New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-03
LONDON NOTES.
MR. EDMUND GoSsE's TRIBUTE TO
PHILIP JAMES BAILEY-PICTURFs IN
SUFFOLK STREET-GLIMPsES or
THE POETS LAKE AND
RIMINI.

London October %
Mr Edmund Gosse ought 10 write a new
series OF lives Of English poets v-biIa h. -
Or Johnson's tenacity in emphasizing indi-
vidual preferences and prejudices In doernati,
expressions Of opinion. he writes with an air
q declsiVeness and authority and tenlpers his
judgments with sympathy and tolerance F7a
combines the qualities Of Warton and Johnson
knowing his subject as accurately as the one
and having the others talent for making lit
erary biography entertaining and inteIleotuall,-
cumulative. His Life Of DR. john Dome. Is
one Of the best examples Of the art of biog
rsphy known IN this generation. and Mr.. Cyosse
IS constantly making contributions Of a similar
character 10 periodical literature The Fort
Nightly Review" for November contains from
his pen an admirable article on Philip James
Bailey, the author Of ''Festus' whom he had
known for twenty-five years as q robustly aged
prophet or bard, with a cloud of curled white
hair and voluninoUs white beard and whom
be happily describes as having "an attitude Of
arrested Inspiration, as IL waiting for the heav-
enly spark 10 fall again as II had descended
from 1886 TO 1889. and as II seemed never in
cined 70 descend again" I remember how
deep an impression the aged but handsome and
stately poet made upon the sensitive mind OF
Mr.. William Winter. who met him in Noting
ham few years ago and gave me an account
eosse's. M. Bailey, while he had not added
materially TO the reputation created az one
stroke by his youthful work, retained in old
age his lpcidity OF mind. his serenity of spirit
his ardent optimism and his passionate love Of
verse. AIr. Gosse couples his name with that
n another veteran singer. Mr.. Aubrey de We're.
ana remarks: Song intoxicated men they
we're, both OF them; preserving their delight in
poetry far beyond the common limits Of an ex-
hnaration in any mental matter
M Gosse's article is the first attempt made
by any enlightened critic to explain how it came
about that Philip James Bailey. in 1902 as in
1899 was the author OF ''Festus" neither more
nor less II he had died in his youth, he would
have retained a foremost place among in
berjtors of unfulfIled renown." and would have
been habitually mentioned with Chatterton; but
'rby the oldest irony he survived, actively en-
deavoring 10 improve his position until extreme
old age and yet was never able 20 recapture his
earliest melody and fervor." His subsequent
works were failures. and the only chance Of OBJ
tanning readers for them was through incorpora-
-ion with his earliest poem which was enlarged
n his way from ten thousand to forty thousand
verses Meanwhile, neither his arrested devel- |
opulent nor the additions made TO its bulk has
seemed 10 affect TO any appreciable degree the
fate OF his solitary production which still con-
rinues to have a wide circle OF readers. Mr.. |
Gosse gives natural and ineligible account Of
this anomaly in literature. and after making a |
critical examination of the poem in its original
form and searching in vain for contemporary |
Influences. such as Goethe for matter and Mil |
ton. Thomson and Shelley for manner. closes |
deeply interesting article with the reflection that
in the poets singleminded earnestness lay his |
reward Mr.. Gosse quotes Mr.. Bailey as saying /
inpressively: Many successful books have no
literary value at all; the main interest felt in
my own work was religious and not at all lit
erary'; and himself adds Those who love II
appreciate its imagery. its large music. its spa.
cious landscape. but they value it mainly for its
teaching"
IN the FIVE rooms OF the Society of British |
Artists there are over four hundred paintings |
in oil water color drawings and sketches. |
There are two works by veterans and half /
dozen noticeable pictures by women. and, with |
TWO or three exceptions. what remains is COM
laonplace. Mr.. Watts's portrait Of Miss Lillian /
Macintosh is the most pleasing work exhibited /
ny the veteran for long time II is picture 1
NJ a girl with blue eyes and yellow hair. and /
with a vistful face aglow with health. There
is g. background OF blue sky and golden mist /
70 match the eyes and the hair. long scarf
Of dull yellow relieves the white gown. and at
the waist there is q hand Of red 10 duplicate the /
hue in cheek and lips. The color scheme Is per-
feet in balance and harmony and the drawing
IS without flaw, both in eyes and profile, and
the pose Of the hgure unconsciously relaxed.
Mr. Holman Hunt the second veteran. appears
70 less advantage in the night view of the Piazza
della Constitutions. Athens. IN which compost
ton and perspective are sacrificed TO the /
minute painstaking reproduction Of details
Characteristic Of the last Of the English pre-
Raphaelites. Sir Wyke Bayliss has Two ecclesi-
sstic interiors in which richness and variety OF
color rather than beauty of marble surfaces
and grandeur Of architectural effects are con-
spicuous. One is a water color drawing Of
Correggio's Choir. IN the Duomo, Perugia, and
The other is fne study OF half lights and
variegated color Ia the Duomo. Florence, with
chorsters in red and white and banners IN
crimson and gold TO heighten the effects of
marbles pavements, vaulting, altar and glass
This painter does not reproduce the austere
simplicity and grandeur OF time glorified
temples but is fascinated by the spectacular
aspects OF ritual. with its glints Of color.
The British Society now includes women
srnong its members. and three OF them have
ambitious works in this exhibition. Mrs. Lea
Merritt has a religious subject The Helping
Hand" in which the allegory is as obscure as
the composition is confused. A coarse featured
peasant woman, with a child in her lap. is sit
ting with closed eyes in a cornheld, and la
oorer with scythe is also asleep. with a limp
hand clssped ia that of a tall thorn crowned
Christ in dull white raiment There is dignity
without spirituality in the face Of the Christ,
ana the hot cornfeld is not a suitable environ
ment for the heavenly visitation. Miss Lucy
Kemp WEIGH is simpler IN method and more ef-
fective in the quiet realism Of The Forest
Stream" with horses and colts drinking or
standing IN q wooded glade. The leafy back
ground is artistically toned but the painters