IN THE LIBRARY

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1933, Page 7

IN THE LIBRARY

OLD MEMORIES.

c 'A- V . . V ■. , By Rr S. Garnett.

j;vf ■■ (Edinburgh, Blackwoods.) r. ' ~ * !J Readers who enjoyed “Some BookHunting Adventures, ”.' will pick up its continuance with a lively expecta■i tion of pleasure <to corner—for “Old ‘ Memories” is in reality the latter portion of the delightful series of articles which- appeared in “Blackwood’s .Magazine.'” These expectations will he ; more, than fulfilled:. Good as was the • earlier;, volume, its successor; is even and lestr subscribers, to the magazine should think: they have read ; '■ all, /it may be pointed out that there are several pieces here which have not v • before boeb printed. ' v /Perhaps. the, first half of the entire ,-> -V work was: misthought by some, judging ' /by its title, td be another record or / series of records concerning the collecting" of 1 rare- editions: or' choice copies.' That is not so. I We have here a • charming and", daintily written series ■ of chapters depicting memories, of boyrf hood; youth and- more mature years, ■ , not in- sequence, but each inculcuo as f :it. came:; to the ■ writer’s; mind. Some are amusing; some sad;* some' whimsi; , ; • cal, but; one land: all ; • possess charm,• gnd where there is of. need a. pitiful f ■ note; there is always, a compensating ‘A atmosphere of kindly and invariably helpful sympathy: , , ;■ . .We constantly- feel, and without any that we ardreading into the i intimate character, the actual disposition and the fine personality of a man who has in life possessed a great store of human, kindliness „ and a rich ' gift of helpful sympathy and; of appreciation for- his’-fellows r . eyen v when , ; may' be' they have; slipped from the road of integrity and* right action. Over all there is a delicate and pleasing light of Alightly;,quaint and quite ? Original humour; very pleasant to experiehce, an air; too,- o& simple ftappi- . ness';and-tttb; joy • .-which one t A f :.-,pniy an .Eng*--“jishinaxi; gfchtleman;and : a sin* cere )qver off. 1 bis*:fellows in' every im • stiniet, of hia being- could: have reveal* K / od f W/w©lli / How approoiatively and if yet unobtrusively he reveals the impression:, made .upbn hia friend; and ■ through her/obyrbusly. upon : , himself, f. of" the honest jollity- and' true kindli- ■): /-ness- which- pervaded? the' auction sale $ : of/the dead, womair’s. effects ini Wales. i , ThOn notice the amusing yet kindly ' treatjment: ofi thev repentant Mr SliyerJ, 1 the bdoksellerj find? the generous final >. decision of Dr.” Garnett, all • unwilling 1 | to' think anything but the best of a / man with whom her had- dealt for So ( many • years, when ‘ ‘the delivery of unjust hills was;, dismissed as inered- * : 1 ible, while his so-called' J was described! bw mv father to bo ‘a- ‘

poetic exaggeration', of an occasional glassc toc* much, on- certain; Athetoaent evenings-.' ” ■■■) The first piece in the bonk; gives the . spirit of which the whole collection breathes, an amusing: outlook; on life; an appreciation -of all men, while realising. to. the full their good qualities and’, their little foibles and shortcomings, but with never a word or thought of bitterness or harshness anywhere tof .be found; ' Even, disapproval is kindly apd • help* p , ful itt; itsr tone; ; ' One may, fortunately, quote the ■ whole of. the matter of ‘ * The Two Leti ters,’' yyith merely the omission of Byron's letter, which, it may. be remarked, is a very, cleverly imitated * composition. ; . \ ■/ - “You are wanted on the telephone, t sir *” ■ “Who is it, Keziah?” i “Mr Binns. ” “Oh, yes. Well, take his message ' for me. I never hear him distinctly.” . ‘ ‘Yes, sir. ” Keziah, retreating, closed my door, and I resumed my pen. Presently she returned." •“Well?” ' v

“Mr Binns wished xpe to say that he has given your name to a lady who has a letter from Shelley for sale; He thinks she will call with it tonight.” r “Oh, very well. Thank you. Mr Binns never; forgets my interest in Shelley.” “Sir?” - “Keziah, I am very busy, but I will age the lady when she comes.” ‘ “Very good, sir.” About an hour later my door opened once more, and I beheld a tall wellattired lady with a ■'most affable expression. She said, “My Garnett?” “Tea, my name is Garnett.” “I am glad to meet you. I knew your father at the British Museum.” ji'Oh, that is very nice. Do sit there, please, by the fire. Were you a ‘reader 1 ?” “No, not a reader, but my, father was a scholar, and occasionally when quite a young girl, I . took his notes to Dr. Garnett.” .“And you know my friend, -Mr Binns?” “Yes, I met him this evening, by ehanee, and; talking of Shelley and his letter, he gave the ynur name.” “You have the letter?” .“Yes, here in my bag.” J “I shall be glad to see iU” “Here it is, a most interesting letter.' ' I took it from her and carried it to the other end of the room to look at it, under the electric light on my writing-table. After a moment, I said, “ Yes, 1 recognise the handwriting.. I will read it

[BY “THE BOOK-MAN.”!

What I read was as follows; — (Actually 'the letter was from Byron, and signed by him, not from Shelley.), “Is it not interesting?” said the lady, when I had finished and laid the letter down, “It certainly is so, but ...” b “But what?” “Is it the original letter?” “You can see it is.” “It may be a wonderfully good facsimile.” “Oh, no. Look at the paper.” “Yes, the paper looks quite as it should do. But what I have noticed is something, different.” “What?” “The folds—creases.” “What have they to do with it?” “Everything. The writer folded the original letter before he addressed it on the space he had left blank for the purpose. ’ ’ “Yes, well?”;

“But here the creases are not right. ■ This quarto size piece of paper was never folded as its writer folded his letter.” , “Then . . . f” «This is a facsimile. What do you want for it?” ; “ Well, I am asking twenty pounds?” “I am sorry. It is worth only.a few shillings.’ ’ ,'j. “ A f ew shillings IMr Garnett, this is for. me. I am very .poor. Are you sure?” “Quite sure, but if the letter had never been addressed, I should have /taken it to bo the original. ’ ’ “Then you won't buy it?” ■“Only as a facsimile. But perhaps you- will show me something else, for you have another letter with you.” I have another letter, do you say?” , “Yes, a letter from -Shelley.” A “Hut th'ere it is, you have read it.” What I have read is a letter from Byron.” The lady’s face went the colour of ashes'." » “And you have a letter from Shelley in your bag,” I continued. “As you told Mr Binns you wish to sell it, show it to me.” “No, I would rather not.”

X understand:. Now, my advice to ;ydu is. to destroy the two facsimiles .lest you be- again tempted to believe .them originals. ” “Mr Garnett I ” “Shall we tear them up and then be friends, you and I?” lady gazed long at me and then burst into tears. “Yes,” she sobbed. “Tear them up or burn them. I am a liar. » > ■>: held out her open bag, which ‘had a division in its centre, and I took from it a similar sized letter from Shelley, which I soon recognised to be ,a facsimile) for the same reason as in the ease of the £yron epistle. I gave it to her. Taking it, with a passionate gesture she threw it on the lire..

Then piteously she wrung her hands. ‘“What must you think of me?” she sobbed. ‘I think that, having done the right .thing so quickly—l may say instinctively—you may now go forward like a brave lady.” * ‘ G od bless you for that. Good night, Mr Garnett.” “Good night. When I in my turn shall be tempted, I will think of you and try to act as you have just done.” A! heart-rending, sob was my poor visitor's only answer as the front door closed behind her. As for me I tried to resume the use of my pen, but’l confess that I used, instead, something made of linen. Why? Well, I felt morally convinced that within Jjhe walls of my study had just appeared the victim of a tragic history. Did I do wrong to let my door close on her, to let her go unaided? I believe so. Moreover, had I not offered her my friendship?

THE MAGAZINES, ; Fr om Messrs Gordon and Gotch, through Mr Harold Menzies, has come a parcel of magazines for the current month. The “Strand” maintains its usual high standard of popular fiction. Among the well-known authors contributing to this issue are: Warwick Deeping, Storm Jameson, Lyun Doyle and H. de Vere Stacpoole. ♦ * * « The “Wide World” contains, true stories from all parts of the globe that cannot fail to please anyone with adventurous tastes. • • * « “Short Stories” provides a complete novelette,, “The Herd Goef Through,” by Clarence E. Mulford. Other edmplete stories are:- “The Price of Vengeance,” by J. D. Newsom; and “The Stones of Chang,” by ,1. Allan Dunn.

“Pearsons,” always interesting, features a complete detective story by E. Phillips Oppenheim. A splendid article “Thrills of the Grain Ship Race,” a tale of the Sailing ships, and many other interesting stories are also contained in this issue. * * * * “Nash,” as usual, has nothing but the highest class fiction. A special article, “Men of Straw,” dealing with the fall of well-known financiers such as, 'Kreuger, Stinnes and Loewenstem, cannot fail to interest. ♦ # n • * Included in a varied selection of enthralling, action stories in the “All Star'* are “The Point of a Thousand:

Spears,” by L. Patrick Greene, and “Roll Her to River Rogue, ’’ by W, Chamberlain. * * i* Weldon’s Ladies’ Journal gives as tree patterns frilly sunshine frock, trim coat dress, new jacket, latest three-quarter coat and chic tam. Transfers include: Crinoline lady gathering flowers (specially suitable for garden cushions, deck chair covers, garden mattress, curtains, etc). The fashion section has been increased by eight pages. • * t * Weldon’s Bazaar of Children’s Fashions contains excellent free patterns and a transfer.