The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-21

COAL 0opO0O, yet w ttomUDoS WhASh ~ hAah
ars obliged 10 use coal imported from Japan.
N. W. h.
r~haeksray's Contributions to "Punch."
Under the title Of Tho Hitherto Unidsnt,-
fed Contributions Of W. NJ. Thackeray to
Punch" the Harpers publish an Interesting
volume BY Nv. M. II. spielmann. author OF
The History Of Punch" &c. Begun. origin
ally. som years ago. a. an essay to be printed
In serial form. the subject has grown. under
the hand Of the compiler. till the result lisa
volume whose size and general quality. In
view OF the assiduity with which everything
that could possibly be attributed to Thackeray
has long ere this been overhauled, Is nothing
less than remarkable. Here are pieces. not
deliberately suppressed or forgotten. but
hitherto unrecogn lied as the work OF Thack-
eray many oithem quite as worthy OF pres-
~eryation as much o. his lighter verse and prose
| included in previously published collections,
While apart from purely literary considerations
they have interest and value. inasnuch as they
| show the topics Of public concern upon which
Thackeray was writing during the years dealt
| with, and what he thought about them views
and opinions which help TO reveal the man and
which are as necessary to the biographer for
the full understandings OF his character as his
books or letters. With regard 10 the question
| Of authenticity II Ia only necessary to state that
Mr.. Spiplmann has had access to q 'ong-for-
gotten Punch editorial day-book, in which the
name Of the author OF each article Is entered.
together with the amount paid.
Mr.. Splelmann begins with the ption
that il ia natural 20 believe that an author Is
most himself-that is to say. most honest and
least seli-conscious-in his anonymous writ
ings: and that his opinions are expressed with
! the greater freedom and candor when his per-
sonality IL not being put forward along with
them. That therefore upon some matters
political. social. and personal. Thackeray ex-
pressed himself more fully and more bluntly
than he would have done II he had signed NJ.
Thackeray"o or M. A. Titmarsh" at the foot OF
the contribution instead OF, at most. Mr..
Punch" "Hibernus Hibernlor." or even moth
ing at all. However this may be, and the as
sumption does not seem to be altogether fat
tering to the memoir Of Thackeray. It Ia certain
that in these anonymous expressions OF opinion
we get a remarkably clear view OF the great
writer in his various characters as states
man. politician satlrlst, critic. social historian.
and. lastly. as cynic and pessimIst. or philan-
thropist and sentimentalist-according to the
readers point OF view. Incidentally. Mr.. SPIEL
mann introduces a brief account OF Thack-
eray's candidatures for the representation
OF Oxford in 1857. supplied from personal
recollections OF tho Rev. Charles Williams. who
acted as Thackeray's election agent on that
occasion.
The contest was short but fierce, and while
Thackeray's platform addresses made a good
IMPRESSION. an unfortunate answer to a ques-
! ton was wIlfully misconstrued By his oppo-
-. - ,nat hip, Mani ynfaa All fha lila.
senting interest went against him. and a great
man Of the old Freemen. Scot and Lot voters
were cheaply purchased by the other side. He
ia said 70 have been a model canvasser. able to
ndapt him self to all. With the intelligent he
conversed a. with equals; to the poor and un-
taught he was courteous. but not patronizinR
to the rude. digniaed without being unkind.
Meeting opponents frankly. and arguing
calmly. as one convinced Of the justice OF his
own views: while for trimmers he did not
hesitate to show his contempt. An amusing
instance Of this latter trait is given, After much
searching, a certain voter was at length run
to earth in a beer house. He was politely
asked for vote and interest. but at once began
to hedge and talk OF considering. making 1t
clear that he wanted a bride. Thackeray
turned away In disgust and advised his friends
10 leave the fellow alone Almost the next
man to whom they made their request. at once
said: NO. sir | am = supporter OF Mr.. Card
Well" shake hands. sir" said Thackeray.
ut Is a pleasure to meet such q man as
you. who can speak out plainly Though
you are an opponent. I am glad to
make your acquaintance. But as for such
id shilly -shallying fellows as we have
Just left. Td-kick them" When the poll was
declared. and Thackcray was beaten BY sixty
seven votes. It was he who took the defeat
most calmly. lie accepted the reverse in a
manly spirit. made calm and dlgnifed speech.
in which he made no reference 10 the I'm fair
tactics which he knew had been employed
against him. and closed by saying: Il shall
now 60 back to my desk. which perhaps ]
ought not to have LETT"
According to the careful photography here
compiled. ThacKeray's contribution to hrnct
averaged about a column and q half per week,
In addition to such widely known articles as
the "Snob' papers, 'Jeames's Diary
"punch's Prize Novelists," Miss Ticklestoby's
Lectures" and many others. we find him.. In
these hitherto unidentified contributions
writing on all sorts Of subjects. social and po'
litical. with occasional experiments in literary
artistic and Rsstronomic criticism. Under the
heading Kitchen Melodiss-Curry" Is a ~ plea
a Wv " ~ WIN t'hF
Ing II harp solo on the Rridiron. and these
! verses. in which the COMPILER tells us he de,
tects an ~lIoratian flavor:
! Three pounds OF veal my darling girl prepares.
And chops 1t nicely into little squares;
: Five onions next procures the little mini
I The biggest are the best, her smiwel thinks.
And Epprnx bn,,er nearly half pound.
? And stews them IN = pan until they re Drowned.
A., What's neIt my de,terou- little girl will do1
/, She pops the meat into the sayory stew.
With curry powder tahlespoonfuls three,
And milk q pint the richest that may bel.
And. when the di,h has stewed for half an hour,
demons ready juice she'll Ger It pour;
Then. bless her! then she gives the lusclou. pot
I A very gentle holland serves quite hot.
Ps-Beef, mutton, rabbit, II you wish
. HOLSTERS or prawns. or any kind ~ Ash
Are At to make a curry. It's, when done
Adish FOR Empsrors to feed upon.
Whatever We may think as to the Horatiar
A: flavor OF the recipe. 1t seems certain that tn,
flavor ofthe resultant compound would be ali
~solutely aud essentially British. Az an exam oil