New-York tribune., 1906-06-23
MISCELLANY.

vi MISCELLANY.
Mrs. Kate Perugni the daughter of Charles
Dickens, recently offered in an article on THE
Mystei: OF Edwin brood" what we believe to be
convincing evidence that Edwin brood was
really murdered by his Uncle Jasper. II would
seem impossible for any reasonable person. In
the race OF her well supported testimony. TO take
any other view of the matter. We have not only
the account of the plot communcs sted by Dickens
10 his friend Forster, but the Direct statement
OF the younger Charles Dickens. who heard from
MS fathers lips that Edwin brood was dead.
Yet that usually reasonable person. Mr Andrew
Lang relinquishes with obvious distaste his the
ory that Edwin survived to confront Jasper at
the end Of the book. That theory was based on
the cover designs made by Mr c. A. Collins
the first husband Of Mrs. Perugini One Of these
designs shows young man. supposed by Mr..
Lang to be Edwin. facing in a dark vault an
other man. supposed TO be Jasper. both figures
being revealed by the glare of a lantern held
up by Jasper
This cover design is. II must be confessed.
slight evidence against the novelist's own
communication TO John Forster, his lifelong
friend and confdant. and his later statement to
his eldest SON. Mrs. PeruginI says that Collins
was not in possession OF her fathers secret. al
lists directions. We believe that no one is jusu-
fed in bluntly asserting that the erect figure in
the vault is that of Edwin. Even If 1T seemed to
be Edwin's. II may be- as Mrs. Perugini sug-
gests, the blasting hallucnation of Jaspers
opinion racked brain. So reluctant is Mr.. Lang
TO give up his hypothesis that he now declares
that Jasper may have murdered Edwin but
not just before Edwins disappearance He may
have failed on that occasion, as many points in
the romance suggest. but may have gone for
Edwin and successfully done for HMM the
vault" This is not impossible-but why not ac-
cept Dickenss plan for his novel. set
forth by John Forster:
The story. learnt Immediately afterward was
TO be that of the murder of nephew by his uncle;
the originality of which to consist In the re
close. when its temptations were TO be dwelt upon
the n n0T The s chapers Sg Geno @ B Writers
In the condemned CELL to which his wickedness, all
ad b2oaSh f6d & G R as y s d ny a
the utter needessness of the murder for It's object
but all discovery Of the murderer was to be bafed
ring which had resisted the corrosive effects of the
lime into which he had thrown the body. not only
mitted it.
We have read with interest Mr.. Haldane Mac
Falls little book sir Henry Irving John
W. Luce & Coz, not so much because 1t describes
the great actors career as because 1t reveals the
generous heart of the Many stories Of his
brotherly kindness TO those who suffered and
poor told by this admirer. To the
broken actor going downhl Irving was the
gentlest of rescuers. careful not 10 wound when
helping. There is moving anecdote of one poor
fellow whose courage and endurance were al
most gone when he met Irving accidentally and
received the wonderful offer Of a good part at
S1Il; h1z- c-a "a
ton. before the first rehearsal, and wrote to the
actor-manager that he could not go. Not many
hours after his door opened and Irving entered
his soualid room to spend hour with him;
and after the cheering visitor had departed the
invalid found upon the table banknote for
hundred pounds and a written assurance that
the part would be kept for him until he was
able to play it. Here is a story. the heroine Of
which, an old actress. was in pitful want when
Irving heard of her misery
He called at her shabby doors. and was refused
his card. saying. she will Henry Irving" and
Who is playing your part? Heinz
a part for many day-she was too old
and g69d psrfthe Fading lady wants an un-
derstudy but the wage is small You shall have
you You WON'T mind six guneas a week to begin with.
eh? Heinz She was understudy till she died
There is comedy in the story of the two down
at-heels old actors who had played with him
when he was young. and with whom the world
had afterward gone roughly. He met them In
the Strand. and Helm" said he, "and where
are you playing now boys? Eth? What? Out
of a job? Helm, You don't say Well. come
around with me to the Lyceum."
They went and Irving called his manager. But
the manager had nothing to offer. No; even the
carriers OF banners were allotted
shall carry it Let me see what used we to get
when we were in Sunderland tOga5her?' He put
Helm, So did Wei. make It two guineas",
fI f tb limits ns I1vinfs nurse fried 70 pnt his
foot down about the other declaring that no sin
Helm said Irving; chat is awkward stayl This
gentleman win need N understudy. This other
I'm afraid we cannot otrer his nnderstudy more
ings.' Such wins loyal service.
To Mr.. MacFans pleasant II somewhat too
sentimental text have been added many charac-
teristic illustrations by Gordon Craig
In The Opal Sea" CCharles scribner's Sons),
Professor John c. Van Dyke takes his readers
imagination captive with prose in which we feel
the seas own glamour OF beauty and movement
and mystery, its glory Of color and power. its
deep-toned music. The book is happy blend
ing Of poetry and science. to stir with graft
tude the true lover of old Ocean. who in inland
places. Graves vehemently glimpse Of surging
waves. Does any one question that title Of "the
Opal Sea"7 Whatever hue is In the sky" says
the author, whatever tint may be produced by
heat or cold, by sunlight or moonlight or cloud
light the water mirror will give II back The
is not blue, or green. yellow alone. but