The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29

novels that game astufwnrd, mct~t.h-
1nndlne tho dletum 81 th8 "NnCyclcpAdA
britannica that -they posHsps unaneNs
which win sMve them from swirl dDilsion.
A Ror -The silver Cord which IN lsoO
also appeared as a serial. IL attragesd a
I rood deal OF attention, Illustrated "a q was
bv John TennieI, but the story Il without
ingenuity, and is dull, tiresome and long
wlnded. Now and again a meets m ~
with a good idea passably expressed out
more often married by sIovenly writing.
About the time when this novel vas
published Thackeray and Shirley Brooks
we're comparing notes about their writings.
Thackeray was then editing the CorysAah
and contributing 70 IL The Roundabo1s
Papers.- ne said. 1T takes ms a couple
Of dayS'to CHOOSE = subject for a Round
about. then a day to write 10. ! esrn
hundred pounds When I get my nose
down to the dssk the thoughts come
pretty freely" $50 do rine.s said shirley
b / haven't got a desk, and l never think
Of a subject beforehand. The words nov
fast enough, but not in a lux liz some
Holk's.7 Mr.. Layard suggests shat this
was just where Shirley failed and Ihack-
cray succeeded. ThRckeray thought out
and digested his ideas before he put pen 10
paper. shirley scratched away at MS
paper until the desired effects came.
shirley Brooks's plays are sheived n
his novels are forgotten. while ~ for the
distinction which III acquired az a newe-
paper writer IL was, Of course. writ In
water. The same thing may be said OF the
reputation for shining in conversation
which in his lifetime ne possessed. OF the
reel flavor Of his conversation. Of his verbal
and other Eelicities. it is hard to any
thing worth having afterth lapse OF decades.
The laughter has lost its ring. We can but
regain the muffed echo. IL IL recorded. Tor
instance, that one day at the dinner table
OF Mr.. Firth. the painter. one OF the guests
exclaimed: @Punchi Does any one read
Pnnckg 1 knOw I can't" mo n would
expect that you could" flashed back Brooks.
We concur with Mr.. Layard in thinking
that though this story. like many a story
OF Douglas Jerrold. may appeal to some
readers. IL is perely ~unmanneriy. Puns
were dreadfully In vogue In the mld-Vtc-
torian era. We are told that one summer
evening ~Thackeray arrived late at the
Prnch dinner. He had given up a lady's
dinner for a dinner with Lord John Russell.
and the little statesman had left him in tho
lurch. $50" he said. Il come al a peas
Oller to MIR. p. to eat my peas in peace
But you must mind your Qe, as weh,'
said Brooks. ~and you must take your cues
from me. OF I shall not excuse you"
Here is an example Of Shirley's readiness
with a striking metaphor. Writing a fine
poem" ne burst out. merely to make
money by IL is like turning a water mill
with the sacred stream Of Jordan or chop
ping up the cedars Of lebanon for firewoOd."
Another instance Of the quickness with
which, in his case. a spark Of his wit set fire
TO a train OF thought was afforded when
Mr.. Silver COf Punch had told him Of a
stage failure. when a play is damned
said Brooks, "the critics all turn up their
noses at it with a sniff as IL they smelt the
sulphur. And after all some Of our play
wrights may be all the better for = little hrim-
stone. II might help to cure them OF their
itch for popularity" Here is another: 1t
seems that partridges were rather pre-
maturely on the menu Of the Punch dinner
one first day OF December. -Ah," sGN1
Shirley, considering the perils their parents
have survived. l am always Inclined to call
young cartridges the children of the
missedl" Brooks sometimes wal capable
Of asperity. A budding young statesman
had been advised to read in Shirley's pres
ence something tina Shirley had written
on a subject upon which the young gentle
man required enlightenment. Brooke he
! said as the ideas sank into his brain, Brooks.
you are mad! Brooks, you are mad!'
Never mind. my dear fellow, said Shirley,
lit requires brains to 90 mad. There's no
fear for you" He was rarely 50 unkind a.
that; indeed, Mr.. Spielmann said that n
was as witty as Jerrold without h sting
He was very quick to play upon words.
Mr.. Firth, the painter, tells how the merits
OF a certain poet probably S~winburne)
we're once under discussion. Some one
objected that his writings were immoral
and indecent and that he was not. a poet
at all. mot a poe at alp" echoed an adj
mirer. Why, the man was born a poetl
And il ever man proved the truth Of the
adage, Poeta R~Gsctur, non III. X 10 that
man." so he is said Brooks, she 10 a
poet of nastiness, not At for publication"
Another Of Shirley's mots was made when
Thackeray's daughter Annie had just
published her STORY OF Elizabeth Shs
reminds me-" said Brooks. of Minerva
springing fully equipped from the brain OF
Jupiter. 1 hope h will not cut me, now
she's famous and I'm In old fogy." Then
one OF his nimble thoughts flashed into his
brain and he exclaimed with a sigh: when
a man gets middle aged, EheUl LGbuatur
ami. How the Armies slip away from himl"
Shirley Brooks died on February q, ls74.
being then less than 90 years OF age. He was
laid to rest in X ensal Green Cemstery. hard
NV the graves Of ,John Leech and Thankarav