New-York tribune., 1902-01-26

When Omar" FitzGeraId made his friend.
William Adds Wright, his literary executor he
knew that he leaving his reputation in safe
hands. The event more than justified his conh-
denCe. One refreshing fact that has stood out
from amid the welter of nonsense due 70 the
Omar cult has been the faultless attitude tow
ard the whole business OF the man best quail
fled to speak of FitzGerald and his works. DR..
Wrights first service to his old friend was the
publication OF those three volumes of Literary
Remains which still. for those who really
care for FitZGerald. the most satisfactory monu-
ment to his genius This in 1889. In 1891
DIR. Wright prepared the two volume edition OF
the Letters alone. for the Eversey Series: a
year later he made n volume of the Letters to
Fanny Kemble: in 1900 he published the Mis-
cellanies" and ne is giving us what will
probably be his last contribution on the subject
in the shape Of volume of More Letters or
Edward FitzGerald."
In all his transactions with the work and
fame of the famous writer and hermit he has
used the utmost discretion. the most perfect
taste. and especially has he kept himself in the
background. Until the portrait appeared. of
which we give a reproduction to-day. his per-
sonaiity remained absolutely unknown to the
general public. Yet DT Wright is man of
whom the public may well have desired to hear
more than has been put in print. In the early
sixties he was doing good work as a contributor
to Smiths Dictionary of the Bible" From 1870
To 1SN5 he secretary TO the Old Testament
Revision Company. With Mr.. w. G.. Clark he
edited the CambI idge Shakespeare and the Globe
Edition of Shakespeare'S Complete Works the
latter edition which has deservedly been ono
of the most popular ever published. He has
done much other useful literary work. and since
1883 he has fitted the important post of vice
master of Trnity College. Cambridge. His is
indeed worthy name To figure in the list of
FitZGerald'S friends, the list that includes the
names Of Tennyson. Speeding and Thackeray.
TennysoR was one of the most fortunate of
poets. in that he was rarely criticised adversely:
yet Mr. Bran Stoker who saw him often while
his plays in course of production the
/ LyCeum. says that he used constantly to COM
plain OF the attacks made on him" He actU-
ally wound up day by declaring that he often
wished he had never written line.
What is believed 10 he an orisi1Il and hereto
fore uupublishcd a Ms. poem uy Mary Lamb vas
sold in London the other day Ii is addressed
To Emma Isola. and transcribed i'll the hand
writing of Charles Lamb with Il note by the
latter respecting an auSion To Sara COicridSe.
all on Cne sheet. The poem reads as follows:
ITO Emma. learning Latin. and desponding.'
Droop not. dear Emma. dry those falling tears.
And call up smiles into thy pal,id face,
Pallid and Care-wurn with thy arduous race
In few brief months thou hast done the work of
years
In new tasks hardest still the first appears.
right good Scholar shalt thou day be.
And that no distant one: nay. even She.
Who now To thee star far off appears,
That most rare Latinist the Northern Maid
The language-loving Sarah of the Lake
Shall hail thee Sister LinGust This will make
Thy friends who afford thee careful aid
a recompense most rich for all their palms.
Counting thy acquisitions their best gains
Mary Ann Lamb.
Enfield, - Angst. 1897
THE young lady alludt To in these lines, the
Daughter of our honoured friend s Il. Cole