New-York tribune., 1906-11-23

ciocuc.ioTf Is6sd Svo, PIP xx 5Ss. The John
ssa1s Company.
nr.M BLAK Critical Is5 SSsay By AigeT
81 ChaE5ies svtn51rIs7s sv.ttn1. 7sn,o IN m $40 p. p
Hur1oa & 90.
,+.6 some time ago signs OF a revival OF
- in the life and works OF William Blake
80 has always been Blake cult, but OF late
.ss bAcou1e everybody1s theme. and. as Mr..
-.tz-+son says. book about him has taken
=. -lsoe OF the FTve-act Tragedy in the desk Of
- asptrant 10 literary honors" More than
:. publication on the subject is now in course
:, ,,,sna-ation At such time nothing could be
-. r-elcor,e than & new edition OF Gilchrist's
T,fe" TIE book was written q labor Of
,,vs and Il must remain the classical authority
80 rhe essential facts in BIakes career. 1t has
hssn reprinted on the present occasion in ad-
--s-ahle form. By the omission OF most OF the
extracts II the second volume Of the first edi-
.on the work has been brought within the COM
,sss Of 2 convenient octave. and the well printed
,,res are interspersed with good reproductions
:. r,aDv Of Blaka's most characteristic designs
us IN fact precisely what was needed.
Blskes genius is st.u on debatable ground.
" Robertson goes altogether too far when he
ssrs. n his brtef Introduction, that Blake has
,one 70 his own at last extolled alike by poets
nd
th.psn erd the brush" He is not supreme type
q. creative genius for the very simple reason
,sst be never established his gifts in a perfect
ssug.briunl: he inpresses you by sudden light
r.ug-!lke flashes Of inspiration, not by exhibi-
asas Of sustained power. Gichrist notes. what
hss often been noted since. that his hero lived
4 world OF IDEAS and he adds that ideas
70 htn were more real than the actual external
'~o-ld" But Blake was very seldom able 20
-sslhe his IDEAS IN artistic or poetic perfection
wsrs Il his highest happiest moments he
tascses the imagination with z rare sense OF
porsT and beauty. Il is mistake 10 rank him
saoag The immortal masters. On this point
scEsver. we have so often found II necessary
70 pause. that We may be content to-day to
as-ce Ell the phase Of the subject on which It
vss Gnchrst's privilege 70 throw most light
We rster 10 the nobility OF Blake's character. TO
Ire texture OF his mind and soul. which enters
t-H ST. kis work. even. sometimes when he is
6: his feebIest, and takes US captive. LoweIrs
saying after hearing a lecture OF Ernerson's.
nst its meaning was obscure, but you could not
hgp feeling that something fine had passed that
vs5 vel applies 70 Blake
p-saxsd u this volume are some words Of his
s~ which take Us 70 the very heart Of his
sasrs Win G kind OF sublime sincerity he
ngs: = ....s
] sEscrt zuyseit, that I Go not behold the out
ss s Sa Aft 4 2 e s s It css5 Is 4t1drFnG2 e.d
ne III rises, 90 yoz lot see rognd disc OF nre
gsTatie company Of the heaTe1IE host cTEtng s a5
EnT boy. ho!y, Is the LORD God Aluighty.'' I
~ rSs 49, Ssssa2F 2; T5saow concerning sight.
rs inseFest1ag thing about tbs eioG1-r1 7--
EsFs.os is tnet, like SO much in Blake's poetry,
Ia AZ iutenssly personal accent bears the
Ex-p q t-urh Ar his Life long he seems 20
hsTs been -Grt z e species OF spiritual scstasy
ascTs cle ordinary impulses OF mankind. No
d1s c5ulc be more human than he Read his
t1nos-snrs Of Reyuolds's "'Discourses, and OBJ
serve he simple Indignation with which he con-
rssH sr Josh1a's prosperity with his own
hestscaed position Read Guchrist's account Of
ne famous r.al foT high treason Blake was
4.ded IN that positively grotesoue predicament
nothing more uor less than everyday manly
nes which had led him 20 lay violent hands
IN one O he kings Dragons. But even in
-H episode you perceive force OF character
s1sEesang hidden fires Says Gilchrist: Mrs.
SAa used afterwards to tel how. II the middle
q ne MA when the soldier invented some
ING 70 support his case, her husband called
eS F3gseF with Characteristic vehenence. and
ne TIRE which electrified the whole court, and
~s'so conviction with it, He spake as a
T'phet He vas not as other men are.
"Aen Blake tells you that he once saw q
t-ost you believe him though against your will,
~ ne seems surely 70 have had finer vision,
more ptercLng insight into the core Of things,
mn is g1He1 70 common humanity It is this
'snse seeing eye ot his that helps him 10 carry
eoH7sccon- even when, from strictly artistic
.'-s q view. he falls short Of his aim. Take,
20 example, tbs water color reproduced in this
'"1ne' o. The Body of Abel found by Adam
- I've Cain. who was about TO bury IT,
sIee-ls from The Face Of His Parents" In
@'l--s- III modelling and design, this is any
1-g cut faRIess. Yet IL has q curious dramatic
-''ue' The grin 5igures SCI against back
s'0cn1 limiting 81 the awful naked majesty OF
I'-1leFa- world may uot strike absolutely the
-si- note bit they give the beholder kind
= S-lo1er L Is Blal1e's tremendous sincerity
1--s Us way through the stubborn crust Of
- imperfect arr. There is q charming story Of
young artist who. finding that his invention
-ssgea, sought advice and comfort from Blake.
WON be discovered sitting al tea BIeke
,-S.5les atrenrtVe-y and then turned to his wife.
'ag' Il is just with Us, IS II not for
- - together. when Tile visions forsake Us?
maj do We do then. Kate" We kueel down
- Pray. 4ir Blake" was the answer, and no
VINO knows Blakes work well and has read
.srelhT. can doubt that the coIIoquy was
'-s o. alz.-u good faith
=. 5-eaFs- is to be read with discrimination.
STUDENT Of the designs must be able 10 make
fs1t deductions when he comes 70 The
'-sAiers comments upon them But there
:. deductions TO be made where the story
strength and goodness as &. man Is
4 -'l Lamb whose tribute TO his poetry
'slilefa5 5ered. might have written for
Z la Tgrr ar-=.-
q never knew a whittier soul than thine" /
read Gllea-ssts book IS to como tr -.
a. e'ir.'. oe"Hdering and sometimes /