New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-12

lecture what was the real OBJECT ol n''"'
many calls on the invalid.
We need not sympathze too much with the
lovers. for those terrors gave to their story the
uncertainty which made it plquant. Inc ma"
tired Of concealment sometimes, and begged for
<rarkness but the timid daughter of the bully
fell into nervous horror at the suggestion Ihe
eaverest blow that her system Of passive
obedience received was her fathers fiat relusai
70 LET her spend for the sake of her health
much needed winter in Italy. There was aDso-
Iutely no reason against it. and he attempteu u
siye none; he merely chose that she shouu s'aS
at hozza and she was his chattel IL difnihsheu
her Ions beld faith in his affection ana hoi"
that day lhe listened with more compIacency 10
Browning appeals. OF all Mr. Barrelts chH-
dren she alone had certain measure or inde-
pendence IN her power. The others were not
only "chal tells but dependents upon his PURSE
She was in a small way an heiress, having a
fortune 81 $500 OF 400 a year left to her by
an uncAp, She was richer indeed. than Brown
ing when they married. and it should be said
that the spirit in which this fact was discussed
by the lovers is one of the most attractive
things in these letters
Whatever NAV be thought as to the general
interest Of the correspondencc-and concerning
some Of it we might quote 1T is multitude OF
words about nothing at all'-it ought to be said
that II portrays two remarkably honorable
loyal and high minded people. 1t was natural
that they should unduiy admire each others
writings; but their comments on the work OF
other authors are, with some exceptions just
and acute. We may. no doubt be allowed the
belief that both were too severe on America ana
Americans Perhaps it was true at that early
day that the readers Of this country had a zeal
without knowledge about poetry; but those VINO
knew Lowell cannot but smile at Miss BarTetts
snap judgment: How right you are about MT
Lowell. lie has a refined fancy and is graceful
for an American critic, but the truth IS, other
wise that he knows nothing OF English poetry
or next to nothing. and has merely had dream
of the early dramatists."
American books do not suit the English. the
lady gives us to understand Mrs Markham
mig't as well send her compendium Of the
History OF Frame 10 NJ. Theirs" She says
and there is an air Of pleased Il told you So In
this paragraph from one Of Brownings letters:
president Polk With eye to business. gets
his brother. a tall, gaunt hungry man. APP
nointcd Ambassador to Naples-why not? so
he arrives u year ago-finds the Neapolltans
speak Italian or else French. or else German
that is. the diplomatic body at Naples don't
speak English-on which discovery Polk secun-
dus sees he may well amuse himself. SO goes
to Paris for half a year,-then TO Rome, where
he is now, seeing sights-who could ten the
Italians were not able to talk English? Is not
that American entirely? Carlyle told me OF an
American who was commissioned by some
learned body Of his countrymen to ask TWO
Questions What C.s opinion
70 n future state?' and next. What relation
Goethe was TO Goethe's mothers husband"
There are occasional glimpses OF other authors
might reasonably .ook for Miss Barrett tells
her lover that her brother George has met
Tennyson at the chambers Of his friend. Mr..
Venables The poet seemed Ito detest Lon
DON" abusing everything in unmeasured
words" Then he had been dining at Dickenss
and meeting various celebrities. and Dickens
had asked him to go with him Dickens) to
Switzerland. where he lisl going. to write his
new work: but laughed Tennyson IL | went
! should be entreating him to dismiss his SEN
tmentality and so we should quarrel and part
and never see one another any more. 1t was
better to decline and | have declined When
George had told his story inquired il Tenny
son was what called agreeable man
happy in conversation. And the reply was
'Yes-but quite inferior to Browning! He
neither talks so we'll observed George with
grave consideration and balancing of the SEN
fences nor has so frank and open a manner.
The advantages are all on Browning's side. l
should say" Ard who so happy as Brown
ing's "Ba" to be able to report SO nattering an
opnioni Early In their correspondence the
man poet writes to the womanpoet concerning
one whom they both reverence:
Il know Carlyle and love him-know him so
well that would have told you he had shaken
that great head Of his at singing thor
ouglrly does he love and live by it.
"When l last saw him. a fortnight ago. he
turned from l don't know what other talk