DEDICATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 122, 15 February 1908, Page 13

DEDICATIONS.

I do not caro much for the preface that is merely., written, as .a sort, "apology,.for the shortcomings of a book, or to explain why its author , wrote it, and. what lie means by it, but-1 confess to a weakness for a good dedication that lets you a little into 'tho author's heart and serves to bring you into touch witlr some of his'friends, and with tho homelier', side of bis life. - Miss Dora d'Espaigrie Chapman discusses this topic in the "Grand Magazine," and I think she is right in, saying that if the old Georgian custom were revived, and persons, who could .afford it were ready to pay twenty guineas to have a book dedicated to them, there are plenty , .novelists who ' would, be more, than willing to accommodate them with that honour. 'But such dedications are of no real value' except to the man who collects the money for them; The right sort is that of Mr. Stanley Weymaii's "The Abbess of Vlaye"!:;—"To tho' memory of Hugh Stowcll Scott, and of long summer days spent with him amid the scenes which suggested it, this story, 'is affectionately dedicated .by his friend," Scott, as Miss' Chapman reminds us, being the'real name'of poor Seton Merriman, who died a year before Mr. Weyman's novel was published. Of tho right sort, too,

arc Kipling's'dedications to a former editor, tQ his old schoolmaster, to his brothor-in-law, and "To,the City:of Bombay, his birthplace," "To Tommy, Atkins,'' and, of 0110 of Ins earlier volumes; "To The Wittiest Woman in India,'! which :is said, to ..refer to his < mother.'' • Coventry Patmore dedicated :"The Angel in the: Houso" to '"The momory •of her by whonv and for whom I became a poet," and I like to see-that.,of rccent. years the pleasant practice is oil the increase. Mr. Maurico Hewlett -dedicated his "Stooping ■Lady"'to "H. 15. H., from whom it came.,' •Miv Keblp; Howard inscribed "The Jester's Window" to Thonias Marlowe, and one of Mr. Pett .Ridgo'sinitest books was dedicated' "To my friend, Miss Georgma Hogarth," and another ■ "To my god-daughter, Peggy; Owen." , , ~

But if 1 wero put to name off-hand my two favourite dedication's I should chooso that of Lamb to' his poems, and that of Stevenson to: his. : Lamb's wore dedicated in terms-, of warmest friendship to Coleridge; fronv whom

ho'- said -ho'.'derived his inspiration. ; Steven-: son dedicates his poems to eleven of the doctors who had attended him in his illnesses,; more.'particularly, to one —to "my friend Thomas Bodley Scott; 'of Bournemouth;" andadds,*J"AVill : ho:- accept this, though -shared* .among so many, for a dedication to himself? ,and when.next my .ill-fortune, (which lla's thus it's pleasant side)'brings him,hurrying to; ino, when. lie would, fain, sit doivn to . meat or lie down to jest, will ho care to remombcr. tliat ho, takes, this trouble for ono 'not foblicnougli'.to.'be ungrateful■ "Tho Reader.", • . '