New-York tribune., 1912-03-24

of his works, but as new volumes in 1t
come out one is moved to pay tribute al
over again to the taste, the artless ViVld-
ness and the true interpretative touch
distinguishing Miss Morris's pages. Sh9
tells us. too, the things that are worth
while which is to say the things that
illuminate both the workings OF brill
liant mind and the impulses of noble
lovabie character.
Morris lived gloriously in his task.
Work finished was done with MS
daughter SAYS He did not linger over
ir or nurse it; the work before him at
the moment was the thing that lived and
mattered." We are privileged 70 observe
him here thus absorbed in the work or
the moment and repeatedly the expert
ence is worth having. But the best initia-
tion into the craftsman's spirit is to h"
got through preliminary notice OF MS
demcanor on a holiday. Miss Morris
tells us how once, when she and the
other children were still quite young
their parents took them on little trip
through Belgium, and speaking Of how
they crowded at the train window,
"soueaking with delight at the dark
flashing sea- she adds
Nv child's mind. laying by memories for
use in riper years, recalls as II were bul
Yesterday something said that was amongst
the earliest Climpscs IL had into the grown
up nnd-eVen then noted IN serious HdSi,
amidst the m@rrlmont; Tor faih'r Snl!'b
across AZ Mother above the sCramhnE
Vff p,
"Yt's worth anything to take the hds
treat Janey. and see the ittl" ras'~ls en-
jcyiuE il So
There We have Morris to the life the
Morris who was a man as we'll as an
artist and a poet a creature Of heart rs
we'll as Of brains and, above ALL Great
ure forever bubbling over with human
symrathy There was nothing common
place. for him. about the domestic
affections on the contrary. they gildei
his world. Miss Morris records a winter
when it was decided that the family
should spend some months abroad.
Father" she saws. was looking for
ward IN the emptiness Of the little CHS
wick home with some dismaN. one
knows Of many men that they would
view the temporary absence o1 their
women folk with philosophy and would
live contentedly at the club; but my
father was at no time Clubman, ana J
should think no busy man ever showed
more unselfsh and tender consideration
for his family: he was going to he soil
tarv and did not like it," 1t would be
foolish to force this trait, this family
tenderness of his. into too close a rela-
tion to his work. but relation is there
Just the same. A man puts his soul into
his work. and Morris's soul was daily
fed AT the springs of love no less than
at those Of art. and to keep the point in
mind is the better TO understand and to
like him.
Was there ever a happier man? II Is
doubtful. As his daughter sketches him
he seems in. a perpetual hustle, writing
poetry of his own or shouting with glee
over the masterpieces of his predeces-
sors. rejoicing in nature, or rousing him
self TO fury over the wickedness of some
architectural "restorer," giving himself
Ike boy TO the delights Of friendship
or knitting his brow over business prob
IONS. and somehow managing that
everything occurring TO him for good or
for III should react upon his imagination
and hence upon his labors as creative
artist. It is dangerous TO attempt to
trace one of his artistic or poetical mo-
tives TO any single source. All manner
of inspirations would fuse themselves
for him into one outburst of energy.
Miss Morris offers suggestive instance
n alluding TO his passion for ancient
illuminated manuscripts These infu-