The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-17
NEWS OF TIE BOOK WORLD
Most chIvaIrous Thing Ever Uttered by
Man Of Letters Credited to Thack-
eray-A Dickens Thackeray Story Re-
lated by "Sigma" in a Book Of Gossip
About Famous English FoIk-New Book
by Rose e. Young.

The most chivalrous utterance that ever
emanated from man of letters''-that es-
innate by so entertaining writer Sig
ma" brought me to, attention with a
creak such as often emanates from
an office chair when suddenly dis
turbed. Sigma in his Personalla, about
to give so interesting an utterance and the
attendant circumstances, it was enough to
command attention. The utterance was
from. the lips of Thackeray. Signals" &C
count runs thus: 2G u ... ... =.
Dickens, who never liked him (Thack-
eray), told a friend that he could see moth
ing to admire in one4lof Thackeray's now
els, then being serially produced and the
friend, who knew both the great authors,
with friendships traditional damned
Observation-Disclosures reported the opinion to
Thackeray. It must have ranked deeply,
but ali the comment Thackeray made was,
I am afraid I cannot return the compli-
ment for there is not a page that Mr..
Dickens has written which have not read
with the greatest delight and admira-
tion' - -r.. .....' .."-
Sigma says he had this from Justin
Mccarthy. :r5 .I..-
In that you may get fair taste of Per-
sonalla. The book is full of intimate anec-
dotes dealing with famous English artists,
| literary men, lawyers, church dignitaries,
and other public figures Of the last forty
years. .s.... t.=.-
Writing of "Sir e. Burne-Jones,' "Sig-
! ma" gives Burne-Jones' view as to Du
Maurier and some Of his own views of
Oscar Wilde's wit. Some one at dinner
was praising Du Maurier's campaign
against Oscar Wilde in Punch, in extreme
terms. Burne-Jones had been listening
impatiently and finally "hissed out, You
may say what you like, but there is more
wit in Wildes little finger than in the
whole of Du Maurier's wretched little
body"
Stigma" thinks Burne-Jones moderated
Du Maurier and he speaks Of Wilde's
| artificial sallies" as not likely to survive
long. He says: II have never been able
to discover any specimen that could be
described as Of the first order. Perhaps
the best thing he ever said was to a GER
tain rather hundrum bard when the lat
ter was complaining Of the neglect with
which his poems were treated by the
critics. There seems to be conspiracy
Of silence against me- What would you
advise me to dor he inquired Of Wilde.
| Join it, was the unconsoling reply. With
all his ability" says Sigma wilde
was a copious tho very covert plagiarist,
recalling Horace Smiths definition Of
original ty-3undetected imitation He
thinks, Wilde would not have lasted much
i longer as a playwright even had he been
spared his wretched fate.
Altogether Stigma" is most entertain
ingly gossipy writer about famous men,
whom he evidently knew, among our cou-
j sins across the water. The book is not
only entertaining but it has a certain con-
/ siderable historical value. This feature is
emphasize and the book is made attractive
for the book browser by a very full index.
;. Who Stigma" (the quotation marks are
his OWN is am not able to say. He is
keeping 1t dark. He Is said to be too well
known to make disclosure Of his name.