The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11

Two more volumes of the "Haworth Edi-
ton of the works of Charlotte Bronte
have appeared-"S Shirley and "yiIlet:e,"
each with a preface by Mrs. Humphrey
Ward, and an introduction and notes by
Clement X. Shorter.
Shirley as Mrs. Ward reminds us was
written at the most trying time in the life
of the author.
The tragic. the unbearable story of those three
months during which Emily fought with death
and would let no help her, has been often
told. The memory OF them hsunts any visitor
10 the little parsonage today. As one mounts the
stone staircase, with ones hand the old rail,
suddenly ghosts are there. Emily mounts before
one, clinging 10 the rail, dragging her wasted
frame from step TO step The labored breath
sounds more through the small, quiet house,
and the sisters in the dining room below turn
10 each other in misery they hear il. For it
is Emily's spirit that still holds the parsonage
amid all the memories of the house, hers-herce,
passionate, ii.-crutable-is still pre-eminent For
She is the mystery. The others ''abidc our cues
ton" We can know Charlotte and understand
poor Anne; shall never either know under
stand Emily.
OF the book itself Mrs. Ward says that
il suffers often from the tempests of emo
ton which swept over poor Charlotte
Bronte's life while the story was taking
shape. II is her idea that during the
mon hs of loneliness which followed the
death of her two sisters. Miss Bronte found
solace in picturing Emily well, strong,
rich. and happy. in the character of Shlr-
ley, and that in reuniting Caroline and her
mother she found in imagination the con-
ISOLATION denied her own grief in real life.
OF Caroline Helstone, Mrs. Ward says that
she stands supreme among the women of
Miss Brontes gallery"
She is as true as Lucy Snowe, but infinitely
more delightful: she has the same howerlke
purity and fragrance as Frances in the Pro
lessor" but she Is more tangible, more varied;
she can love with the same intensity as Jane
Eyre" but 10 intensity she adds an aetherial and
tender grac. that Jane ust do without. The
exquisite quality in her she shares, indeed. with
Paulina in ''Nillette;" but Pauna is a mere
sketch compared to her. From the moment when
in her soft bloom she first enters the MooTes
sitting room, to the final scene when Rob"rr
graciously rewards her faith and affection with
heart far below her deserts. She Is all woman
and all love. II Is conceivable that she. being
what she is, should have felt no Jealousy Of
Shirley; that she should have dropped without
complaining that she should have preferred rather
TO die than hate; 10 slip out OF the struggle
rather than make a selfish claim. Yet she is no
mere bundle Of virtues; hers is no insipid or
eclectic goodness like that of Thackerly Lauras
or hmelias. What fOrttude and courage even
in her dtspar-what tenderness in her relation
TO her Isw-found mother-what daring in the
dove whsn the heart and its rights TO be up
heidi
"vlllette" is illustrated with several
pictures quite as interesting as any other
feature of the book. We have here a por-
trait OF NJ. Heger. a view of the gateway
OF the Pensionnat. Of st. Gudules Cathe
dral in Brussels. of st. Paul's Cathedral
from Ludgate Hill in 1S4S, and other il
Illustrations OF value
or the book Mrs. Ward says that while 1t
has never been so widely read as Jane
Eyre there can be no question that it is
the writer's masterpiece. She remarks:
What vivid. homely, poignant truth in it
all! Like the sharp aud pleasant scent OF bruised