New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-02
A GROUP OF ESSAYISTS.
THEIR DEALINGS WITH LIFE AND
LETTERS

MORE BY Max Beerbohm- 16mo, PIP. Dol John
Lane
TIE SPIRIT OF PLACE AND OTHER ESSAYS.
BY Alice Aeynen l6mo PIP. 1Oe- John Lane
Professor Woodbury. observes in the first OF
Ire four essays making UP his Heart OF Man"
cnat ne has never seen II set down among the
Advantages OF travel that one learns 20 under
canc the poets better" he goes on to show
how profitable, IN this respect, travel has been
to him saying: ct own to believing that virgins
Storms never blew eli the sea until once, near
Salernn, as I rode back from Paestum' there
CINE a storm over the wide gulf that held my
eyes enchanted-such masses Of ragged, full
clouds such darkness IN their broad bosoms
broken with rapid fame, and a change beneath
So swift such anger the sea- such an In
6escribabie and awful cleaning hue, not purple
no- green. nor red, but a oommingling OF all
tNese-a revelation OF the wrath Of colour! The
waves were wild with the fallen tempest quick
arc heavy the surf came laundering on the
sancs; the light went out IL it were ex-
tinSUiShed. and the dark rain came down; and
! said IT'S one OF Vlrgirs storms The inter
estinr thing about this passage is its revelation
OF what travel has done not only for Professor
Woodberry's appreciation OF the poets, but for
the development OF his powers as a writer. The
work to which he has owed his repute has been
competent but cold. distinguished by many ex-
cele-t qualities. but Untouched by a single
breath % emotion Even in this volume he IS
not altogether free from the benumbing infu-
ence Of his too self-possessed attitude toward all
things IN nature and in books. But the tension
has been relaxed enough to make some OF these
Iaet@ more sympathetic than any he has pre-
yiously published. "Taormina-" ID fact, the in
do, tod
Is ercrn beginning to end a charming compo-
s,ion fresh. natural not TOO sentimental when
II IS corterplative, and rot too mater Of fact
when it Is descriptive.
Urging himself on through a New Defence OF
poetry" Democracy" and The Ride the
reader is rewarded FOR his patient unravellins
@. .he authors obscurities by nothing more than
q .nse Of buoyant idealsm; it IS worth gaining,
but The thought IS not new enough TO inspire
unusual gratitude. From "Taormina' on the
Other hand. one derives much for which one is
~ med warmly TO thank Professor Woodberry.
Il ADDS TO his vivid and animated portrayal
O. the town and its lovely environment suf-
:, mt historical data TO people both with heroic
ar. Dathetic figures With his scenery and his
~. sitecture. with his notes on sieges and mill
,-rv ~ ecclesiastical personages. he blends
s
echoed in these pages and the authors own
e-ro-ions fuse themselves artIessly with those OF
the ancient poet Here there is confusing or
fr4 point at issue. there are no metaphysical
er0rinrs. but al is luminous with the hight Of
nature. and strengthened as well as adorned by
the writer's bookish lore. Plainly Professor
Woodbe-ry rs at his best as an essaylst "heh ne
&c IN the presence Of natural beauty and awake
20 noble memories His revery on Taormna Is
worth all his high-erected thoughts on me De
fence OF Poetry or Democracy
Mr Max Beerbohm IS making with character
istic iauntiness the transition from youth 10
maturity. The role Of "enfant terrible IS nov
ttted TO the dramatic critic of The SATURDAY
Review" But the period Of irresponsiohty was
very sweet while il lasted. Mr.. Beerbohm seems
e. say and he IS 10th 20 break with II al al
once Hence the little ESSAYS in More are
sometimes hopelessy fippant and sometimes
exceuently well pOndered An Infamous brls-
adj which advocates the harrassing of the fire
department by an Artists Corps the latter
riaving oil upon a confagration in order TO save
and increase its potentialites Of beauty. Is a
niece Of mere foong But in other chapters
our essayist- still healthily declining TO take
himself too seriously. nevertheless infuses into
rs nIavful prose abundant good sense, taste
md humor If ! Were Aecile' summaries
uf,h kind Of drou felicity exactly the feeling
~ every right-rninded individual the subject
~ the preservation Of London's most character
,e-tc asn4cts The tone is purposey defiant
and even saucy but the grasp is now assured
,be old affectations which made Mr.. Beerhohm =
ss,,iar work intolerable are rapidly giving place
o. mo light but thoughtful touches Of d man
.-o eirceritv and capabilities are developing