LITERARY GOSSIP

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18183, 20 September 1924, Page 13

LITERARY GOSSIP

America is developing a literature of her own, distinct from all others, writes Dr. Clifford Smyth in tho International Book Review (New York). Tho first faint murmuer of chango came from Washington Irving. A very feeble murmur it was, and quite overwhelmed by Old World methods and traditions. Then came the incisivo "barbaric yawp" of Walt Whitman, followed by the rich humour and robust Americanism of Mark Twain, whose leadership in our native literature stands out more clearly as the years roll by. It is impossible to conceivo of those two as being the product of any other nationality. But to-day what is in evidence is a lengthening series of what might be called regional chronicles dealing with characters and conditions peculiar to this country. And of still deeper significance, tho authors of these great, strong racial chronicles (for they are just that) are by no means all of Anglo-Saxon extraction, but partake in their artistic lineage of the mixed strains that compose the melting-pot we call Ameriea.

An unpublished letter of Teresa Guiccioli, which will be read with interest by all students of Byron, appears in tho last, issue of "La CoUnTa":— In IS2I an Italian manrof-letters, Brighenti, collected all the works of I'ietro Eiordani, the well-known linguist and scholar for whom Lord Byron liad a great admiration. Brighenti intended to dedicate the collected works of Giordani to Lord Byron, and wrote to liis friend, Teresa Guiccioli, asking her to obtain tho permission of tho poet. Tho reply camo in a letter dated Bavenna, January 26th, 1821, now brought to light for the first time from tho lloysl Estense Library. Tho lady says that she had spoken at onco to Lord Byron of the matter, pressing him to accede to Brighenti's wish, but that Lord Byron excused himself by saying that it was "his habit, nay, his preciso determination, never to accept a dedication of any sort." Teresa Guiccioli adds that on previous occasions Lord Byron had declined the offer of having literary works dedicated to him. His dislike of dedications was recorded in another letter by Teresa Guiccioli. In i 827 a work by Masi had been dedicated to him without hia knowledge, and Teresa Guiccioli remarked that thLs fact "gli cagiono dispiaccro" (gave him pain).

Writing in the "Studio" in praise of the wofk of Glyn Philpot, E.A., George Sheringham has a tilt at tho vagaries of the moderns: — Each year now the work of a real craftsman seems to gain more value by its rarity in a large exhibition, where the meticulous and rather doll, carefulnesstof the past generations has given placo for tho most part, to the dazzling feats of Mr Sargent's satollitos, and tho more than dazzling achievements of those great ones whoso" pictures are, apparently, punted while running; while undergoing vibro-tnas-sage treatment; while in tho bath; pictures painted in the > cellar; pictures painted with a lip-stick or a blue-bag, with Fitzroy street mud. or real goldleaf—which are all so clever and so engaging , but which, alas! are too often doomed to a short life; beeause the simple truth is that it takes a craftsman to paint a picture that will last.

Tho main interest of Mr D. A. Wilson 'b second volume on Carlyle lies in the publication of the letters sent by tho famous Jeffrey to Carlyle. M* Wilson has been permitted to publish these letters by Miss Empson—a per* mission which was refused - to Iftouda. They reveal Jeffrey in a most amiable light, and show how, in,knowledge of the world and in mental optlook, be could rise superior to that wretched intellectual priggishness which to thisday is ono of tho blemishes of Scotland and from which, to many of her Bona, there are only two ways of escape—drink and exile. . . . For one thing, the Correspondence now revealed explains the sd-eaß-ed three years r break in their friendship. Froude's remark about "deep ineffaceable resentment" is shown to be groundless. The two men really, never quarrelled or missed a flhance; of coming together. The misunderstanding apparently arose from- Jeffrey's perfectly sound advice to Carlyle against applying for the Astronomy Chair at Edinburgh and the Chair ■of Rhetoric and English Literature* "While things are as they certainly will be all my life," wrote Jeffrey, "I do not think there is the least ehanea of your being admitted into any regular seminary as a teacher, with such doctrines and sucti a tone of inculcation, on record against you, as must b'e re-ferred-to, even in proof of-your qualifications."

Here, for example, ia some admirabl* advice eonveyed to Carlyle at the time that he was working on his essay on Burns: ■

Yon will treat me as something worse than an ass, I suppose, when I say that I am firmly persuaded the great source of your extravagance, and of all that makes your writings intolerable to many and ridiculous to not a few, is not bo much anyreal peculiarity of opinions as unlucky ambition to appear more original thanyon aro or the hnmbler and still more delusive hope of converting our English intellects to the creed of G.er* many, and being the apostle of another. reformation. I wish to God J conld persuade you to fling away these affectations, and be contented to write like your famous, countrymen of all ages, as long at least as you ■write to your countrymen and. for them. Begarding some corrections in the Burns essay, Jeffrey shows how acutely he has diagnosed the weaknesses in Carlyle's style: . ' How can you dream of restoring such a word as "fragmentary," or that very simple and well-used joke of the clothes making the man and the tailor being a crcatorl It was condescension enough to employ (neb ornaments at first, but it is inconceivable to me that anybody should stoog to pick them up and stitch them on again when they had once been stripped off. Here, again, is an admirable piece of advice: You hormits really must not think all who live in the world mere worldlings, when the truth perhaps is thai there is as much morbid feeling ift your distaste for ordiniary pursuits ae there is of corruption in our too great devotion to them. Wc givo one more, but the correspondence is really fuli of admirable and sensible statements: No man who despises and contemns educated and intelligent men at tho! rato you do will ever have any sue-: cess among them—unless, indeed, a witty satirical, . j