The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-09
NEW BOOKS AND
LITERARY NOTES.


BROWNING 1Sls-iSl6. Published by
Harper & Brothers Now York.
10 has been said OF Robert Brownlns
"that he was the worlds ideal lover ana
husband. and that ne Won the worid
love before his genius commanded US
paeans" Tho more the absolute truth
and Justice Of such an assertion is borhe
in UPON US. the more certain are we that
the Intimate and sacred records OF such
love and such lover should have never
been laid bare 20 the critical eye or th-
world. even though "rhe Browning Let
,ors" form "tho most important ao-
dition 90 human history-to the history
~ human character and Of poetry -aoHte
10 English letters during many years.
Tho reason given by Mr. Barrett Brown
ing for the publication Of what should
have been a priceless and jealousy guard
ed inheritance-the plea that such course
was tho only one 90 preserve Mhat was
Invaluable from dcstructon-seems
wholly inadequate one, even though me
largest liberty Of action WAS conferred
rnon him by the pathetic uttcrance which
said. in referring 20 the letters: "There
they are do with them as you please
when I am dead and gone
Accepting such an uttcrance In It's let
Ter. not its spirit. Mr. Barrett Browning
has been pleased 20 admit 10 the fullest
confidence Of the hero nd the heroine, IN
Tho most beautiful love secret the world
has ever known. the readers and the adj
rnrers Of the poetry Of both.
II is In the light OF the hard materialism
Of to-day that one great and good result
may grow out OF this trust IN the pub
lie unprecedented as Il IS. A much
needed lesson may be taught by so I'M
selfish a passion, so perfect unison ana
one in which two high and noble hearts.
int ON
Browning in his humility, says or his
wife: "The simple truth is that she was
tho poet and I the clever person hy
comparison" BE that a. 10 may. II Is
one Of the lingliest traits Of Browning
character. his enjoyment I'm the world
appreciation Of his wife's talent during
The long years when he reaped only It's
scorn or its Indifference, when shining
light IN the English literary world. 70 the
question .sWhat do YOU know of Brown
ing7" gave quick and contemptuous an
swer: Nothing thank God" This gem
Grafton had not then spoken ats multi
rudinous and decisive word and the
Browning apotheosis" had not yet be-
gun.
Brownings letters suffer by comparison
with those OF his wife. He has been
known as the king OF the Mystcs,
and the same obscurity that wells his
tiers: he sometimes seems TO be striving
20 force his meaning through a barrier
OF words" If Mrs. Browning had writ
ten nothing else but hers they would OF
themselves give her q place and name
IN literature Hers are essentially love-
1etters-tender in imagery. womanly IN
thought, exquisite In expression. The
woman who wrote them could never be
ANYTHING eye than good and pure, could
never descend lower than her own lofty
standard 81 honor and integrity.
Mrs Browning's invaliGism and her un-
happy home life, caused possibly by the
fvranny OF her father. but throw into
stronger relief the chivalry and devotion
which longed 20 remove her from so OBJ
iectionable sphere and surroundings.
In view Of the fact that Mrs Browning
never saw her father after her MARRIAGE
the "Dedication" so tenderly written ITO
Nv Father" I'm her book Of poems, seems
ooubly touching It's first sentence runs
thus: when your eyes rest upon this
mage OF dedication, and YOU start TO see
10 whom a. IS inscribed. your first thought
will De that far-Off time when ] was
child and wrote verses 10 you who were
my public and my critic
Browning and his wife never needed,
fn their close ayd ideal companionship.
u write each other letters after their
marriage God gave them some years of
hapnlncss and work together, and. when
.'tho great silence" fell between the two,
and FOR thirty years the man lived on
alone. his life bore witness to the sub
lime truth that undcriies all faith and
crowns all life. the truth which makes
us certain that Loves all: Deaths
naught."
THE STORY or OLD FORT IOUDON
BY Charles Esbert CradQock. The Mac
milan Co. New York.
Miss Murfee's latest effort Ike Mr.
Wages RED Rock" s. as much the his
tory OF a period as a romance and should
rank. not only as singularly deliehtlul
work OF fiction, but as vivid deiineation
Of characters and events I'm day when
figures doomed large upon the heroic
canvas Of frontier life. and each day
might create an epoch for the future
greatness Of a nation
The pioneers who were slowly but sure
~ winning for their own the lands OF
Tennessee. 20 which the beautiful river
had given its Indian title; the Indians
themselves with Atta-kneea-Kneea first
and foremost stand out IN strong and
picturesque contrast. and the details Of
their meetings and their struggles but
heightens the effect upon the readers
mind OF idyllic life led ny the Scottish
husband and his girl-wife in the little
home overshadOwed and guarded by the
,yrim and massive walls OF its fortress
neighbOr
Longfelows "Evangeline" has lasting
~ impressed upon the readers mind the
Acadlan tragedy with its localities and
environment, 50 the charm Of Odalie
Macleod the young wife and mother.
rc1r ed. artistic. and delicate, in the midst
Of q primitive land and n savage peO-
PIE. the ideal domcsticity that she evolves,
envelopes her rude cabin with an at
mosphere which might be lacking In a
royal palace.
Miss Murfee especially excels IN her
ability OF describing childhood and baby
hood. and the baby OF this book is drawn
with her happiest effect. even tho she
does not remark OF this child. in refer
once 20 unusual precocity. as Of one In
PRODUCED IN other pages. that % was
plumb survigrous." So tragic a back
ground. as time written OF here reveals.
however IS an excellent foil for tho
loneliness and innonconce Of happy. I'M
conscious infancy.
A. painter OF nature and a lover OF
H. Miss Murfee IS az her best In "Old
Fort Loucon Her skctching OF the fort
and Its setting IS realistic 20 a degree i'm.
pressing one with the truth that the
pen wields the strongest point where the
heart back o. Il feels the deorost ~ d.