New-York tribune., 1906-12-23

sale OF the Roswell are entered as being f5zo~
But Hill to find abundant reward IN tne
judgments OF his critics. and In such comph-
ments as that one which he received from Glad
stone: "You have succeeded IA doing what
Macaulay attempted To do and failed-you have
suppressed Croker" Every one who knows
HIPS Boswell, and Croker's. win relish this
Just saying. 1t Is doubtful. however. II al
JohnsOnians accept as conclusive the point which
Hill attempts to make IN this wise: 1T may
perhaps be well that should say word or two
in defence OF the extent Of my annOtationS
Boswell on his title page calls his great work not
only the Life OF Johnson but also "A View OF
Literature and Literary Men In Great Britain
for Nearly Half a Century.' This view I have
attempted to Illustrate quite much as the
Life What was understood by the men for
whom he wrote Is now In very many cases very
obscure His book affords an admirable oppor-
tunity for bringing back much Of the thoughts
and doings of the last century, This Is plausl-
BILE enough yet if Hill had not made quite so
much of his admirable opportunity" his edition
Of Boswell would be treasured as book TO De
enjoyed instead OF as book for study rather
than for pleasure.
There is little to note I'm regard TO HflPs visits
to America or his work as a man OF letters
outside the field he made his own few pas
sages in his correspondence are amusing for
| their candOr. On one occasion he meditates an
article on Cardinal Newman. saying that mo
one. far as / know. has pointed out the child
ishness and Stiffness OF his writings" The late
Dean Stanley also rouses his ire. THAT couTtiy.
picturesque inpOstor deserves a sharp attack.
he says. HE had never cleared his mind Of
cant. though he disguised #. dare say. even
| from himself. with pretty moss" Pope, In his
opinion. ''was mean. lying. shufiins rascal
though he is careful to add that the poet is "a
| great genius. too But it is always to John
\ son that he is returning. and nearly always with
something interesting to say. There is a de-
| lightful allusion to meeting OF the Johnson
| Club. at which he met "the great Bonner the
Australian cricketer. whose health was drunk
and whose skill at the game was loudly praised
| with great simplicity he said that after seeing
| the way in which Johnson's memory was re-
vered he would much rather have been such
man than have gained his own greatest ri.
umphs in cricket. He did not say it 1Ocuiary
| at all"
/ As an invalid Hill did a good deal OF travelling
on the Continent. but without interesting results
as regarded his correspondence He wrote the
usual home letters. doubt welcome TO his fam
/ lily. but scarcely worth publication Once. how
| ever. writing from Ajaccio. he gives US at Sec
ond hand these odd recouections:
My old Scotch friend. Or. FIndlater. told me the
| with Thackeray. Thackeray told him that he had
seen a German bOOkstau many of his works in
| the Tauchnitz edition he asked the bookseller
whether he sold many copies of the authors works
\ Eyes the answered. "but not many OF
| the works Of Botz kennen Sic BotzT' You may
Il perhaps remembsr that Dickens published
earlier works under the Of "BOZ-' Dr. Find
Il later's bedroom Just opposite Thackeray's in
a hotel In which they were lodging. Thackeray had
i gone down. and the chambermaid making his
bed He had been reading Strausss Life Of Jesus
"a very heretcal book. indeed-and had left il BY
4 the bedhead- She had picked IL up, and seeing
l the title thought that il very plOuS
DR.. Findlater heard her call to fellow
l What q ChriStlike the gentleman must bel
\ Look at the book that he has been reading IS
they, Dr. Ffndlater and Thackeray. were sitting at
| q cafe In Vienna, said: There Is Baron
1 -" 'Ah!' said Thackeray. looking at him, 'that
man had great deal OF my pluckings-" The baron
a gambler who had helped to pluck ThackeTay
when he was young just as Deuceace had plucked
the silly fellow In the "Jeames Paper2