The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15
NeWman's Letters.

"All intellectual persons of literary taste delight in reading Newman, Eng lands most fascinating man of letters living in the nineteenth century, and many of those who keep up with new books have had rare treat in a some what recent publication" said a citizen. "I refer to Letters and Correspondence of John Henry Newman during his life in the English church, with a brief auto biography It is in two volumes and is edited at the late cardinals request by lis niece. Anne Mozley, the daughter of an Anglican clergyman, and herself an earnest member of the Anglican body. Every one who makes any claim to gen. eral culture has read Apologia;' and not a few know it almost by heart But some of the most important correspond ence bearing on the 'Tractarian move- ment will be found in these fresh vol umes. It is needless to say that these let ters of Newman are like all other of his writings, notable for their virility as well as grace of expression and literary flavor.
 "The introduction starts off with the fol- lowing extracts from a letter of Dr. New man to his sister, Jemima-Mrs. Mozley: Tt has ever been hobby of mine. though perhaps it is truism, not a hobby, that tho true life of man is In his letters. Not only for the interest of biography, but for arriving at the inside of things, the publication of letters Is the true method Biographers varnish, they assign motives, they conjecture feelings, they interpret Lord Burlegh's mods; but con- temporary letters are facts
 "Of especial interest to students and from letter in which Newman gives his ideas about the value of Horace and other of the Latins: The poems of Hor- ace, grant, are most melancholy to read, but they bring before us most vividly and piteousy our state by nature; they in- crease in us sense of our utter depend- ence and natural helplessness; they arm us against the fal1acious promises of the world, especially at this day-the prom ises of science and literature to give us light and liberty. It is most piercingly sad to observe how the heather writers yearn for some unknown good and higher truth and cannot find 1t; how Horace in particular tries to solace himself with the pleasures of sense. and how stern a monitor he has within him, telling him that death is coming. Lucretius is an- other author teaching still more solemnly the same awful lesson. Who can but pity such a race, 50 great and so little?
 Cardinal Newman was born in 1901 and died in 1890 He was an example of industry, as well as piety, throughout his long life. He was not only great writer of books, but he was prolific letter writer. No other busy man, perhaps ever wrote quite so many personal let ters. myself have an autograph letter from Cardinal Newman, written in 1887, and postmarked Birmingham, England. It was a most agreeable surprise to me. I had no personal acquaintance with his eminence, but wrote him letter of felici- tation on his birthday. I not only ex- pected no letter from his pen, but hardly looked for one from a secretary acknowl- edging the receipt of my note. Yes, 1t was a surprise when broke the seal and read a warm and gracious little letter from the cardinal himself I only relate this to show what facile and constant letter writer Newman was up to the end of his eventful and illustrious life. It | those edited by Anne Mozley, embracing correspondence dating from the time Dr. Newman was received into the church of Rome, and edited by Catholic. will be | forthcoming in due time."