The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-04
Mr.. Thackcray's Letters.

III II IL not unlawful to swear by
THACKERAY In this superior Fifth Geor-
CLAN age. when critics with down upon
their chins chide the "victorians" and
the mid Victorlans." the selections of
certain Of his letters published in yes
terday's SUN from his friend and flame,
Mrs. BROOKFIELD, are treasure and n
JOY. Here Il the old, careless. easy
charm. the quick alienation OF senti-
mentality with wit and humor, the re-
ligiosity. the preaching" IA the anti
ThackerHynns hold: here are the keen
observing eyes. the kindness, the satire:
the faults, the virtues. the manner
isms; the essential, and to those who
love It. the inimiiable genius. The
cynical begetter Of BECKY SHARP Is
here in his usual attitude. n great hulk
ing boy, sprawling and grovelling on
whether she II the somewhat elderly
charmer Of HENRY EsMoND or HELEN
PENDENNIs or LAURA BELL or Mrs
BROOKFIELD. what does II matter: In
deed. the BroOkfield letters may he
taken as you please.
The world will like to believe that.
left lonely at 20 by the insanity Of his
wife. THACKERAy fell and kept IN vio-
lent love with the wife Of a Cambridge
friend: and so he clearly did in a way;
but in the sichines and cryings, refer
ences To quarrels with Mr.. BRoOKFIFLD
self.reproaches and So on. we are to
remember the artist with not wholly
unconscious artistry pouring himself
forth In works Of art. Such these let
tiers. such previous letters of his are
Don't talk about BYRON. CowrER, GRAY
even old FITZ and the other great
English letter writer's. In their gay
ETY. and their tenderness. their swift
transitions. their raptures and their
French. their melancholy and their
popularity; their revelation Of a rich
and affectionate nature. their gambol-
lings. their velleities Of n sort Of run
ming piety. THACKERAYs letters may
well stand ut the head Of the penmcns
procession. He had, It seems. some
thoughts OF editing HORACE WALpoLE.
Why didn't he leave a stack OF letters
that would make volumes az boundless
as Mrs. PAGEr TOyNBRE's edition of the
Strawberry Hitler? Ponder the Thack-
erayness Of this snip, mainly religious
sentimental-literary, from new letter:
Nobody to console me bu,
positively the Miss SMIrH-the Miss
SMITH and the Sea: welcome, welcome
thou story whisper the talk OF the
eldest Miss Il. Is almost AZ ceaseless. I
have been out TO buy the Haunted Man
for the younger one, the pretty one who
made me the purse | have
written one page Of 'P-nd-nn-s.' but can't
20 on because II is very near post time
No, dear lady, we will do better
we will love each other while we may
here and afterward II you go first you
will kneel for me in Heaven and bring
me there. II !, I swear the best thought
have IL to remember that shall have
your love surviving me and with a CON
slant tenderness blessing my memory.
can't all perish living In your heart That
in itself Is n sort OF seal and assurance
of Heaven Say that ] die and
live yet In the love of my survivors,
Isn't that n warrant OF Immortality al
most? Say that my two dearest friends
precede me and enter into Cons futurIty
spo,less and angeiicai, I feel that have
two advocates In Heaven. and that my
love penetrates there, ~ IL were. 1t
seems to me that Love proves Con. BY
love ! believe and am saved"
All, you dear old rascal, how often
have you worked this blend and this
edifying frame Of mind into your books!
"Say that die and live yet in the
love " my survivors" Where did
YOU say that again and pi vr.bly again?
See him struggling, or pretending to
struRabe. preaching In That Thackeray-
ese beloved Of so many Of us and
scorned by the Pharisees:
II admire human nature In thinking
OF her. ! think ! am nearer her when
away than when sitting by her. talking
OF things ! don't feel--with poor Tom
KIN's IMr. BRooKFIELDl restless eye ever
and again trying not to look at U.S.
Its hnDDier that We should love