New-York tribune., 1904-10-08

When Thaekeray came 70 lecture IN the United
States In 1853 It was with the purpose of earn
ing a sufficient provision for his two young
daughters To talk In public was always more
or less misery for him, and TO his dislike for the
work was added a cloud Of homesickness- In
this state Of depression chance brought him into
the family circle of cultivated and warm heart
ed New-Yorker. George Baxter. Father. mother
and children made him welcome one near and
dear: he became thoroughly at home with them;
and the affection which he felt for them never
wavered TO the last day Of his life The letters
which make up this volume began within a few
weeks Of his Introduction to these friends. and
they are Of the most intimate sort. full OF per-
sonal detail and affectionate confidence.
There is much nonsense IN their pages. the
true Thackerayan nonsense. which only q man
Of genius could indite. There Is always klndli-
ness in his chsf He gets of now and then a
little Joke on pronunciations which amuse him.
but there are no edges TO that joke. 20 you lit
tie absurd birdsr' he writes TO the two young
girl cousins Of the beloved Brown house." Il
wish could hear you pronounce them 2 wuerds
absuerd buerds in your New-York tonel You
are sitting on one perch and will knock you
both down with one little stone" With all the
lively nonsense sounds often the deeper note OF
sorrow and sympathy. When the Civil War
breaks out he worries lest there should be a de-
cline In the prosperity OF the friendly people he
loves. Now tell me, my dear. kind good Bax-
ter and WIFE" he writes IN the dark days of
60. there may be troubles at home-no divi-
dends-the deuce 70 pay. I know fellow who is
not rich, for he has spent all his money in build
ing this fine house: all but a very little-but who
knows? Draw on me for 5O0E at months
after date; and am your man. You won't be
YNu ha NrTH, T,,gilg
at my irnpudence-I don't know but / don't
mean no harm. Only remember and shall all
my life the kindness and hospitality Of the dear
old brown house" In these later letters he
speaks constantly Of being ilL but nowhere Is
there word Of regret or dread Of the end which
was so soon 20 come TO him-in truth the brave
heart was tired, and II Is easy TO read between
the lines that nothing but his care for those de-
pendent upon him seemed 70 him TO make life
worth living. Writing 20 the gentle American
house mother. he enumerates all the good things
that have come 20 hint ought % be happy
ouRhtn't T?' he asks. "Eh. bienI don't think
above days IN the month man with
out q woman Is a lonely wretch"
There are several passages In these letters 60
ing 70 show how unjust was the gossip that rep
resented the great novelist es abusing this coun-
try. The remembrance Of you ALL" he saws
'sanctihes your country In my eSss-when peo-
pie speak here sneeTtngly as Londoners will
talk break out Indignantly and tell them how
much good and worth and love and good breed
ing there is In the country OF which they talk
so iiPpantly. And pray Heaven Il will be my
chance as It will be my endeavor to be a Peace
maker between Us and you and 70 speak good
win towards you" Later he writes:
Can't we IND ans. plan Of healing that absurd
80 e-ss bS ~ e. tsoa. feel nyseif shocked
round 20 aouse me: who FOR once IN my life kept
my own eounclI; who have got 20 consider yours
as my country almost; who have praised the States
so outrageousy since came home, & made nv
self such Violent pSrtizan-HOW dare people think
could DC guilty of such stupid abuse that they
attribute 20 reg who love and honour Washing
ton as love ano honour other man n?-''It serves
you right man said 20 IN London, You see
what zood yeH nave got By Praising the States'-O
We commend this charming collection OF let
ters not only 70 the lover OF Fhackeray's In
initabie books. but 20 all who can appreciate
fascinating and unaffected coilocation OF hulnor
tenderness and goodness. Miss Baxter's simple
and graceful introduction "a a yalua bio part Of
the vclUme