The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-05
lady was having fun at the young ma,

lady was having fun at the young ,r,,,.
expense. Mrs. Gaskell got into tronL,,
by printing the stun. Charlotte wrn,o
OF Mrs. Robinson as "a hopeless holm,
calculated to bring a curse wherovsr
she goes"
1t is a pathetic picture or a sad -na..
as you choose, this OF a young mar
member Of a gifted fsS1tly and h,,rs.s,
seemingly endowed with pos,ibiliti.. FOR
| literature or painting Chis picture a,
Anne. Emily and Charlotte about 1slo
MS twenty-third year, Is reproduced IL,
the book), going to the dogs becaus.
or the lack of sclf-contro on his own
part or authoritative guidance ON thar
OF others. But 1t Is worth considering
because OF the parallel with Charlotte.,
case Brother and sister were much
alike in all respects but one; that ono
the vital factor. Both were nervorn
cNcitable: but Charlotte had tho in
uustry the productive application, for
want OF which Branwelrs Indubitabls
talents were worse than wasted :.
| may even be that IL Charlotte had bee,.
the man and BranwelI the woman th.'r
roles in life would have been reversed
also
The psychology Of this family is M
tractive. Emily WAS as distinct an In.
dividuality as either Charlotte or Br,n.
WcIl; her novel the pinnacle Of the fam
lily pile. Mrs. Chadwick hits off "Wuth.
ering Heights" rather neatly when shs
says: 1T is the outcome Of a rrc.t
mind: 1t Is not meant for human ON.
Joyinent or human opposition. II q
lnerc, ana We may take IT or leave IT,"
me expression Is Il little loose, but the
implication OF u genuine work of gen.
JUS Is sensible. And as a background.
I'D SHOW up these ecCentricities of char
actcr working out into tine literary
achievement. Anne has her value: her
only value to the world. she, who WA,
the most normal, cOntented and untor-
nented OF this family, was also tho
least TIT of those OF its members WIN
welded pen to catch the eve of t1ose
who run. Plainly, one must lie a freak.
or frcakish. II ono IS to write "Vn-
lettes" and "Wuthcrlngs."
Mrs. Chadwick Is the most ardent Of
Bronteans. Everything movable lbout
the family of the Rcv. Patrick prtiutv
IS in her book some things, pcrhap..
that cannot be quite positively known
In 300 pages of close type there IS room
Tor great many facts, some near facts
ana a few non-facts, along with a
H'ou u'dI III cultOflaI opinion. There
are some minor but annoNing faults OF
construction, rcpetitions and mispltca.
ments. But the Brontc devotees. blo-
graphical or lterary-critlcal. will ind
the volume an encyclopaedia Of their
cult. Identification OF Originals" poo
pie and places IS pleasant avocation
for those who have time and taste
FOR it: and there is plenty OF II
mere. sitting of evidence to determine
the exact proportions of possibly COON
eratlve authorship, finding NJ Hoscr
and his Brussels school aud associates
in "Nillette." Cowan Bridge School in
Lowood OF Jane Eyre" and determining
the extent of the autobiograp hical ele-
ment. Much more useful il the pure hi
ography. Emilys personality ms depicted
by this author gives a new perspective
10 the unaided view of her terrible.
fierce novel. and Charlotte is shown.
quite properly. as one greater IN the
history of her woman life than in lit
erary achievement.
If her novels do not appeal trium-
phantly to the reading tastes of thu.
nation in this day. her own story must
command hearing from any folk. Of
Whatever time and cline, that is sus-
ceptiblc to the influence of a brave and
modestly useful life.