Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-25

real genius for children's tales relin-
pushed his congregation at the call OF
literature, though he preached on occa-
sion for several years after official retire.
ment from the pulpit. The late Dr. Wat
son, better known as Ian Maclaren."
won many admirers for his BESIDE the
Bonnie Briar Bush" and remained in the
ministry. Does that once popular story
still enjoy a vogue? And how is the en-
thusiasm which greeted 1t to be accounted
for? The name of Mr.. Stopford Brooke
illuminates the roll of Unitarian ministers
and as brightly the annals of literary
criticism. But the great nonconformist
champions Of literature are Milton, Bum
yam and Defoe-all laymen.
Clerks and Great Books.
Charles Lamb found the daily round at
the East India Company's office no him
drance to that play of fancy and grace
Of composition which mark the genius Of
Ella, as later Anthony Trollope. in the
production of a long list of novels. was
unhindered by the routine of his every
day duties at the post office. Trollope
may not have been a genius. but he knew
his business as novelist, and the Bar
setshire series with the never-to-be for
gotten Mrs. Proudie) are frst-rate pic
thedral city in the middle of the nine
teenth century Mr.. A. B. Walkley, by
dramatic criticisms, weighty and estima-
BILE, has maintained the literary traditions
For Mr. Austin Dobson and Mr.. Edmund
Gosse the board of trade happily pro-
vided a regular employment which SEEM
ed to foster rather than discourage the
gift Of authorship and the taste for let
tiers.
Tho law can show a good LIST of an
thors. Was not Fielding a stipendiary
magistrate at Bow street? And Sir Wal
ter Scott long practiced as an advocate,
only retiring from the bar when the
was conferred upon him, and his triumph
In literature seemed assured. AS pub
Usher and business man Scott was
neither fortunate nor well advised.
Thomas Hughes gave us one book of per-
ennial entertainment, tom Browns
Schooldays" Qor Tom Brown at OK
ford" pleasant enough I'm its way, was
of inferior quality, and achieved a coun-
Of a good lawyer His homer Judge
Parry. In the intervals of administering
justice at county courts, has managed to
write one or two plays. besides perform
ing other literary feats. The remin-
iscences Of judges and barristers are
plentiful, and in most cases, are excel
lent reading for young and old Ito quote
Masterman Ready's praise of Plutarch).
But they commonly are the labor of the
retired lawyer-not Of the man in prac-
tice.
Painters and Poets.
Painters have been poets without sac
rificing the brush. witness William Blake
and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Du Maurier
never ceased from his black and white
drawing when he turned novelist Haz-
OF ys<1 f.,,x
quite wisely let his brush work go. find
ing the pen the better instrument i'm his
hands. William Morris was poet, writer
OF rohnances, master of many arts and
crafts and shopkeeper i'm oxford street.
samuel Richardson was also a shop
Clarlssa Harlowe." Pamela" and .'Sir
Charles Grandson" tedious enough in all
IL read without judicious skip
ping-have permanent place in English
literature. In our time, Mr.. Grant Rich
ards has doubled the parts Of publisher
and author.
r u. Blackmore was pleased to COM
bine market gardening with novel writ
ing.
The medical profession would seem to
De too engrossing for fine literary work.
Challenged to name its men
or letters. 1t can point to Sir Thomas
Browne and Tobias Smollett on the roll
or Britains immortals, and claim such
Oliver Wendell Holmes
The ranks Of manual Iaborers are
speedily bereft Of authors who can win
! living by their pen. Burns forsook the
plow, and Walt Whitman and Mark
Twain did not remain journeymen print
ers. For no man Of genius or talent. |
having to choose between professional
labor of brain or hand, cleaves to the
latter.
Rogers, the banker. was esteemed a |
poet In his day, but we take it that
banking was his proper trade. Walter |
BaGehot enjoyed the very unusual dis |
tinction of writing LUMINOSITY for the
reading public on finance. literature and
politics.