The New York herald., 1921-05-29

British sage, half mournful, half re-
signed. that we see him again in life.
And by a magic we can feel but not
explain we hear him again. Yes, it is
the very voice of Pater.
Like AN old fashioned "groaning'
board. this one is spread with variety
of foods where the sweets predominate
1t must not be understood, however,
that there are more hors dnuvres than
crtremets provided but that the
strong meats are marvellously con-
| cocted 1t must seem strange to per-
sons who think with reason they have
read everything that can be said in
Interpretation of Wordsworth and
saying something new about them.
An essay, more novel in subject
touches remotely on the theatre by
way of the actors who have sought to
show the truth in certain Shakespear-
ian characters. And men so diverse as
Pepys and Bunyan reveal new char
acter facets in the illumination he
flashes on them.
A steadier light he projects against
Capt. Steele and holds it longer long
enough for us to determine that some
of Thackeray's clever readings were
only clever. Incidentally. the ray falls
unfiatteringly on Addison, of whom
Prof. Woodberry says Ito the joy of
many students whom the author OF
Cato" has weared): "A new DR.
Johnson would not bid the youth Of to-
day to sit up nights to read and study
Addison" And while paying a de-
served compliment to Austin Dobson
he wonders why the age of Anne has
| wrought such fascination on our Vic
| torians. A new, albeit a sympathetic,
reading of ella" occurs to him which
he sets forth convincingly, and in a
word, many regulations that might
have seemed loftily secure from a mod
ern investigation are shown with wrin-
kles. marks of the crow on their erst-
while fair surfaces.
If in saying this of a great mans
studies In literature a carping, envious
or small spirit is indicated an abys-
NAL mistake has been made His
literary creed would seem to be, when
dealing with minds not too deeply
colored by literature, to imply what of
our vast bulk of books needs not to be
read.
But while subtracting here and there
name that may once have been held
sacred he does not fail when his own
admiration is aroused to add here and
there another. Aubrey de We're is not
a name well known in either capacity
of poet or critic, but Prof. Woodberry
finds good his claim in both. Even
in this generous feast the pages de-
voted to this Irish writer stand out
as being most filling and most richly
savored. Hitherto, only now and then
have we read the muted music of
Aubrey de We're In an anthology and
1t is even schooner that his criticism,
profound and clear. has found it's way
to more than that small and select
class of readers who choose for them
selves. Such a man as De We're has
to wait for his introduction to the
general by a critic like Sainte-Be
or like the author of this book. They
are our "spies" who overlook the lit
erary Canaan and return to tell us of
the richness of the land when they
have found it rich and who are equally
lIdilh WHcI IL mas bhiiicu ouN iuiSS
different.
Simpleness that is lacking dubiety
of phrase. frankness and sincerity are
staples with this critic to a degree sur
passing. Ii may be. these traits In the
celebrated French causeur his name
is here coupled with. Some of the
quality of direct speech. especially cal
Culated to enforce an opinion on lis
tening students. has been left in his
style, which admirably helps him in
putting over" without circumlocution
but also without crudity (Which might
have been found and excused In GER
tain essays because of their brevity)
the man as we'll as the writer, his cir
cumstances and his miiieu. Account
ing for this may be his long and
brilliant occupancy of a chair of lit
erature. although like experiences in
the case of others have not invaribly
wrought out the same way in print.
Still IL must not be forgotten that
Sainte-B Beuye started as a professor
of rhetoric and that Lowell and other
essayists who have gained fame in
England and America began on the
school rostrum. IL II invariably led to
exquisite writing like Prof. Wood
berry's who would not ascend it?