New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-17


has contributed 10 the current "Cornhih SONS
interesting "reminiscences Of the author OF Jan'
Fyre" The Ms Of that novel was sent 20 MIN
By 'Currer Bell" and was first read by MI VIII
Jams another member Of the firm. He brought
n 10 me. on a Saturday" says Mr.. smith
land said that ne would like me TO read
n There were no Saturday half holidays in those
DAYS and as was usual. ] did not reach nome
until late. ] had made an appointment with q
friend for Sunday morning; ] meet him
about II O'Clock at a place some two or three
miles from our house and ride with him into the
country.
After breakfast on Sunday morning took
the Ms Of Jane Eyre 10 my little study, and
began 20 read it. The story quickly took me cap
tive Before l. O'Clock my horse came TO the
door. but ] could not put the book down i
scrubbed two three lines to my friend saying
] was very sorry that circumstances had arisen
10 prevent my meeting him. sent the note on by
my groom and went reading the MS. Pres
emily the servant came to tell me that luncheon
was ready: ! asked him TO bring me a sand
witch and a glass Of wine. and still went on with
Jane Eyre Dinner came; for me the meal was
a very hasty one. and before went TO bed THAI
night I had finished reading the manuscript
THE next day We wrote TO 'Currer Bell ac-
oepting the book for publication. l need say
nothing about the success which the book
achieved and the speculations TO whether II
was written by a man or a woman For my own
part never had much doubt on the subject OF
the writer's sex; hut then had the advantage
over the general public Of having the handwrit-
ing Of the author before me. There were quail
ties Of style too, and turns of expression. which
satisfied me that 'Currer Bell was woman. an
opinion in which Mr. Williams concurred. We
were bound however, TO respect the writer's
anonymity. and our letters continued 10 be ad-
dressed to 'Currer Bell, Esq -"
Before the anonymity broken there arose
a report that Currer. Acton and Ellis Bell were
one and the same person and Charlotte and her
sister Anne resolved that they would immedi-
ately start for London 10 prove their identity to
Smith Elder & Co. Mr.. Smith continues:
That particular Saturday morning / was at
work in my room, when clerk reported thal
two ladies wished to see me. l was very busy
and sent out TO ask their names. The clerk re-
turned 10 say that the ladies declined 10 give
their names but wished TO see me on private
matter After a moments hesitation told him
20 show them in. / was i'm the midst OF my cor
respondence, and my thoughts were far away
from "Currer Bell" and Jane Eyre" TWO rather
quantity dressed little ladies pale faced and anN-
ious looking, walked into Tay room; one Of them
came forward and presented me with a letter
addressed. in my own handwriting TO "Currer
Bell. Esq noticed that the letter had been
opened and said. with some sharpness, w here
did you get this from?" From the postoihce,
was the reply. lit was addressed to me. We
have both come that you might have ocular
then was 'Currer Bell In person need hardly
say that / AT once keenly Interested not
10 say excited. Mr. Williams was called down
and introduced, and began to plan all sorts OF
attentions to our visitors. tried 10 persuade
them 10 come and stay at our house. This they
positively declined to do, but they agreed that
] should call with my sister and take them TO the
This is the only occasion on which I
saw Anne BrOnte She was gentle, quiet
rather subdued person, by no. means pretty, yet
OF a pleasing appearance. Her manner was curi,
Ousy expressive Of wish for protection and
announcement kind Of constant appeal which
invited sympathy.
/ must confess that my first impression Of
Charlotte Brontes personal appearance was that
II interesting rather than attractive She
was very small, and had quaint old fashioned
look. Her head seemed too large for her body.
she had fine eyes but her face was marTed by
the shape Of the mouth and 10y the complexion
There was hut little feminine charm about her;
and Of this fact she herself uneasily and
perpetually conscious. IL may seem strange
that the possession Of genius did not lift her
above the weakness OF an excessive anxiety
about her personal appearance But 1 believe
that she would have given all her genius and her
fame 10 have been beautiful Perhaps few
women ever existed more anxious 10 be pretty
- than she, or more angrily conscious Of the cir
cumstance that she was not pretty.
III Charlotte Bronte stayed with US several times.
" The utmost was Of course. done 10 entertain and
please her. We arranged for dinner parties at
which artistic and literary notabilities whom
she wished To meet We're present. We took her
10 places which we thought would interest her
The Times office, the General Postoffice, the
Her letters show that she enjoy G the recol-
lection Of these visits and the society at our
house. but my mother and sisters found her a
somewhat difficult guest. and I am afraid she
was never perfectly al her ease with them.
Strangers used 10 say that they afraid OF
her. she was very quiet and self absorbed. and
gave the impression that she was always en-
eaced IN observing and analyZing the people she
met. she was sometimes tempted TO cOnfde
her ANALYSIS 10 the victim. Here is an extract
from letter which she wrote 10 myself
= VII tel YOU thing to be noted often in your
letters and almost always in your versatiOn.
lsyt biological thing. and not a matter per-
tanning 10 style or intellect mean under
current OF quiet raillery, inaudibe laugh 10
plaA ing on your correspondent or companion for
the time beine-in short a sly touch Of a Mephis-
aopheles WIN IN" neno extracted. In the present
instance TINS specially rs perceptible only in the
slightest degree but II is there. and more or less
3Ou have ii always. by ne means mention this
q tanit merely tell you you have il and
can make the accusation with comfortable i'm
punitv, guessing pretty surely that YOU are too
busy just now 10 deny this or any other charge -
For my own part found her conversation
most interesting; her quick and clear intelligence
was delightful When she became excited on
any subject she was really eloquent, and il was
pleasure 10 listen 10 her
Thackeray's daughter has told us how dole
ful an occasion was the evening party given by
her father Miss Brontas honor The little
novelist wouldn't couldn't talk EVERYDAY
else sat about in gloom and constraint and
Thackeray. in despair. finally ran away 10 his
club.
airs. Proctor was accustomed 10 tell the stor,
OF that evening with much humo.- II was shC
always declared. "one of he 3ullest evening"
she ever spent In her life" though she extracted
much entertainment from il years afterward
The failure OF this attempt bv Thackerav Il
entertain Charlotte Bronte illustrates one aspec-
-