New-York tribune., 1906-12-21
Literary Nesa,S
and Criticism.
rtpo Illustrated Volumes of SeUen-
teenth Century Gossip.

~ read Of them IN the pages OF some picturesque
. ,sronicler who knows how to make the most Of
=, huulors Of this world. One prefers TO read
= mis- particular exploit, for example, in the
,urious book that Anthony, Count Hamilton
--osucsd when he wrote the Memoirs Of Count
c-ouaont" How lightly the tale falls from the
rbsvalier's lips! With what cleverness he turns
,s,se the Queens curiosity as 10 the i'll reward
bsstowed upon Don Gregorio Brice. Governor of
1erida. for having sent the Prince de Conde and
MS addlers discousolate away It is as though
ne stood in the circle round the King and lis
.sDe6 10 the clever Frenchman. noting HIS smile
tas gestures. and all the elements that go to
make richly colored. animated picture And
the tale Of Lerida is only one out Of hundred
n the Memoirs" That is why il is good to see
another reprint Of the celebrated book. this time
a corely octave edited by Allan Fea and i'm
po-ted by Charles scribners Sons
Anthony Hamilton IS one OF the most amusing
writer's n the whole literature Of gossip. He
hss two strings 70 his bow. In the first place
eranont was type worthy Of lie Sage, a per
,.rt subject for the compiler OF a narrative at
once courtly and picturesque. and secondly Ham
nton was well acquainted with the social move
rnent he set himself 10 paint Though the
writer gives Gramont." says Mr.. Fea the
credit OF describing the various anecdotes. It is
-s-v evident that had he not been an eyewitness
snd lived among the men and women he por-
trsys. and not merely e scribe to the Counts
alctation. as he would have It understood his
rsn would have recorded q far less realistic and
sparkling composition Thus We have in this
book al OF the living interest OF Gramont's ez-
periences and recouections. with a SAVIOR OF Mt-
sra-y style 70 which he himself could never have
prsten6ed Mr. Fea uses Scott's translation,
quoting from Tizetelly's when mistakes occur.
He gives Us. IN fact, good text. But his edition
is also 70 be valued for its illustrations. more
than hundred portraits in photogravure and
halftone from the originals by Lely and others
which do SO much 10 help realize the Ian
Euorous elegance OF Charless frivolous enteWrdge.
These Illustrations have been sought out with
exemplary zeal the editors aim being 10 give in
each case the most authoritative work available,
snd the result is q gallery which practically
aoubles the historical atmosphere Of Gramont.
ne vitality Of the book is made TO seem greater
than ever. Il has been handsomely printed for
his edition, On a scale both digniied and mod
est SO that II may be read with comfort It is
one OF the most acceptable Of the holiday re-
prints
A publication Of the same character. both as
regards substance and make up IS Some Beau
ties Of the Seventeenth Century" also by Mr..
Allan Fea- This attractive volume, brought out
by the Brenranos. relates IN brief chapters the
salient episodes in the careers Of certain radiant
danes Of nigh degree and illustrates their love-
Nness in reproductions from authentic portraits.
NJ Fea has read widely IN the memoirs Of the
period on both sides OF the Channel He sketches
hs stters with knowledge, and at the same
tine Is careful 70 use light touch, IN harmony
with the fran texture Of their lives. OF course |
there are many shadows IN his work. These are |
70 he expected IN book dealing with such |
women as Hortense Nancini. Lucy Walter, Lady |
oasrlemaine and the like. But so far as is pos |
able, the author keeps TO the amusing II cynical |
note OF the following passage in his account Of
The Duchess Of AIazarin:
Tie gallery q the Palais Mazarin now the |
Manuscript department or the National lAbraryD /
r. ~ -e ~-7.r'eI s1--1i11,ed nv Ifs bes1ItifUI
nisces Balls. banquets and lotteries-of the last /
Mo1iespan- who describes the gold boxes, chains /
q pearls and diamond ornaments spread out on /
Tie tickets we're distributed with every. appear;
g q L1eSty ana go9o tal5h t zL,SIga {--ey 7Se
young Queen saws Madame Ia Narquise, who /
foI5 fo- S----+ a,-5 When she had fastened her
garter gave heI back my ticket instead OF her |
ey1 When The Cardinal from mis- dais read out |
re numbers IN succession. my number won por-
c1t Of the King set IN brilants. much 70 the |
surprise q the Queen mother and his erninence.
aney could nor get over it!
The aneodote is typical Of the kind Of enter
tainment which Mr.. Fea gives 10 his readers
from the beginning 10 the end of his book the
fsvt being enhanced in interest all the time. as
n his edition q Gramont. by discreetly chosen
portraits ot the personages involved. The two
books are meant 70 stand side by side. and 20
possess one IS 10 want 70 possess the other
A woman comparable in more ways than one
70 the beauties celebrated by Ny Fea is made
ne subject of a daintily manufactured book
published in this country by the Frederick A
Ta7xr
ton" by M J. T Herbert Baily, the editor Of
The Conuoisseur" It is q biographical essay
O moderate length, in which. without attempt
ing 10 whitewash his heroine. the author makes
II his business 70 give her the fair play which
Ee old not get in her lifetime afterwards"
ne picturesqueness OF her career is well
Brought OUT. and naturally its pathetic aspects
are not neglected. The chief purpose Of this
popular volume, however, would seem 20 be the
assembling Of many Of the portraits of Emma
hamilton, chiefly those painted by Romney.
.aey are reproduced IN full page tinted half
zones Or in colors, and they form undeniably
egaging collection. Mr.. Batly also gives list
!" the principal engravings after the portraits
:. honney. Reynolds and others. HIS book
po1nd in boards covered with Japan paper and
eeaorated N gold and colors. IS a pretty little
fernorisl
The late Arthur Bel Nichols. whose FIRST wife
vas Charlotte Bront9. was The Of farmer
= North British parentage and was brought
y m Ireland by an old uncle, the master of
Isnsgher school Graduating from Trinity
'-ege Dublin he took orders and went
falghrway Is curate 10 the Rev Patrick
N''h'e a. Haworth "The London Times" IN
recent biographical article. says OF him at
siE period.
his earnestness IN the discharge OF his duties