New-York tribune., 1900-04-21

Mr. Henry w Thomas whose first novel is
announced by the Appletons. has gone for his
material to the Italian quarter in NewYork
He has found a good title there-"The Last
Lady of Mulberry
Mrs. Humphry Ward has provoked by the
treme candor of her introductions in the new
"Haworth' edition of the Brontes which the
Earpers are publishing is probably the cause
of the less apologetc attitude which
she adopts in the sixth volume, just issued. This
is devoted to the "Wuthering Heights" of Emily
Bronte and the Agnes Grey of Anne Bronte
Taking up her theme Mrs. Ward has these in
teresting things to say:
In these critical introductions to the books of
the Bront6 sisters l have so far endeavored, and
must still endeavOr, to speak, not the language
of mere panegyric, but that natural to a reader
whose critical sense. no less than his sense OF
enjoyment. shares in the general stimulus which
Is derived from the power and vitality OF the
books themselves The Brontes are searching
personalities. They challenge no less than they
attract. Their vigorous effect upon the reader S
sympathies and judgment has been always part
of their ascendency, and one great secret OF
their enduring fame. To handle their work in a
spirit Of fiat eulogy and recommendation would
be offence to it and to them. Its technical
faultiness moreover, is an element Of its charm
The romantic inequalities, the romantic alterna-
tions Of power and weakness which these books
show appeal TO those deep and mingled in
stincts of the English mind which have produced
our rich, violent. faulty, Incompatible Enghsh
literature.
stories we admire and we protest with almost
equal warmth; lavish upon them the same
varieties of feeling as the poet, who brings to
his love no cold, monOtOnouS homage, but
praise, blame, kisses. tears and smiles For
inevitably the critics manner catches the free
dom of the authors. He will not hesitate dis
like; such a mental attitude cannot maintain it
self in the Brontas' neighborhood. He will
strixe when he is hurt and raise the peeans of
han ha iS rNlp2 sod
which such combatants deserve. In each of her
novels, as it were, Charlotte Bronte touches the
shield of the reader; she does not or per
suade him; she attacks him. and, complete as
his ultimate surrender may be. he yields fight
ing. He will still be talking" and there is no
help for ii.
Whether we agree with these remarks or not
we must appreciate Mrs. Wards endeavor to set
herself right with her critics. Be it said in JUS
tice to them that they have deprecated Mrs
Wards structures on the novels less than they
have the rather patronizng tone in which they
have been advanced
The new edition of the Young Folks Cy-
clopada of Persons and Places is just coming
from the press of Henry Holt & Co. 1t is printed
from plates and with revisions and addi-
tions.
Mr. Ruskin once declined to accept the gold
medal of the Royal Institute OF British ArChi-
tects on the ground that that body, at least
in England, answerable for the state of
things indicated in -four facts thus mentioned
by him:
"First-The tomb Of the Cardinal Brancaccio
at Naples which so far as my present knowl-
edge extends, is the most important example
in Europe of the architectural sculpture of the
fifteenth century is at present used as the
lumber room Of the church in which 1t stands,
and found last month the folds of the drapery
of it's caryatides closed by cobwebs
"Second-The Church of San Miniato, at Flor
ence the most beautiful example of the twelfth
century architecture In that city, has been
turned into a common cemetery
"Third-As l was drawing the cross carved on
the spandril of the western arch Of the Church
of Santa Maria della spina at Pisa. in 1872, 1t
was dashed to pieces by a mason before my
eyes and the pieces carried away, that model
might be carved from them and set up in its
stead.
"Fourth-The railway at Furness is carried so
near the Abbey that the ruins vibrate at the
passing Of every luggage train, and the build
ings connected with the station block the win
dow over the altar of the Abbot's Chapel, so
that nothing else can be seen through IT."
Mr.. John Fiske's book on THE Mississippi
Valley in the Civil War will be brought out
by Houghton Miffiin & Co. next week. 1t is, of
course, written from a Northern point Of view
but is said to be impartial
Mr.. Eden PhiIlpotts, the rising British author
born IN India and destined to be a
clergyman. Personal views caused him to aban-
don this plan, and after trying successfully the
insurance business acting and painting, he
entered the lists of literature.
1t is related that when the Pope was begged
to suppress the works Of Gabrielle d'Annunzio. he
replied: Leave Gabrielle dAnnunzio alone. He
at any rate is about the only living who
knows how to write Italian" From the point of
view OF the wise who sees that IT would
be good policy to make a martyr of an
author this story might be accepted as true but
the head of his Church would not go on record
as tolerating d'Annunzios literary tampering
with moral law.
The use Of ancient clew in unravelling
modern mystery is the point of a novel by Mr.
Willis Boyd Allen which Z. p Dutton & Co
are about to publish. The book is entitled The
Head of Pasht."
How did the recluse Edward FITZGERALD look
at sixty? This is his portrait, drawn by Mr..
John Clyde: He had a melancholy cast of
countenance-a mist of despondent sadness hung
his face; complexion bronzed by exposure
to sun and air. large nose. deep upper lip,
sunken, pale blue eyes and bushy eyebrows
large, firmly closed mouth. dimpled chin and fine
head. Generally he had dreamy look
His voice. though soft and gentle was not mu-
sica; his manner generally was placid and mild:
but when walking along road street he was
absorbed in thought that If addressed he
would answer in a querulous, impatient tone"
AS for FitzGerads home his cottage was