The sun., 1919-03-30

for black cat that wasn't there; and
Henry James, Jr, the international
novelist who denationalized himself and
became o British citizen because Of the
dilatory tactics Of President Wilson in
entering the world war. The father was
an earnest Swedenborgian and leader in
the denominational thought of that faith
He lecturcd and wrote much on religious
subjects, his principal book being The
Secret Of Sredenberg, concerning which
William ID. Howells once said that Henry
James the elder "wrote The Secret Of
Swedewborg and kept it." The late II.
L. GodKin declared that there was not in
his day more formidable master Of Eng
lish style. Mentally and physically he
appears to have been the most eccentric
member of tho Boston Saturday Club.
A youthful malady had compelled the
anputation Of one leg, and he Emped
about on his wooden leg like a modern
Socrates in physiognomy, peripatetic,
disputatious optimist.
The sketch Of John A. Andrew, the
great war Governor Of Massachusetts, in
the civil war, by his successor, Gov. Sam
uel w. Mccall, shows how broad and COM
pelling was Ghe appeal Of the Boston Sat-
urday Club even to those almost over
whelmed with the laborious cares Of pub
Lie Office in time which tried mems souls.
Gov. Andrew used TO like to be dragged
away from his Office almost perforee in
order that he might obtain the recreation
and rest afforded by the delightful lunch
cons at the Parker House. Gov. Mccall
gives him credit of being the first political
leader in the East to estimate Lncoln's
character ut its true value After cast
ing the vote Of Massachusetts, for Lincoln
on the decisive ballot in the Republican
National Convention in 1860, Andrew WIS.,
tied the nominee at his home in Spring
field, I'll. aMy eyes were never visited"
he said Immediately thereafter, "with the
vision OF q human face in which moro
transparent honesty and more benignant
kindness were combined with more of the
intellect and frmness which belong to
masculine humanity" Gov. Mccall
deems this prophetic estimate Of Lincoln
more penetrating and discriminating than
any other opinion expressed before his
entry on the Presidency.
One OF the most active members Of the
Boston Saturday Club in its early years
was the late Edwin P. Whippie, "who
frankly enjoyed his food and particularly
his wine and never missed a dinner"
Fifty years ago he was perhaps the most
popular essayist in America. Prof. Bliss
Perry says that his essay On Emerson
gives one of the best descriptions ever
given Of Emerson's voice and manners as
q public speaker; and Whittier ranked
him as the ablest critical essayist of our
time with the possible exception of Lowell
and Matthew Arnold His decline in pop
ularity is ascribed by Prof. Perry to tho
oral method imposed upon him by the
Lyceum system, most Of his essays having
been prepared for delivery as lectures.
Nevertheless he recognizes the fact that
WhippIe performed q singulsrly useful
service in popularizing the great litera-
ture Of the past as well as the work OF
his contemporaries, including that Of his
fellow members IN the Saturday Club.
VII.
DIR. Edward Waldo Emerson is entitled
to the credit Of having composed a model
club history. He has had the advantage
Of rich material to work with and he has
handled it well. Although tho Boston
Saturday Club is local institution, the
appeal of its early membership was world
wide and this volume will be read with
corresponding interest by lovers Of Amer
lean literature everywhere
THE EARLY YEARS OF THE SATUR-
DAY CLUB: l855-1870. RI EDwAko
WALDO EMEEsoN. Houghton Miflin Com
pany. $3.50.