The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-05
The Reverend Patrick Prunty's
Girls, who Wrote Novels.

The Reverend Patrick Prunty',
Girls, Who Wrote Novels.
Prunty in ireland. Bronte when YOU
study for the ministry at Cambridge:
alias, in old documents and records
says Mrs. ELLIS II. CHADWICK in her
laborious volume In the Footsteps OF
the Bronfes tBrentano's), O'Prunty
Brunty, Bruntee and Bronte without
diRresis: and even stray Branty.
The Rev. Patrick published a "Brief
| Treatise on Baptism" and verse
| "Epistle to n Young Clergyman, -
amiable, undistlnguished compositions
that may explain the gentle literary
personality OF Annexation Bell; also a
novel, THE Maid OF Killarney" which
may have been, however slight the
superficial resemblance, the ancestor of
Charlotte-Currer Bells Jane Eyre" and
SHIRLEY" and "villettc," az OF Emily
Ellis Bells "Wuthering Heights" As
for tho hayward son, Patrick Branwell
there was a time when he was sup
posed to have had a hand in the
Heights" story. but the truth seems to
be that he had no literary personality
or drowned in drink any that he might
have developed. and therefore needs no
literary genealogy.
Maynard sons command tho inter-
ested attention of almost everybody, be-
cause they arouse sympathy or censurc,
and are seldom dismissed with vncuous
Indifference. Patrick Branwel Rronte
was born in 1917, when his father was
beginning preacher at Thornton, be-
tween Charlotte and Emily Jane. and
died Of alcoholically induced consump-
ton in September. lS4S. This domestic
blow. followed in December of the same
year and May of the next by the deaths
or Emily ana Anne. shook Charlotte
greatly and interrupted the WI ting of
shirley" between Chapter XNIII. and
Chapter NNIN.: the stress OF the
mournful epoch shows In the narrative,
with some Of those feelingful passages
of prose poetry that far surpass the
brilliant woman's essays at formal
poetry.
Branwell caused In his short life more
than his share OF trouble: Emily's
death was surely fastened. If not caused
by her grief for him, with the physical
assistance of cold caught at his flu
neral. He wounded fond hearts: but
as might have been pointed ont in his
funeral sermon, We're sense and sin
cerity any part OF those eleEiac per-
formances, he doubtless as much as
any other suggestive and Christening
influence affected the literary articula-
lion OF the passionate siege Of life, part
Irish, part pure feminine and all human,
in his sisters novels.
For all his faults, he was a favorite In
Haworth. His youth had given no less
and perhaps more. promise OF achieve
ment than had the girls Charlotte
called him hardsomer than his sisters:
generous credit but not overwhe lining
Mrs. Chadwick is certain he went up
to London, though Mrs. Gaskell did not
know of It; ne spent his time at the
Castle in Holborn, kept by Tom Spring
the boxer: ran through the money
provided by his too generous sisters.
told pitiful tales about being held up
and was recalled by the vicar. his
father. The townsfolk thought him
empty Of sense but built for socialibility.
1t Is hardly just 20 tax the Black Bull.
his favorite haunt, with responsibility
for his facle descensus: twas an or
derby house where merry souls were
made welcome. but none was forced
against his will to any overindulgence
in taproom commodities. A clever. vain
lad, wanting in fibre: the world IL full
OF them. and not many have the luck.
be II good or bad, that Is Branwell
Bronte's to possess the interest of a
litterateur who shall publish the feebly
absolvng theory of deferred moral con-
sequences from an uncauterlzed dog
bite in childhood days.
Perhaps, as the author suggests, a
couple Of years of the discipline at the
Pensionnat Heger at Brussels which
played so large n part in the character
development of Charlotte and Emily
might have supplied the missing and
saving element in Branwells moral COM
position, His reverend father. all other
resorts failing, at one time tried TO
settle him In the ministry; whether in
honest protest or because the invitation
TO "A. jest was Irresistible, the young
man remarked that his sole qualifica-
ton for office in the Church was GER
tain endowment of hypocrisy He got n
comfortable appointment as tutor in "a
highly respectable family" in Cumber-
land. Charlotte wrote: "One thing will
make the daily [vlcaragel routine more
UNMARRIED than ever. Branwell. who
lived TO enliven us. Is to leLve us.
4" How he will like to settle re-
mains yet to be seen. At present he is
fun Of hope and resolution. I, who
know his variable nature and his strong
turn Tor active life The was fond Of
tramplng and huntingl, dare not be
too sangulne."
After six months Of tightly respect
able" tutoring he became a railroad
clerk. neglected his duties In favor OF
tho Red Lion and the Anchor, and lost
his job. Later he became again a
tutor this time in the home of one
Rev. Edmund Robinson, where his sis
ter Anne was engaged as governess.
There was scandal In which his name
was yoked with that of the clergy
mans wife; the present explorer OF
this valley OF dr. bones thinks the