the world therefore
hnI
Miss Robinson is IL writer whose lilo
rary power and power OF sympathy
ahke qualify her for the task Of writ
ing the life Of the woman whose char
acter she admired so truly.
Ci,,,.in nv 'e H are three biographies of
friend, Mrs. Gaskell. first published i'm
lSo'; 90 the monograph entitled Char
lotte iironte." by II. Wcmyss Reid. pub-
I TX ~ London; The Macmillans);
and Her Circle" by Clement *. Shorter
llrst published in 1896 Dodd. Mead &.
COD. TO these may he added the Life -
by Augustine Birrell of "Obitcr Dicta.,
iame. III Great Writers, " series (Scrib-
ner's)
5. There arc some points in Charlotte
Bronte's life that none Of the above
writer's satisfactorily explain. There is.
Tor example. what is called "her Sc
cret.' Those who wish TO know what
that secret was Cor at least what 1t is
said 1t was) and how ii may be eX-
plained Will find interesting reading in
The Brontos: Fact and Fiction" Chat
is to say, in the first chapter of this
work). by Angus NJ. Mckay (Chicago:
~ G. McClurg x Coz.
.. AS a work bearing directly unon
me subject of our paper we may men,
ton Women Novelists of Queen Vic
toria's Reign" by various authors
FOR example, Mrs. olfphant Mrs. Lynn
Vi.
first article of sixty pages on "rhe
Sisters Bronte" is by Mrs. OIphant
Z. No work OF female novelist" has
ever won the delighted admiration of
hosts Of readers more completely than
Mrs. Gaskell's Crawford" originally
contributed to Dickens Household
Words and then reprinted in book
form in 1853. Dickens we believe.
claimed that he discovered" Mrs. Gas
kcll. At any rate, when he started
Household Words" in 1850 he asked
nor to cooperate with him i'm making
That publication success. and Gran
ford" was one OF the first results of the
cooperation. Most OF our readers
know Crawford" we have no doubt.
II there are any who do not, let them
read it at once. It's simple descriptions
OF English middle-class life have never
been surpassed. But If Crawford" be
read at all. let it be read in the bcauti-
full Crawford" edition of Crawford"
with 100 Illustrations by Hugh Thomp-
son lMacmillan)
QUESTION.
There was once story current IN
foolish ana impossible story" how
EYER to the cffecL+hat "Jane INJre,,
mao been written by a govcrness who
had heen the original of Thackcrav's
ifccky Sharp. and that this governcss.
because OF the way she had been CHAR
acteriZed as l'ecky sharp in VANITY
fair' wrote Jane Eyre" as n retort
upon Thacleray as prototype. Who
was the character in Jane Eyre" that
according TO this story Thackerav
would be the prototype of?
NOTE-THIS CONCLUDES THE
PRt.SitNT SERIES OF POPULAR
STUDIES IN LITERATURE" AN
I1HAMlNATION ON THIS COURSE
AS THE BASIS FOR THE GRANT
~ " CtltIlFlCATES WILL BE
PUBLISHED ON FRIDAY. lime %
EXAMINATIONS AND CERTIFf.
Gates.
Al The end of the term Of seventnnn