New-York tribune., 1902-08-17

Mr. Carmichael is known and valued as the
author Of a book of miscellaneous papers
titled In Tuscany" He disclosed III that pub
ncation unusual appreciation Of the traits
that lie beneath the surface of SoutherJ life,
and especially a rare insight into the instructive
religious feeling which survives among the
Italians, despite the difficulties with ~hich their
/ Church has been overtaken, and the evkJ in
creasing pressure of material interests in mod
/ crn society. In Tuscany, moreover. is written
! in a style of great charm, strengthened b.
scholarship yet always spontaneous and light
in hand. The merits of the book prepared US to
expect other good things from Mr.. Carmichael,
but hardly looked for SO good a book as The
Life OF John William Walshe" 1t is u work of
fiction. but We hesitate to call it a novel Writ
ten in the form OF biography it is not only
/ very skiIfully provided with all the editorial
APPARATUS that COMMONLY goes with that form
OF literature. Introduction. footnotes, and 50
on. but conveys in 4 wonderfully convincing
! manner the Impression Of being the portrait OF
| - verItabIe personag". painted by his son. Il IS
one Of the most enchanting little stories
have ever read.
1t belongs in the same category with The
Little Schoomastcr Mark" that incompatible
spiritual romance" in which Mr. Shorthouse
achieved a distinction and beauty beside
which the more popular qualities of John In
gIesart." fine they are have always seemed
to Of minor significance We have thought
Of The Little Schoolmaster Mark III reading
this Book because the two are notable for the
same delicacy in the treatment Of matters re-
Iating to the subtest and innermost experiences
OF the soul. MIR Carmichael reminds also,
| simply of Mr Shorthouse. but Of Steven
son in Prince otto" and in Will o the Mil"
ana of Mrs. Craigie III some Of her more poetic
ally fanciful moments, by his power Of Nisualiz-
ing scenes and episodes Of excessively fragile
charm. without any loss of atmosphere or any
violation of truth. Yet, when all is said, these
names are only to be mentioned in order TO
show in what good company Mr.. Carmichael
figures. Taken as a whole. this book is remark
able for nothing more than for its individuality.
The hero IS born near Manchester, the son Of
John Walshe a we'll to do merchant in gray
shirtings and such like piece goods. and OF
Maria Bodey. his wife The father IS de-
scribei hard and resolute entirely absorbed
in business, "a merchant-honest and honorable
in his trade, but, frankly, nothing more From
this man John William Walshe receives an at
tractive presence and admirable manners; f;om
| is mother "a gentle timorous woman, gtsh-
insy sentimental principle" he inhents
perhaps a certain delicIcy of temperament, but
thJt is all and with an acute sense Of artistic
unity the author leaves to infer that his
heros Irresistible impulse toward the religious
life comes from earthly ancestor but springs
dir, b y from 4 divine source. The earlier chap
ters of the book give u vivid picture of char
GcteTiStic English interior. The ineffably re-
spectacle parents painted to the life, ana
young Walshe's boyhood in his fathers house
aad countinsroom with passages at school, IS
given extraordinary reality. He is boOkiShr ana,
in his way reflective. As a lad he has more
than inspiring taste of religious rapture, and
as is natural, with his environment, he suffers
for his ecstacies. 1t required intellect SYM
pathy and u sklful hand to keep the boy in this
part of the narrative free from suspicion OF
priggishness Mr.. Carmichael has not faltered
fo- instant. These first pages are as whole
some ) they exquisite. Ultimately the per
secuted boy runs away from home. taking ship
for Leghorn with a view to proceeding 10 Rome
and strong in a calm conviction that God VIII
guide him along his path and bring him to the
ha zen desires. He is a handsome youth when
he sets foot upon Italian soil. His thick,
straight, deep chestnut hair was of most beau
tifuI rich tint he wore it rather long, as was
tha fashion then and it still inclined forward
as in Boxalrs picture, giving him a most win
ming look of innocence and wisdom" How he
meets Lord Frederick Markham, English
Catholic, long resident in Tuscany, who takes
him to his home, and there starts him upon the
career of scholarship and piety which is mar
rated in this book, is told in a passage which
we cannot forbear to quote.