New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-09
CHARLOTTE BRONTE.
A NEW EDITION OF MRS. GAsKELLs b.
OGRAPHY OF THE NOVELIST.

THE LIFE OF CHARLOTTE BKoNTE- BY Mrs
zion and Notes by Clement X Shorter. Illus
trated. Octavo pp xxxvi, 60 Harper Bros
The "Haworth Edition ot the Brontes. pub
ushed in six volumes. with prefaces by Mrs
Hurnphry Ward. IS fifty supplemented by new
edition OF Mrs GaskeITs delightful Life Of the
most famous OF the sisters. In Nj Shorter we
find a commentator far more genial II not more
critical than Mrs Ward. The ratronizing tone
10 which we have had 20 take exception in dis
cussing the prefaces 10 the novels is happily
absent from the introduction 70 the Life" and
from the notes We get in its place occasionally
2 triviaIity that Is perhaps as disconcerting. II
IS well enough for MI Shorter 10 tell US that
Keighley near Haworth, is q bigger town to-day
than Il was when the Brontes knew II. but the
added information that There are several ex-
tensive machine works and TWO public parks
IN modern Keighley IS superfuous, 70 say the
least. on the other hand. Mr. Shorters annota-
lions are often really useful and this edition OK
the biography IS especially welcome for the ne"
material that II offers If the shape Of hitherto
unpublished letters. One Of these is the interest
ing communication from the Rev. Patrick Brcnte
10 Mrs GaskeII asking her TO write the Life
for her own profit and the adequate presentation
Of Charlotte Bronte 70 posterity. The main
part Of the letter runs as follows:
Finding that great many scribblers, as well
as some clever and truthful writer's, have pub
lshed articles in newspapers and tracts re-
spectfng my dear daughter Charlotte since her
death. and seeing that many things that nave
been stated untrue, but more false tslc); ana
having reason 70 think that some may venture
20 write her life who will be Unqualified Tor the
uuderta king 7 can see no better plan under the
circumstances than 70 apply 70 some established
author 70 write brief account OF her NE ana 10
make some remarks on her works. You seem 70
me 10 be the best qualified for doing what l
wish should be done. II. therefore, you viii be
ind 10 sn a o
her life and works. just you may deem ex-
pedient and proper. Mr.. Nichols and Will give
you such Information as you may require
Thus formally was begun an enterprise 70
which We owe a biographical classic, a book so
full Of vitality and so interesting that It seems
to have sprung not from any outside proposal.
but from an inspiration long dormant in the
writer's nature. Mr. Shorter tells how Mrs
Gaskell flung herself with enthusiasm upon her
task seeking everywhere for correspondence
visiting Haworth again and again. talking with
NJ Heger in Brussels-of whom she says and
very much indeed both like and respect him
and leaving stone unturned in her effort to
make q book no less accurate than sympathetic.
1t is noticeable that the present editor has moth
ing essential 10 correct. But II is not with the
sterling merit Of Mrs Gaskell's work that we
are now concerned. That is too familiar to call
for any special comment to-day. The interest in
this edition lies in the new letters. These were
all addressed 10 Mr.. George Smith, OF Smith,
Elder & Co, Charlotte Bronte's publishers.
While they touch on business matters they are
also souvenirs Of the novelist in many moods;
they illustrate the play Of her mind around
variety Of personal themes. One striking pas
sage relates to a side Of her temperament about
which every reader Of the novels and the BIZ
ography must feel a peculiar interest "On no
account should you have dreamed she writes,
CyzFa ~ n
shame that have so much superstition in my
nature as makes me reluctant to hear Of the
fulhlrnent OF my dream however pleasant. II
the good dreams come true, may the bad ones,
and we have more OF the latter than Of the for
Iner." In a letter to Mr.. Smiths mother occurs
this fra gnnent OF blended seriousness and drolery
touching the Of letters she most revered:
Speaking Of Mr.. Thackeray, you ask me what
/ think Of his Christmas book. think IL is like
himself, and all he says and writes harsh and
kindly, Maynard and wise benignant and bitter;
its pages are overshadowed with cyncism, and
yet they sparkle with feeling AS to his abuse
of RoTena and Of women in general VIII tell
you, my dear Madam, what think he deserves
first 70 be arrested, to be kept in prison for
month, then to be tried by a jury OF twelve
matrons. and subsequently to undergo any pun
ishment they might think proper TO infict ;>and
/ trust they would not spare him: for the scene
OF Row4enas deathbed alone he merits the
tremest penalty-the poor woman is made with
her last breath to prove that a narrow, ranking
heart than either conjugal maternal love. It
IS bad. For that scene his mother ought to
chastise him
You suggest the election Of Mr.. Chorley
champion; no, no, my dear Madam-we will
not have Mt. Chorley. I doubt whether he
would be true TO US; Will tell you who would
better espouse and defend our cause; the very
man who attacks US; in Mr.. Thackerays nature
is a good angel and bad, and 1 would match
the one against the other.
Besides the letters. Of which we have given the
reader but a taste, there are other things in this
edition for which grateful to Mr. Shorter;
some Of the notes aforesaid and good Bronte
chronology. In addition also to the beautiful
frcnuspiece portrait Of Mrs. GaskelI there is
fac-simile OF the title page Of the first edition
OF the Life" there fac-simiIes of manu-
scripts. and along with portraits of Patrick
Bronte and the Rev. \. B. Nichols there are H.
Illustrations Of Haworth and the Heger Pen
sionnat" at Brussels. This WILL of course, re-
main the standard edition Of the biography for
long period.