New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-31

Gimpses of Delightful Person
atty.

7FzAcKERAy IN THE UNITED STATES tssa-'S ~
TSackerayans BY James Grant Wilson. with
5eas11ek pleEson. Two voiuTes svc. pp.
sza-sa Dod6. Mead 6 CO.
T, Is pe-heus natural that IN a period when
The personal element counts for so much In the
book world Thackerays plea 70 he let alone
should be d.sregarded. his own daushter hsa
failed 70 respect the Injunction: and various
publications carried by his great name have ,oi-
lowed her Biographical sketches. It may be con-
ceded that the thing Is inevitable-only curse
unon q srsve.tone can protect famous writer 8
bones-and. conceding this we may aoo that
General Wilson'S work is an agreeable ano use
1uI one fated, no doubt. to preservation by most
tr7le lovers of the mighty novelist Much or the
material pleasantly presented mas peen
printed before; what is new in tho matter or
text is not Of extraordinary interest; but thus
Gathered together. these letters. "reminiscences
and descriptions promise to be OF service. now
srd in the future. both for enjoyment and for
reference The many Thackeray drawings, ia
r1t,lar ana unfamiliar are. OF course. delightful
and are well reproduced.
The greater part OF the first voluma is 90
cupied oy e graphic account thickly set with
anecdots and quotation. OF ThacSersy's two
visits 70 this country IN the character OF
lecturer. How he hated the task OF lecturingi-
but how the big heart swelled with Joy over the
thought that he was thus assuring tbs future
Of his 6aughtersl IT am getting SO sick and
ashamed OF the ccnfounded old lectures" he
wrote TO Al English friend. that wonder I
have the courage TO go on delivering them.
Anything savage said about them viii
serve them right" cit is only the thought Of
those young at Paris" he wrote to another cor
respondent, that makes me continue this am
pulatory quack business" The thing at which
he revolGed had, however, its pleasant side for
surely no stranger was ever received IN a strange
land with more cordial admiration and brotherly
affection Praise and kindness met him every
where. and Il he grew tired OF shaking hands
and acting the lion business night after night"
he shows over and over again that he is touched
&c the heart by the feeling which Thackeray the
rnen evoked In those who In character and mind
were kindred. He wrote to Mrs. Proctor:
las for writing anything about this country
+. about the friends have found here. and
VINO are helping me to procure Independence for
nv children, If 7 cut Jokes about them, may
choke on the instant" He endured with genial
Sentleness much boredom and even rudeness.
One crude person said to him. Mr. Thackeray.
sou will excuse me. but cannot get over your
broken nose" and won from him the pleasant
answer, mo wonder, madam. for there is
bridge TO It"
Thackeray's friends on both sides Of the ocean
we are struck anew by evidences of the trai:
which the novelist shared with most other really
great men-nodesty as regarded his own
achievements. The enthusiasm with which his
work was received something he did not
look for. apparently. The success OF VANITY
Fair" II is recorded. took him by surprise
"And not myself alone" he said to H. S. Ed
wards when a little time before had asked
for permission to republish some tales from
'Fraser's Magazine it given to me with a
snile-almost an ironical-as much as 70 say,
Much good may you get out Of them They
bring me in three hundred a year now"
Apropos Of this it is interesting to read letter
here first published and now owned by an Amer
lean collector OF Thackerayana- II was written
about 1888 to the proprietor Of 'Fraser's" and is
the most businesslike communication which
remember to have seen from the pen of the nov
eiist- He writes from BouIogne. in the days
when he and his were struggling with poverty:
Now. comes another. and not very pleasant point,
on which must speak hereby give notice that
tsld than to me: and x SO ] intend to make some
no more Of that gentleman's remarks except et the
rate Of twelve gulneas sheet, and with drawing
drawing, two guineas. Pray do not be angry at
Ies decision on my part: It is sinply bargain
9eliow-plush is the most popular contributor to
g he does not deserve more than the Monthly
Nurse the Blue Friars / am a Dutchman I
nave been at work upon his adventures to- day,
o sonq h for g4g SF n9t as you like but in
Wei ! dare say you VIII be very indignant, and
EWear am the most mercenary Of individuals
MOI so. But am better workman than most in
your crew. ard deserve better price. You must
not, ! repeat. be angry, because we differ as
tTaoeSn1en break OF our connection friends.
IeYs me thai. whether write for you or not
sshsn always be glad Of your friendship. and anx-
tous TO have your good opinion.
He was sincere, we believe. In saying that he
was not nercenary; If he rejoiced in his earnings
u was not for their own sake but for the COM
fort and happiness Of those who were the de-
Hight OF his eyes. He was whimsical sometimes
N his references to his own money getting as
he was in a speech which amused DR. Fl,rngss
and which the venerable scholar Quotes 10 this
Gay. IL was that he knew all about Shake
epeare; he understood him. 'shakespeare
wrote solely for money. and that when he had
mace enough he returned to Stratford sat at his
onor, and S1ssed passengers -
A part Of this work worthy Of much praise "a
That devoted to details concerning the Thack-
erayana owned IN this country Some NJ his
niost valuable MSS. are to be found here, with
rich store Of his original drawings We are
unable TO feel much faith IN the authenticity Of
the four poems introduced on page III Vol IT
II they were indeed written by Thackersv {.
must have been at a very early age or in On
hour Of alteration.
THE NEIV KT nNvnTDn