The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-03

shadowed. his cherkbones Of almost aboriginal
prominence. Throughout Mr.. Gays performance
my eyes scarccly LEFT his countenance. which, as
he proceeded sank from sight until By the familiar
optical illusion. nothing Of it remained but the
mouth and that sept charging and widening until
it seemed elastic link holding The ears together,
Indeed. at this late writing my one distinct recol-
lection Of the man and his speech Is the mouth
and its capacity for infinite dstalsion.
w. c. BrowneH. whose fame as an es-
sayest OF taste and discretion is rapidly
widening. has in February Scribner's a
strong essay on Lowell. in the course OF
which Mr.. Brownell is tempted into some
general reflections on the present course
Of literature and the way in which that
course Is shaping itself. 1t is while writ
ing Of Loweil's culture and Its limitations
by what the essayist calls "his lack OF
experimental sympathies," that Mr..
Brownell is prompted 10 say that zone
would gladly postpone yet for a brief sea-
son the era Of speciallsm. and views with
misgiving the no doubt inevitable inva-
sion Of barbarian hOrdes from without
the confines Of the empire OF letters The
province of history has already been over
run. and the expert Is established within
Attila In his contempt for the SUPERFICIAL
ties and shallownesses powcrless TO resist
him. Bclles-lettres may, however, hold
ont little longer before 1t IS transformed
into scientific feudalism or declines in
Byzantine deeadence.
An interesting colonial who has just
come 20 England is Henry Bulwer Lytton
Dickens. OF Australia. says London let
ter to the Saturday Times-Revlew. Bear
ing the combined names Of two OF Eng
lands most famous men Of letters, Mr..
Dickens is a grandson OF the great
Charles. His father was Charles Dick
ems youngest child. Edward BulweT Lyt-
ton Dickens, who emigrated 10 Australia
with his brother. Alfred Tennyson Dick
ems, and became a stock and station
agent. and was for six years a member
Of the parliament Of New South Wales
All Of Dickens boys were named In a GU
rious way, after the great writer's woo
were contemDoraneous with their father
II was an example OF the curious ego
tism Of tho man. a trait which in another
he could have ridiculed very "icely and
had a lot OF fun out of it. Il vas 20 the
father OF this young man who has just
arrived in England that Charles Dickens
wrote when the lad was emigrating:
AS yoar brothers have gone away one By one. I
have written % each q them what ! am now going
20 write 10 you. You know that y0u have never
been hampsred with religious forms q restraint
and with mere uumcauiug forms 7 have no syn
pathy- But I most strongly and adgci-onatcy inn
press upon jon the priceless value of the NCW Tesla
ssf4r "a fH1 rsrr-
falling rlida 81 life Deeply respecting Il and
bowling d0Eu before the character q our Saviour,
as separated from the vain constructions and 10
veutious cf men. you cannot 90 very iaV wrong.
and VIII always preserve az heart a true spirit u
veHorati-r and humility.
Similarly 7 impress upon you the habit % saving
a Christian PRAYER every night and morning These
things have stood by me through al my life, and
remember that I tried % render the New Testament
Ineligible % sou ard l0yabie lE son when SOU
were a mere baby. And so God bless y0u. Ever
your affec,icuate father CHARLES DICKENS.
Intimate glimpses Of Browning are
given by William Michael Rossetti In his
"reminiscences. The poet had the happy
faculty Of putting people al their ease
when in conversation with him. and IN
his manner Of talk this description IS
offered. '"To say that Browning was
eloquent I'm talk would-so far as my ex-
perience extends-be going too far: he
was also not rhetorical or loug-winde6
IN exposition; but his talk included most
OF the good qualities short Of eIoquence-
especially masculine acumen and versa
tie promptiJUde The time flew fast IN
HIS company He spoke but little about
himself and his poetry. but gave informa-
tion freely when asko'."
No one who is n reader OF the modern
novel but must feel q sympathy and in
terest in the cry of the unknown poet in
the current Century who is sick unto
death Of the swashbuckling heroes OF
modern romance who pass uusclthed
through a thousand dangers. one has
only TO peep at the back pages TO be
quite sure that the villain does not tri-
umph and that the hero gets the girl
after ali, and there is such n Sameness
about the new romance that even the
subtleties OF Henry James. some Of whose
paragraphs are an amazing puzzle. are a
welcome relief: To those Of US who are
sorely tired Of this book adventure this
poem VIII appeal.
HEROES
TarkinCtous bucks are q e11-ly stuff;
Mai1r.s knights, az a pinch. wiz do:
Howells' heroes are well enough
Hopkinsoa Smiths have a healthy hue;
Barrie's Scots are q EaiIsome brew:
Pukers CauEck very likely drinks
Give me the man with his mind In kinks
benedict be he, OF squire Of damesl
Who tells what he thinks he thinks he thinks
Give me the hero Of Henry James,
Wister's cowboys are slightly tough;
London lands but tucIleat crew;
little too much inclined 10 bluff
Is Harding Davis civilized siu1z;
Han Gaines sufferers wear their rue
With little indifference. Each one sinks
Away and the dszzlcd reader bliuks
When SONS psychic problem he tackles and
tamcs--
From mental muddlos he never shrinks-
Give me the hero OF Henry James,
Garland's rrangeIs are gritty, if gr1f;
Hopes smart bachelors wittiy WOO:
Wcymsns w0rthiCs are up t. snuff
Conan Doyles never lack a clew:
But, alas. at a glance you can look them
through
No matter in what gay clothes he rrinks
Who cares for character full Of chirks?
Such transparence his makeup shames:
Cards and SPADES he can give the sphinx
Give me the hero Of Henry james!
ENVOY.
Ho, Sir Critic with cye q lynx
That sleeps rot ever nor even winBs
Scan me the field with its clash Of claims;
Then take your choioe; for me, thinks
Give me the hero q Henry James
HEARS WHEN HE CARES TO.
Venircmun Fails To BE Excused from
Jury Service.
From the Kansas City Star.