The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-14

ter art than Jane EYrei put the yer diet that has made the latter book the favorite is correct and sound.
 Jane Eyre" has fire in 1t that 'Vil- lette" lacks "Vllette," however, would have established Charlotte Bronte's posision in literature If Jane Eyre" had not been written. It is a remark able work. It deals with persons and events that ought to be hopelessly un- interesting. There is no great plot, there Is no great event. there is no faction" II Is the story of lives almost commonplace with the exception of M. Paul There is no drama in it. Yet when 1t is finished it leaves one with the sense that a great human tragedy has just been witnessed. and that it has come close to the readers own soul. TT was typical of Lucy snowe that
 when misfortune overlook the l kinsfolk with whom she had lived s,nce childhood, she did not turn to the one person who always had been her warm friend-her godmother' Mrs' Breton. Even In her time Of early youth. when she lived there for a part of each year, she had been reserved ana silent-a dark, shrinking, queer young girl. When at last trouble shattered the gloomy family life of her kin, she turned as a matter of course to the strange world rather than to any whom she knew.
 Gathering her few sovereigns, she de- parted from England and made her way to Villette on the continent where she obtained a position as English goVer- ness in the young ladies seminary Of Mme Modesto Maria Beck.
 Mme Beck was a rather attractive person of about 40, short and stout yet not ungraceful, with eyes blue ana serene. and a mouth that could beeoAe a little grim at times. She had sys- tenn of managing her school that was purely her own. Lucy Snowe discoY- cred it the first night that she spent under the roof of the pensionat.
 She awoke to find Madame in her room. For quarter of an hour that person stood quite still, evidently study ing her new governess, who wisely feigned sleep. Then she turned to the garments. turned them inside out, in- spected all the marks, and emptied the rockets. She studied memorandums notes. and at last made imprints of wax of the trunk, desk and work keys
 All this was done with a staid, busi- pess-like decorum and thoroughness. Having finished her task decently and in order. Mime. Beck returned every thing neatly to it's place, refolded all the clothes and withdrew with the con- tented air of one who had done her duty.
 Miss Snowe soon learned that she con- sidered suck tasks purely matters of duty ant school discipline. Mime. Beck ruled her 100 pupils, her four woman teachers, the eight masters half a dozen servants and her own three children by simple system of espionage and surveillance She knew what honesty was, and liked 1t, but she held that continental chil- dren could not be brought up under any system except hers.
 There never was mistress whose rule was milder-or more inexorable. Her pu- pills were not oyertaxed. The lessons were well distributed. The girls were kept in excellent health and spirits. The food was good. Her method was easy, liberal and rational The house full of well dressed, handsome girls seemed a great contrast to the English schools that Lucy Snowe knew
 For a while the young Englishwoman was afraid to take a chance or to seize the other chances for promotion that Mime. Beck offered her. After her many years of repression she was glad to be without heavy anxiety or trials, and she would have been well content to live life limited to daily bread, hourly work and a roof Of shelter.
 After a short time, however, the girls began to like her in a way. Bouquets were laid on her desk and the pupils dis naved A desire to walk with her in the hours of relaxation.
 An English girl showed her the greatest affection This was one of the beauties of the school, Miss Ginevra Fanshawe, whose pretty blond head was quite empty cf sense, but thoroughly well fitted with music, singing dancing and the science of Irritation. The dainty creature was the essence of selishness-a national inherit ance from parents who had spent their entire lives trying to keep up brilliant appearances on an income of nothing.
 Miss Fanshawe quite unblushingly &C., cepted dresses and other luxuries from her rich friends, and laid constant finan- cial siege tc her uncle De Bassompierre. who paid for her education. De Bassom- pierre had been an untitled Englishman, who had fallen heir to a great estate and had taken the name of relatives who beoueathed it to him. Miss Gnevra spoke of him slightingly as one who was hardly of the same social rank as her father, Captain Fanshawe, retired on half-pay.
 Miss Fanshawe soon confded to Miss Snowe that she had broken many hearts in the houses to which sAe was invited Her most recent conquest at the time of her confidence and, therefore, the one that delighted her most, was over a young man whom she called by pet name.
 f"Why should you make him miserable?" asked Miss Snowe. '1f you are merely flirting with him you may make him wretched for life"
 "Of course he will break his heart" said Miss Fanshawe, shaking her yell low curls. T should be shocked and dis appointed if he didn't. How dowdyish you are"
 "This language Is mere nonsense and coquetry," said Miss Snowe, severely. "surely you would not treat a man SO! 7 You love him more than you will avow."
 T danced with young officer, Col.