The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-12
Some Vequs !. -
~ ~ and Reviequs.

me action Of the overscers Of uarvard
'esardlng the protests ~ graduates of that
university against the confcrrin, of do
gree upon Mr.. Mckinley viii he watched
win general interest rho nrotcst sets
forth the fact Of the wide divergence OF
op'hion among the alumni of Harvard no.
Garding the presidents national polIcy. and
s'ates In addition that honorary degrees
suou,u NOT DC conferred as the prizes Of
"cTeN political success. Mr. Mckinley
m"' nominated for the degree by senator
Iio"r president of the Alumni association.
'ne protest Is signcS by graduates of tha
e"l'ge Tor the past half ccutuiy. the first
uAne being that of Peter c. Brooks. class
Golfers, abiding editoriafly to Mrs.
Potter ralmcr's successful conduct of her
sons aldcrnanic campaign is reminded of
the political methods OF certain famous
unehess, whose portrait has recently been
recovered. 1t is lntlnatcd that the con.
Ner's of these fascinating ladies doubtless
PIONEERED later upon the unsatisfactoryanp
lure of the volatile wares given In ex-
chahge for the substantial emollncnt VI a
vote. There are some who would have
that
INK drop on a single thought
Which moved the minds OF millions"
valued by Its avordupols Alas. for the
prosaic estimates Of this commercial age,
VIII ch would insist that n kiss or smile
must conform to the government standard
oil weights and measures.
series of "reminiscences of English mon
anl women Of letters have recently been
published in one of our periodicals. the
latest containing all OF the available data
concerning the unhappy domestic comphca.
ticns of Charles Dickens. We arc given
to understand that Dickens did not love
his Wife and that his choice Of herself In.
stead Of on of her sisters Is quite mex
plicahle. Then the writer goes ON to suc-
etst, through personal letters of the all.
thor. that he cared much more for his sis.
tcr-in'law than he did for his wife; In
fact that he cared much more for each of
his sislersn-law than he did for his wife.
1he elder being his intellectual affinity,
and the younger the practical, helpful. I'm.
selfish caretaker of his home and children.
1t would seem that under the circumstances
Dickens was exceptionally fortunate When
Il man OF genius Is so pervcrse and obdu.
rate as 20 marry for reasons inexplicnhle
to his biographer and the general public,
1t Is, or it should he, consoldtory, that
neither intellectually nor physically does
he suffer any privation'
~
The truth Is, this is hut another instance
of our cupability In the direction of per.
sonal and intrusive curiosity Our European
critics have long since arralgned MS on this !
charge and have done SO with Justice We |
have no more right to lift the curtain which !
hides the family life Of a great author from
view, than to look through the keyhole of n !
private room. Dickens and rhackeray and
Tennl son aud many others, have simply |
asked to he permitted to enjoy the privacy |
of their own homes, privilege recognized |
as the right Of even the humblest citizen. |
Blu. an intrusive public. CONSUMED with |
denies them even this. and |
demands thar not only every action he open
to observation. hut that even the thoughts |
Of their hearts I've hullctined for the salts
faction Of the reading world
Ills warm friend and business associate,
Mr.. Fields. says of Dickens their mutual
'egard was SO cordial, that the author re
fruled to him his joys and sorrows and he
lenId the story of his life from his own
ips, Beyond this statement. nothing is
written which could violate the privacy Of
he household 10 which the American was
,ver a welcome guest and no hint of do
nestle infelicty mars this record of a long
md congenia association. Nothing could
,e more delightful than the picture left
With us of Dickens ready sympathy With
he poor and the afflicted, his consideration
or the feelings of others and his unsefish
'nort to keep the shuttlecock of gay and
hc erfu repartee ever on the wing.
If there he aught of sincerity In our al.
niration for the man, or of recognition
# the debt we owe the author let us
'rove 1t by regard for one of the sim
'lest laws of courtesy, that which admon-
shes us never to intrude where wei have
lot been hidden.
Some years ago, Mr.. Richard Harding
Davis went abroad to make study OF pol
teal methods, and on his return embodied
he results of his Investigations In an ar
lcle entitled "A General Election In Eng
and. \" One of the marked differences he
ound between the English point of view
nd the American was the respectful attl-
ude maintained by the former towards any
nnction or custom Endorsed by precedent
he very constitution of the country Is sim
~ conglomeration of unwrltten laws
ased on precedent. AS 1t was In the he.
inning, is now, and ever shall he, might
ell stand for the national motto.
There have been English soyerelgns who
ave violated ancient and established prac-
eos. often TO their own undoing, hut 1t Is
oubtful If King Edward Will be criticised
dive scy for his recent abolition OF the
,yal hunt, This pastime Is about 700
ears old and on our side of thesswater
oud long since have been recognized as
bullesque of the hrst magnitude. But
ie English sense Of humor failed IN see
In that light, and SO 1t has continued
be conducted with all the dignity be.
ting kingiy progress. George III gave
most enthusiastic Endorsement and fol
wed his buckhounds with unfaling en-.