The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-16
KATE STEPHENS.
THE LITERARY OUTLOOK.
Emerson's Centenary Next Week
Dickens Unrivaled Reception.

Dickens Unrivaled Reception.
The centenary of Emerson which oc-
ours on the 25th of this month. is an
event of such Importance in the literary
world that one is led to wonder why
more preparation is not being made for
It's observance and why more publish
ers, through their various periodicals,
have not devoted considerable space to
that great and good man who did so
much for the uplifting of American let
ters throughout his life One circum-
stance is, indeed. worthy of particular
pOte. complete edition of Emerson
is 10 be issued on the centenary day,
an edition which shall include every
thing that Emerson wished to have
published and in exactly the form and
language which he chose to represent
him. 1t seems unavoidable in these
days of many editions to make a per
feet collection of an author writings.
Either the publishers themselves decide
that some things had better be omitted
or the ambitious editor makes changes
in the copy. It is fortunate that, in the
case of Emerson, specific directions
were left before his death as to the
manner in which he wished his works
to appear and, now, for what is proba-
bly, the first time. the edition will be
both complete and entirely Emersonian-
Mr.. F. b. SanbOrn, who, with Cham
ming, Thoreau and Alcott, knew Emerson
most intima tely for nearly thirty years
and associated with him daily in his
Concord home, relates a story of Elmer
son which touches a side of him as a
poet which no one had hitherto remark
ed.
This sense of rythm or time in mus
ic writes Mr.. Sanborn, "he had per-
fectly; when he transgressed it was
from purposed disregard thereoIs Out OF
tune in music he had none or the very
faintest conception. He shared this de-
feet with many eminent poets; but his
young friends, Thoreau and Ellery
Charming, had the musical ear. and
therefore have occasionally surpassed
Emerson in the harrnonies of verse.
When they did so he was not always
aware of the fact, from this very de-
feet. OF that. however. he was fuiiy
aware and used to tell a story against
himself on the subject. He said that
when he went with other lads, TO be
taught vocal music by a blind vocalist,
and they were all requested TO sound
that is, to run I'D and down the scale
a little with their notes.-the pima man
said. when he heard Emerson's lnet-
fectual notes: That boy need not come
again; he cannot learn to sing.
have lust finished reading Forster's
life Of Dickens as abridged by Mr..
George Gissing into one volume and re-
Gently published in England ana tnis
country It is a wonderfully interesting
story of a great novelist. who mad Deeh
able at the same time to remain the
l1indest and most charitable of men,
This is saying much. considering DICK
ems first American visit and his Amer
lean notes. but at that time Dickens
was much troubled. not only by the un-
fortunate contracts he had made III
England whereby he was enrichlng ms
publishers and starving hlmselI, put
also by the many pirated editions OF hts
works in this country There IS little
doubt that Dickens fastened the com
ing Of the international copyright law
by many years through his efforts III
its behalf which began at that tina
Later on in his life Dickens made most
complete amends for the unfortunate
opinions he had formed of this coun-
try The remarkable fact is that. /
scarcely to this day has an author peen
accorded such receptions as We're given
him during his reading and lecture tour
here For thirty-four readings, during
the winter of 1S67-'68. he received nearly
$4,000 His account of his worries on
account of the SPECTATORS VINO bought /
tickets in advance and sold them again
at tremendous profits reads as though
the tour happened very recently. for the
same worries beset all great attractions /
today. Dickens, writing to his frlendS
in England at the time. tells of the ex-
element in New York city over his
reading The ticket office was to open !
at 2 on Wednesday morning ~ md
night on Tuesday a long line of sDecu-
latcrs were assembled: later on few
honest buyers arrived; and by O'Clock
in the morning there were 5000 people IN /
two lines. At . O'Clock. when the Office
c-ened, each Of these lines was mora
than three-cuarters of a mile long, and
thev seemed to get no shorter during
the whole morning. All of the available /
tickets were sold by noon, but during
the time of waiting members of families
relieved each other. walters few back j
and forth from the restaurants to the
waiting lines to serve customers. and
excited r.e- oAered five and ten dollars T
for the mere permission TO change /
places with other persons standing /
nearer the head Of the line
Admirers Of the work of Mr. Frank
Norris VIII be -ratified with the an
nouncement that there viii shortly he /