Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-09-11
BOOKS AND AUTHORS

gathered by Miss Flora Mason into
volume entitled Memories of London in
the Forties." and reprinted from their
serial place in Blackwood's Magazine and
Macinilan's Magazine. there are many
entertaining anecdotes of Professor David
Masson's association with Carlyle and
other eminent literary men. AS a young
man Professor Mason was a frequent
and welcome visitor to the Carlyle home
Il SHALL" he says, never forget the first
impression made upon me by the appear
jance of this remarkable lady, as she sat,
or, rather. reclined on corner of the
sofa-so fragile in form, with a delicately
cut and rather panied face of dun-pale
hue; very dark hair. smoothed on both
sides of an unusually broad forehead; and
black She was one of the most
brilliant of witty takers. full Of light
esprit. and. though generally suppressing
herself when her husband was present.
quite as delightfully."- copiCus as he was.
both in themes and words. when she had
to be his substitute. Though her style
and manner of thinking had undoubtedly
been Influenced by him. an aboriginal
difference has been preserved" Perhaps
the most striking memory in the whole
book is that which describes what passed
between Carlyle and Mason one night in
Hyde Park. of all places lone summer
night. about eleven O'clock" says Mason.
1--WE had passed our usual starting point
at Hyde Park Corner. and had strolled
into the park itself. lured by the beauty
of specially soft and star brilliant sky
overhead. The softness and stiffness
around and the starry brilliance above
had lowered his tone to it's finest and
gentlest depths. All roughness. all queru-
lousness, were gone: he was in a mood of
the simplest and most sage-like serenity.
AS we sauntered to and fro on the grass.
the sole human beings peripatetic, where
but a few hours before there had been
the roar of the carriages in stream and
the parallel gallop of the equestrians, 1t
was the stars and the silence that seemed
to work upon him and to suggest his
theme From the mystery and the spen-
dor Of physical infnitude he passed to
what ought to be the rule of human be-
havior the conduct of ones own spirit
In world framed so ma jesticallv and SO
divinely. There was too much testing in
it, he said-too much Of mere irony and
laughter at the absurd. too little of calm
Righteousness and serious walk with God
In speaking of the over-prcvalence of the
habit of irony, sarcasm and jeSting, he
used sudden phrase of self-humilia tior
which l have never forgotten All. and
l have given far too much in to that
my self-snggering at things These are
his exact words. Though they are the
only exact words l can now recall Out
of that quarter of an hour of his varied
talk, all in the same vein Of deeply moved
meditation it is the solemn charm of the
whole Of the little coloquy that remains
in my memory. If ever one man spoke t.
another absolutely spirit to spirit, it was
Carlyle to me in that quarter of an houl
of our walk to and fro in that star-sil
vcred and tree-skirted solitude in tbs
middle Of London
1.-The Riverman," Stewart Edward
Whites new novel. to he published this
month by the Mcclure company is a nat
ural successor though not a sequel t.
'"The Blazed Trail" and is said to be the
most important book he has put fortt
since thar successful novel. THE Blazec
Trail dealt with cutting down forests
in The Riverman" we have the story o
getting the lumber to market.
Miss Caroline Kirkland. whose new
book Some African HIGHWAYS" EN-
| bodies unique and interesting travel ex
periences, is a prominent and pop,lla
| member Of Chicago society. In 1850
Miss Kirkland accompanied by he
| mother. Mrs Joseph Kirkland. visitet
| relatives in Fast and South Africa. mucl
of the material now offered in book form
being then printed as newspaper letters
| Miss Kirkland. who. with her mother
has been motoring in France all summer
will sail for home the first week in Sep
tember. Some African Highways" i
published by Dana Estes & Co.
| He was accustomed to go along tn
pavement. absorbed. stoop- shouldered hi
! hands behind his back. frequently throw
ing them out and up in earnest Gallo dec
| lamation. writes Stuart Henry Of Francoi
| Coppee in the Bookman. At home he de
l
he seemed a sort Of pendant to Sardou
| who, likewise a man of the theatre. is
| great declaimer in his every day life.
| often thought Of Sardou as millionaire
| dwelling up toward the high. wealthy in
cline of northern Paris. powerful AM
with strong fighting hold on existenc
| amid his costly tapestries and antiques
And then of Coppee. living humbly an
| ,Inwcll. away down on the poor plain O
| southern Paris. at the end of the indignn
| art quarter. Fortunately. however. hi
prolific zen. in his later days. brought hin
| safety. He occupied for years. with hi
sister. modest one story house in a lone
| some street. You entered a yard wher
the surroundings gave little intimation 0
| the near presence Of one of the hes
known ltteratturs Of France. Like Sar
| dou. Coppee was extremely friendly i
| his home. He welcomed everyone. wa
| Interested in everything. He talked an
moved rastlessly about in a favo,ite re
| smoking iacket which recalled the .am
| Gus red coat Of the romantic Gautiel
There were cats Che was fond Of them
cigarettes and abundant examples OF tn
| lotocf forcof,1 c1anp n COIntrv inn