New-York tribune., 1902-04-26
WILLIAM BLACK.
HIS PORTRAIT DRAWN BY AN oi-D
FRIEND.

Bros
when "Madcap Violet was being puoisheo
seriaHy in "Macmillan's Magazine. there was
some apprehension among its readers as 10 'he
-,roba ble nature Of the conclusion 1t was
feared that the story might END badly MT
Reid asked Black about this and he curtly re-
piled do you think / would tell you or any
other human being how the story is going TO
end?" The novelist went to tell how Swlh-
burne had come 10 him with the same inquiry
and on receiving the same answer had saio'
Il will go down my knees 10 you 10 spare
that sweet Violet Numerous other readers
appealed to him by letter. and these prayers
as the biograph calls them, came from read
ers of all classes and conditions" We wonder
- anoone readers of any class or condition the
same intense interest in any novel of Black
could to-day be expected to arise? He wrote
good but remarkable fiction enterlainihs
in plot skilful in characterization. excellent IN
many passages descriptive of scenery aHu
wholesome in sentiment but lacking the nre oh
genius and the distinction Of style Ihough ms
works are interesting far as they go, ana
are doubtless still read in some quarters. they
leave him among the minor writers Of the later
Victorian era He was not brilliant in his
books and il does appear that his was
brilliant personality. yet he was not without
companionable traits. and modest niche may
well be provided for Mr.. Reid's affectonately
drawn portrait Of him.
BLACK was born in Glasgow where his father
was engaged in business in a small way "mle
still lad in his native city. he made his first
appearance in print, contributing series OF
articles on the chief authors of the day to local
rewsps per. When he came up to LONDON, now
ever il was take position as clerk In a
counting house. In due course he contrlVeo 10
get footing in Journalism, and proved himseh
q capable worker. He had little experience as
a war correspondent, but his sympathles were
for the ouieter paths Of literary ambition. In
1868 he published Love or Marriage put ne
did not arrive as novelist until he brought
out "A Daughter of Heth." anonymously IN
1s7l The press in general headed by Inc
Saturday Review which had previously treat
ed him with severity, then gave him the WARM
est praise Mr.. Reid paints him as unahec'eols
elated over his success. Hitherto MS pleasuies
had necessarily been comparatively simple and
inexpensiye: now. with an increasing ana as
sured income. he was able to spread his wings
.nd ind,lre in flights that had been forbidden
IA him before His house no longer tur-
nished in the simple style that had sufficed at
fiounslow He bought pictures. He became
wonderful judge of cigars. never SMOKING aH!
but the best this perhaps his only eA-
travagance). He Joined a West End cluo anu
he dressed with attention to the fashlons Oh
the hour that sometimes disconnected those VINO
poet and VINO had expected to find that ne had
the indifference 10 such small things as clothes
ard nersonal appearance which is supposed 10
be the traditional characteristic OF men Oh
genius" All through this biography he leaves
the impression of man who cared Tor the sood
things of this life, and was. If not exacuy con-
ventional in demeanor, far from eccentricity-
Yet he had a strain of whimsicality IN hlfh' as
Mir Reid shows in alluding to what he charac-
hat
bility" OF his old friend. saying
Perhaps the truth about the innocent ana
feeting admirations and attachments or MS
early DAYS will be best illustrated by an anec-
dote Of that time for which am inoepeeu ~ ~ 80, ,s
sister. He had been processing for some lihe
20 be the devoted slave Of certain MISS NJ.
and his sister had invited the Young laoy TO iiei
house one day when she was expecting hlih'
When black was announced Mrs Morten went
into her drawing room greet him, and found
him stridng UP and down the apartment with
bent head and gloomy countenance- Wen
VIII what is IL now?'' she asked. Il am IN oe-
snair O." he answered Oh but you need not be
long in despair / am expecting Miss NJ to
arrive at any moment" Never mention her
name again in my hearing! Don't you Know
that / devoted TO Miss X? mehuonlns
another young lady whose acquaintance he hao
Just made and who happened to suffer from
Slight impediment in her speech. she ls tht
only woman for me: and j would give woriGs II
i could only hear her call me once Wl-Nhl-
iam!'" 1t was from these purely visionary anu,
TO large extent, histr1onc love aHslis that @ ne
constructed the delightful love making scenes
that are scattered throughout his books
Mr. Reid writes Of Blacks Celtic fervor- 1t
is not easily discerned in the novels. but the
biographer finds evidence OF it in the force with
which his friends imagination was seized and
controlled by the ideas out Of which he wove
his romances. so shaken were his nerves,
saws Mr. Reid by the writing of Macleod OF
Dare that for many months after the book
was finished he could not bear TO ride in han
som cab in the streets Of London" is there
ANYTHING necessarily Celtic about this sort Of
experience? 1t may be added in passing that
this is not the only matter in which Mr. Reld
takes his hero a shade too seriously. We hnd
him more interesting when he avoids generaliza-
tions and contents himself with describing
Blacks delight in the and IN Scottish hills
and rivers or with relating some such story as
that of the novelist's attempt 20 take part in
theatrical performance under the auspices OF
his friend Miss Mary Anderson
F,lack made his appearance the stage as a
.,super'' or thinker in the theatrical phrase
in the famous ballroom scene IN romeo an anu
Juliet" He went in blue domino and mask
According TO Miss Anderson no more lshon1iili-
GUS first appearance was ever made BEFORE the
curtain was raised Black planted hlnselI IN a
rather prominent position the stage, with his
hack 10 2 pillar Here he remained absoiuteiy
motionless and silent making no attempt to
nlav his humble part one of the giddy throng
"a reritable deaths head at the feast MISS
Anderson and others tried 20 tax TO hin pul
pNi--c
speechless from stage fright Presently the rev
eilers departed. leaving the stage free for the
meeting of Romeo and juliet To Miss Ander-
sons horror. Black stuck to his post, or rather
10 his pillar thus stopping the progress or the
niece in the ewes of a crowded house Inc 1alr
TnIiet walked across to him and said impera-
lively Go Off There was no response lie
had no more the of his legs than cf his
tongue. Fortunately. the situation was grasped
hy Miss anderson's brother. who played the
part of Tybalt, and he and fellow actor. re-
turning TO the stage. succeeded by sheer force
IN draegine the paralyzed super from II.