New-York tribune., 1903-05-10

A. II. BullSTl Is man as nluCn iLlleTTSteN /
IN the writing Of books as in the printing Of
them he has recently created mild sensa- /
lion by publishing, from the original manu- /
sc-5rts. the hitherto unknown poetical works of
Thomas Traherne who promises 10 be ranked 4
among The really significant figures Of the sew /
entee-th century; and now, in the present vol /
urle. which he has himself prepared for the |
press and has issued IN London with his own |
ir7rriut he gives further evidence Of his literary
.ss-a NJ Dobeu has more than taste, he has /
that -aracity for enthusiastic devotion which |
Is PECULIARLY necessary TO the deliver amid Tor
gotten pages. He is deeply interested in Charles
Lamb and his work. Having come into pos
session II certain manuscripts left by Thomas |
Naming one Of Elias closest friends, he re-
solved 10 use them in book. But he ap-
r~aa.h45 his task investigation led him TO look |
carefully over a set Of the London Magazine, |
and lu these old volumes he found material so
attractive that ne concluded TO bring it out in
the book which We now have before US in ad-
van1e o[ the volume 10 be based on the Man
r.u1 papers We are glad Of his decision He
has here brought together a most delightful
sheaf of literary odds and ends, souvenirs Of
Lamb and Of some Of his colleagues in journal
ism. for which every lover Of that circle must be
grateful
L IS true that these fugitive pieces are not
In any case Of extraordinary value, but is there
arr lit Of print. fairly attributable TO Lamb,
which The world would willingly let die? We
doubt II. he is, on the whole, the most loVable
writer IN English literature, the man whose
name Is cherished with perhaps the greatest ten
6---ess. and even the most trivial relics nave |
5u his case an atmosphere endearIng them 10
The reader Nj Doben wisely prehxes to his
collection Of waits and strays a paper on the
London Aagazine' itself and Lambs relations
with IL The periodical, which rose from the
ashes 50 TO say OF earlier venture, started
under good editorship and with remarkable
corps Of contributors The first editor was John
Scott the man who became involved in a bitter
argument with Lockhart. and was killed by
friend Of the latter. Mr.. Christie, in duel
Scott died too soon 10 leave a literary reputa-
tion behind him, but il one respect at least he
made his 1nark-as resourceful and diplomatic |
manager Of the writer's drawn into the service
Of the London Magazine" Allan Cunning
ham. B. " Procter. the Rev. H. F. Carey. VIII /
lam IIazIirt, Horace Smith, Thomas De gum
cev. and Lamb ali wrote for him When he dIed /
one Of the proprietors sat in his chair bul
Thomas Hood as sub-edtor, did most Of the
z---l- and saw TO the carrying on Of the tradi- /
lions established by Scott. Mr.. Doben quotes /
2 good deal from Hoods recollections Of the |
PERIODICAL. and finds il hard TO refrain from
quoting more. We find it equally hard 10 ao-
stain from giving some Of Hoods delightful
rassases but We must take up the question OF
G.a-af-s rosition among the men who made 1he
MAGAZINE worth reading.
One fact stands out very clearly, that 1-alI-O /
Us no less beloved by his fellow workers than
H. is today by his readers. He was long ID WIN
nirg success with the public. While EDITIONS .
without number Of Byron's works were pouring |
from The press" says Mr.. DobeIl, the sale OF
T.ar-Frs writings was extremely slow and unre-
-r,--a-a-fy-e" But his friends and colleagues ap-
r,-eofa+as him to the fun. Evidence Of this has
c-orra5 Id in more than one volume OF the
london Afagazine.' For example, q reviewer /
therein. treating of a German writer on Ho-
sz-rr.s works shows the inferioTity OF TINS Herr
I.icl7-ar.fe-g TO Lamb. and adds, about the lat
ter Mr. Lamb has too much real feeling, ana IL
is ~ TOO 4r7Ia q stamp to be ever what can ne
called 4rbirsicdIt No writer ever yet united
fears and smiles in such gentle harmonious, de-
lgbrr-r cor17rar rioTlship-but this is always done
By him essfv and naturally, without the ana OF
affected Contrasts or forced transitions his
is precisely the hand wanted TO touch the
WORK q Hogarth" The aIlusion seems almost
conlnourlace-urtu We remember that Il was
written while Lamb was still living. There Is
another tribute by one Of his contemporaries
which We must borrow. in part, at least, for II
Is wonderfully felicitous It was written py
Wainewrighr the poisoner (of all people IN the
VF-4fr1 risy1r