New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-17
Lord Morley's Autobiography
Mark Twain Correspondence

which has enabled him to combine SUBJ
Jectively and effectively the functions
Of both a Boswell and Pepys. The
multitudinous details Of incident and
Of Characterization, both of himself and
Of others, is marvellous. and would be
embarrassing and surfeiting if pre-
sented by any one with less unfailing
charm Of style. But Lord Morley is
the supreme past master of English ex-
preston, varying and adapting himself
to every change in theme as a painter
varies and adapts his colors or master
musician his touch upon the chords.
The result is that at times we
are thrilled by passages of stately
splendor, and again are captivated by
the unconventional and confidential
chat with which the author takes US
into the very inner chamber of his eX-
istence.
= We could have wished for more of
Lord Morley's Recollections Of his lit
eTary life and associates. He gives us,
however. many pages about John Stuart
Mill, Herbert Spencer, Henry Sidgwick.
Leslie Stephen, Matthew Arnold and
Robert Browning, which are feast of
sheer delight. He does not gossip,
though he tells US many things upon
which a gossip would dwell. He Is
critical in that sane and wholesome
sense which is neither adulstory nor
hostile, but appreciative with the Judg-
ment Of great authority. There 49,. too,
n chapter about his own undertaking
. l., &C
is of exceptional interest as revela-
tion of the attitude Of the author TO
his work.
But il is to the more numerous po-
litical chapters that most readers Will
first turn, and first of all, perhaps, TO
those about Parnell and the Home Rule
campaign. Only two other men ever
had more intimate knowledge OF that
stupendous drama than Lord Morley;
or as intimate as he. They are now
both dead, and he is largely the IN
heritor of their knowledge IN addition
to his own. So he has been able 70
give US in these vo umS an account
of that epochal passage Of British al
fairs which Is and is likely to remain
unrivalled for vivid and vital interest,
and for unquestionable authenticity.
Never before have we seen an analysis
of the character and doings OF tnaV
strange enigma. Parnel,, comparable
with this for searching rover, for dra-
matte spell, and for conviction OF truth
OF affairs outside of the United
Kingdom, there is comparatively little,
though what there is is of much inter-
est. One glimpse of the Kaiser, OF
Kultur appears, late. The author had
eat next to him at dinner at Lord Hal
danes; Kitchener at the Kaiser's other
side:
/ don't think ! ever met man so
full of the zest of life, and so eager
TO show it and share 1t with other
people. How much of his UNI
doubted attractiveness is due to the
fact of his being the most important
man in Europe, who can tel! had
the same sort Of feeling about one
who was at the moment the most
important man in the United States,
when / STAYED with him at the White
House in Washington.
These sumptuous volumes must rank
among the very foremost publications
of the year, and we must thank the
publishers for giving them material
form worthy Of their contents, though
we must deeply deplore and strongly
reprove the issuance Of such work
without an index Of any kind, or even
fable of contents save Of the most
meagre description. II should have had
n very detailed analytical index, and
we shall hope to see one added IN
subsequent edition.