New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-26

in publicly using a theme so obviously
personal and intimate, and | have often
thought of the paper as the most dainty
and distinguished OF his essays L now
return to the thought OF 1t. because the
beautiful young lady of 1870 was that
same Countess Somers who passed to
the majority on Thursday, aged eighty
four
May l tell the story of the identified
ton? Six years after the paper APP
peared Thackeray collected his Miscel-
lanieS. In the mean time | had gone to
Cambridge, had taken my degree, and in
the pleasant aftertime OF leisure l sub
scribed to these Miscellanies. What
were my feelings when | found that the
reprint Of The Proser" stopped imme-
diately short of the paper / had looked
for No wonder | thought; the friends
Of the young lady demonstrated, and
Thackeray atoned for his indiscretion by
not republshing his finest piece. This
conclusion was in error. IT was limo
theus who had demonstrated. When
with another outbreak Of captivating
indiscretion Mrs. BrooiIfield published
Thackeray's letter to herself / came
across references to a temporary aliena-
ton OF Sir Henry Taylor. which APP
peared to be most probably due to re-
sentiment to the way in which he had
been exhibited as Timotheus. | never
man. but l could understand his feel
ings if, indeed. he was the versemaker
who brought his Offering TO the 'beautl-
ful young lady" Lady Richie con-
frmed my suspicion. and identified the
subject of the paper. and ii may be
added that, with the pacifieation of Tay-
lor and the lapse of years, the difficulty
about republishing the paper diSap-
peared, and it now finds its place in all
the editions Of ThaCkeray. Take down
the appropriate volume and read the
essay.
! have done this myself since / wrote
the last preceding word, and / find, in
spite Of the less responsive sympathies Of
age. the paper holds its charm. 'InceSSu
patuit dea''-the Imperial vutaress passes
on, in maiden meditation, fancy free.
The choicest words stored in the corners
of the brain are appropriate TO the
theme. Here and there a phrase in the
essay may betray the haste of weekly
work. and l may not perhaps call 1t the
faultlcss piece, but it is on the highest
level Of Thackeray's grace and tender
ness, and any reader 'who turns to ii
VIII owe me gratitude. He had caught
and carried on the spirit of Steele's fine
appreciation in describing a maiden with
whom to fall in love was liberal educa-
ton. The Erminia of the paper (Vir-
ginia in real Hfe) was one Of those who
silently subdue the world. I have told
Of Thackeray and Sir Henry Taylor.
Watts. in the freshness Of his prime.
painted her pOrtrait-painted her. l
think more than once, but once GER
tainlv. And when the radiant portrait
appeared at the Academy young Lord
Somers. so the story runs, came, saw
and was overcome. 'Dickie" Doyle, him
self a submissive admirer, said with a
sigh. mo one could contest the title of
the early bird" It Is a long while ago,
and vet as new as day. It is so easy
and, ! hope. pardonable, to fit back TO
the fascinating vision Of gone time
In what way do praise, and love, and
admiration help to build up character?
have confessed to a past suspicion, ap-
parently erroneous, that the friends OF
Erninia resented the freedom of the
essavist in making her sweet simplicity
his theme il may perhaps have been
kept quietly from her notice. II may
have dropped from her memory as Tor
eign matter Anyhow. Lady Somers
lived Unconscious Of the tribute to her
maiden simplicity and grace. Half
dozen years ago she Tepudiated alto
gether the suggestion that Mr.. Thack-
cray had ever written anything ABOUT
herself Mr.. Thackeray had always peen
verv kind TO her; she had known him
we'll: but oh no, ne had never written
word about her. Such ignorance was so
befitting that though it might without
injury be disturbed in a Septuagenarlan
widow. il could not he wished otherwise
in the bloom of earlier years. A serene
forgetfulness OF a faulty. foolish. feeble
praise was the proper reCOmpense OF age
for the pain and resentment 50 sharply
felt in youth at the inappropriate in
adequacy of such tribute. So the vision
becomes complete at the moment when II
NAV seem TO be passing away. We begin
and end in a region of rare simplicity
where il behoves US to admire and be
Ill