New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-02
HENRY JAM ES.

NOTES OF \ son AND BROTHER BY
Henry James Illustrated. $40, PIP oi0'
Charles Scribner's Sons.
There is something magnificent about
the deliberation with which Mr.. James
proceeds upon his autobiographical
task. At the close Of "A Small Boy
and others" his first volume Of old
memories. he had hardly finished with
the tale Of his school days. Now. in
the second instalment OF what promises
10 be an interminable series OF rehec-
tons. II takes more than 500 pages
10 bring him TO the end Of his youth,
and in defining that stage he seems to
refer more TO matter Of feeling than
to a matter OF actual years. 1t IS
maCnficent-and 1t IS little discon-
corting. In this volume. as in It's prede-
cessor we are constrained TO observe
the too resolute play Of principle so
sound" as 10 seem, from certain
point Of view. almost noble, but TOO
complacent. too humorless. 10 rouse
complete sympathy. II is fine thing
10 be so solicitous OF the truth, TO trace
with so much Of the enthusiasm OF the
artist that last nuance Of meaning
which should make the reader free or
the very soul Of a subject. But what
IL that soul is not, in tho long perspec-
tive OF human life. an affair OF the
highest significance? Frankly. there
are stretches in this book which are
almost unbearably wearisome. on the
other hand, if what remains is not pre-
cisely thrilling it has nevertheless
some interest and some charm, both
drawn in part from the personalities
involved and in part from the authors
perverseIy beguiling manner.
He has. too. one undeniable virtue
as a portrait painter. Working by proc
esses Of indirection, so to say he con-
trives to build up little by little an
impression SO vivid that I'm the midst
Of his too Cry documents we are
nevertheless aware Of living presences.
II like antiquities and detest great
elares," ne says, "preferring thus for
my critical no less than for my pedes-
trian progress the cool Of the shade to
the sun and dust Of the way The
figures In that shadowy world Of his
accordingly threaten to become quite
too unsubstantial for any full compre-
hcnsion-but sooner or later they
emerge. tangible. credible. and. best Of
all. likable. The book is happily
named. These are in a very true and
even touching sense the notes Of a son
and brother. the most loving and APP
prcciatiye Of sons and brothers. The
elder James. We dare say, is scarce the
shadow of q shade 20 readers Of the
present generation but thanks TO his
son he ought henceforth to be pretty
well remembered and valued. As an
author he is left. no doubt, just
about where his biographer found him.
and his biographer we gather, has not
to this day got much closer to his
PARENTS Swedenborgian ardors than he
got in his youth, when his attitude
toward those high-erected mysteries
was as he thus indicates it:
Nothing could have exceeded az the
same time our general sensc-uniess l
an diecrcetly again cOniine myself TO
the spare record ~ my OWn-ior our
..cod fortune ju never having been. even
WHOM most helpless. draeged hy any ap-
proach to a. taist jerk over the threshold
OF the inlal tied temple. II stood there
i'm the centre OF our family life. into
which it's doors Of fine auStere bronze
ouened straight. we passed and Tepassed
them when we didn't more conspcuousiN
co round and behind. we took FOR
granted VAGUE grand things Witniu, but
We never paused 10 peer or penetrate
and none the less never had the so 1atu-
r.i and W'stful. perhaps even The 50
properlv reeCntful. "Oh. / say. do look
I'm "a moment for manners. It for nothing
else called after us as We went our
admirable mother sat ON the steps az
lcpSt and caught rcVerheratOus Of the
inward mystic choir. hut there were
p, eitl1e cor temporary moments when !
woll-uich became aware. think. OF
something cracclcss. sometime not 90
fne credit Of my aspiring intellectual
life" or Of whatever small prctcnsiOns TO
seriousness I might have begun 10 nour-
ish. 600 the anything but heroic lmpumty
of my inattenton.
Against this admission of blameless
indifference there are TO be set the evil