A LITERARY LETTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7110, 23 April 1910, Page 9

A LITERARY LETTER.

<BT "LIBER.") Gibbon and Lord Sheffield. Amongst the London book sales during March tho most notable was that of the library of the late Lord Sheffield. The only lots of any special interest were those relating to Edward Gibbon, the historian, A copy of “The Decline and Fall,” first edition, six volumes. 1778-88, presented by the author to th© Lord Sheffield of that day, aud containing an autograph inscription by Gibbon to that effect; realised dl6o. There is a curious anecdote about Gibbon’s relations with his friend. Lord Sheffield. When the third volume of the immortal work was completed, its proud author—Gibbon'was vanity personified, according to Horace Walpole—carried it in triumph to Lord Sheffield’s house. The peer was entertaining company that day and was not iu the humour to discuss literature. His reception of the historian and the latter'* carefully carried, treasure was certainly enough to disconcert even the vainest man. "What, another d d big •book. Gibbon, eh?” was ail the thanks tho peer had to give.* And yet tho peer could bo appreciative enough when he liked, as you may see for yourself if. you care to read the "Memoirs of My Life and Writings,” by which the famous "Decline aud Fall” is prefaced in all good editions of that famous work. To return to the sale to which I have referred above. Gibbon's Miscellaneous Works, edited by John, Lord Sheffield, with notes in the editor's handwriting, and some autograph letters from Gibbon inserted, brought -J312, and a collection of books and letters relating to Gibbon, including a copy of Pascal's "Les Proviuciales/' 175-1 with the note by Lord Sheffield; “This book was Gibbon’s constant companion/’ is 26.

The Poor Man’s “First Folio.” As I have often reminded my readers, some excellent bargains may be picked up by those who study the catalogues of the London and * Edinburgh firms who deal in what are called by the trade "remainders/* I notice in the catalogue of William Glaisher. London, on© of the best known, of these firms, that he offers several sets of Harrap’s beautiful reprint of the First Folio, iu thirteen volumes, crown octavo, for a sovereign. The published price was two guineas net. In this edition, which i* well edited and has au introduction by the late Professor Churtou Collins, the text is iu exact accordance with that of the first folio, save that it is printed in modern type and that the size is handy. Local booksellers would want 20 per cent.

on the price -noted —the are m "new” condition —by th© London. firuL but oven at 24b this is a wonderfully cheap Shakespeare, aud especially suitable for advanced students. Some Bargains. Talking about book bargains, an occasional dip into the catalogues of Messrs Mudio and Smith and Sou will well repay the bookman who cannot afford to buy new books “hot from th© press, but who is wise enough to wait patiently until they get into the second-hand list. I have before mo tho March catalogues of "Surplus Copies” which the two above mentioned firms have for sale. In Mudie’s list I see the Memoirs of the Countess do Boigue, 3781-1830. social and polical sidelights upon events iu France, edited from original MSS. by M. Charles Nicolland. This is one of the most entertaining and. in its way, valuable books on French history that I know of. The three volumes were published at 10s each. Mudie offers them second-hand, the-throe volumes, for six shillings. Another most amusing book ou French history, "The Memoirs of the Baron de Freuilly.” 1768-1828. than which I, know of no book that gives a better record of French society both in town and country at the time of tho Revolution, a book which simply teems with good anecdotes and pen portraits of celebrated figures in French history, is offered by Sm’th and Son at half a crown. Frank Hamel’s "Fair Women of Fontainebleau,” published at 16s, is offered at 5s by Mudie’s. I happen to mention these three books because I am always interested in French history and historical biography, but there are a host of other good bai-gains. Thus, Lewis Melville’* "First Gentleman of Europe,” a big illustrated work on Thackeray’s pet aversion, the Prince Regent, is offered at 5s Cd for the two volumes, and yet the published price was 245. Lloyd Bandars’ "The Holland House Cix-cle,” an exceptionally well writtcn,_ well illustrated book, lull of goon stories about Scott and Tom Moore, Sheridan, Byron, aud a host of early Victorian literary celebrities, is offered at 3s instead of its original price of 12s 6d. I simply quote these as examples ot the large reduction at which second-hand copies—used, of course, but. perfectly clean and sound—can be bought. If you order direct, remember that you must, add 4d per lb for postage. Perhaps the most satisfactory way is to order through your own bookseller, who will charge you an advance of 20 per cent. There is also "The Times” Book Club’s catalogue, but these do not seem to contain so many comparatively new books as Mudie’s and Smith’s, and I think I should stick to tho older firms.

A New Life of Sheridan. The March "Bookman” contains a well written article, by Lewis Melville, who has made a special study of the later Georgian period, on Mr Walter Sichel’s new life of Richard Brinsley Sheridan,, the famous wit, dramatic author, manager of Drury Lane, and friend and political ally of Charles James Fox. Never was there a more versatile man than "poor Sherry.” His wit made him a delightful companion, according to Moore.

Whose mind was an essence compounded with art. From tlie first and the best of other men's powers; Who .ruled like a wizard the world of the heart. And could, call up its sunshine, or draw down its showers.

In a Parliament which boasted of giants dike Pitt, Fox, Burke, Canning, Wilberforce, and Erskine, Sheridan was almost as successful as he had been as a playwright. How many of us know, by the way, that those wonderfully well constructed and brilliantly witty comedies,

“The School for Scandal” and “The Rivals,” to*say nothing of "The Critic, were all written before their author was eight aud twenty.

Sheridan the Man. He abandoned play-writing for politics, and at one time rivalled Fox in popularity with his party. He was a gambler may be. and, in his later day, a sad tippler. Thosa were the days when th© Prxuco Regent set th© pace, and the pace was too hot for "poor Sherry,” He spent many days in spunging houses, and his impecuniosity became a bye-word yet he had a warm heart and was a good husband. < "I have never done a base; or dishonest act,” he wrote to his second wife. "1 have never omitted to do a kind, a generous, or a benevolent on© when X had the power. But sins of omission—ah, m©!—senseless credulity, destructive procastlnation, unworthy. indolence, all abetted by one vile habit, somewhat, perhaps, to b© palliated by an original infirmity of constitution, an occasional and unaccountable dejection of spirits without a cause, and a constant inability to sleep, but-never to be. excused.”

His first wife was th© beautiful Elizabeth Anne Linley, whose portrait, by "Sir Joshua,” is one of the finest things in tho Glasgow Corporation Gallery, and his second wife, another lovely woman, Hester Jane Ogle, was painted by th© famous John Hoppner. "Deserted by the selfish Regent (whom he had so often entertained by his wit), thrown over by his Earty, ignored by many who had been is friends. Sheridan fell on evil days.’Yet, adds Mr Melville, "the report of his death did indeed eclipse the gaiety of nations, and those who had failed him in his need, too late repentant of their attitude, made what amends they could by following Jiis corpse to its last resting place in the Abbey—a tardy apology which moVed generous-hearted Tom Moor© to eloquent fury,” Creevey’s brief epitaph may be quoted in conclusion : “There is no one to take th© chair he leaves.” And Crecvey, as everyone knows who has read the "Crcevey Papers,” was not a man to gush over anyone. "Th© Bookman’V article is beautifully illustrated, and the number contains a fine photogravure portrait, after Reynolds, as a supplement.

“With the Merry Austrians.” Three new novels I can unreservedly recommend as being, if not exactly of th© first class, at least wholesome and essentially entertaining. One cannot always have a new Galsworthy or a new Hichens, or a new Weils —to mention three authors who have specially pleased me of late—but with three such stories as those to which I am about to refer, "a man.” as Mr Markham says in "David Copperfield,” “can get on very well.” The three are Miss McLaren’s “With the Merry Austrians” (London: John Murray. Wellington: Whitcomb© and Tombs). Mrs Belloc Lowndes’ "When No Man Pursueth” (London; William Heinemanu). and "A Golden Straw,” by J. T, Buckrose (London: Mills and Boon, Wellington: Whitcombe and Tombs). A pleasanter, more wholesome and prettier story than "With th© Merry Austrians” could not well be imag> Ined. The scene is laid in the Austrian Tyrol, at the Schloss Waldhof. an hotel, . with that delight of Germans and Austrians, a Wasser Kur, attached. There is no plot to speak of. The heroine, Mrs Trevor, a young English widow, is staying at tho Schloss with her little son, *a mischievous but delightful "kiddy.” Cyril Trevor’s marriage, which had taken place in Italy, had displeased his father, who had left bis large fortune to a sister, whose son in turn inherits. This gentleman, who had never known that Cyril Trevor had married and left a widow and son, comes to the hotel with a- friend, on a walking tour, and falls in lore with Rose, whose identity he does not at first suspect. A very pretty story, with a pleasant touch of ‘romance, is based upon this slight motif . A gay voung Austrian officer with a vast capacity for love-making—ana "riding away to love again another day” -blocks the way for a time, raid th© plotting of ah odious Viennese beauty.

who had marked down the festive joung philanderer as her own special p:cy, very nearly" causes serious mischief. But in the end, however, Myles Egerton wins his Bose, and the flirtatious Kudolf goes back to Vienna and his soldiering. The special charm of tho story, and it is a charm which cannot fail to fascinate most readers of the no . el. lies m its amusing descriptions of" the society at Schloss Waldhof and of the numerous excursions which are mad© bi' -lie principal characters amongst the mountains. Miss McLaren has, a happy rift of both humour and satire. The former ,is never forced, and the latter never illnatured. A very pleasant can bo spent in the company of Miss McLarcu's "Merry Austrians. * *i\nrt is not an ill-drawn ' character or a dull page in the book.

•When No Man Pursueth.” The sub-title of Mrs Belloc Ixwnces’ "When xNo Man Bursueth" *s ‘ \ix c\c-ry day story/* but 1 am loth to believe that such cold-blooded. calculating villainy as that of wiucli two of her leading characters are guilty, is of imjuent occurrence. The scene is a model suburb in an outlying part of London, where a clever young uocior, wno is engaged to bo marnwl. has fur a patient .a J«<iy of a certain ago and ratuer eccentric habits." She is the jvife of a loviat gentleman named Burduvore. who has had a

“ranche** in Florida and has leu a somewhat adventurous and mysterious jarocy. With Chris Buruiuore and his invalid ■#ifo lives Burdmort/s sister Cynthia, Glyn, the young . doctor, contemplating marriage and a compulsory absence, m assisted by his future locum tenens. Tnero we have all the chief actors in tne Sunni Land drama." Glynn is bullied by Mrs Burdmoro's illness, and alter lighting against the very thought of such u thing, comes to the conclusion that the poor lady is being slowly poisoned. Still uo cannot bring himself to suspect the jovial Chris and Fever wuuby, his assistant who takes over the case, is positive, with youthful dogmatism, that poor Mrs Burdmore is oiuy suiieaing firoui acute dyspepsia.. But Oiyu s doubt increases, as uoes suspicion, and despite tue opinion of his mend and icilow doctor., the suspicion grows into certainty. fie consults an eminent authority on toxicology, and is warned iiot to make a inistaKe and thus rum piofessional career. When, however the great man learns that ins visitor s Ucum tenons is his own son, there -s an instant and remarlcable change ol Lent. Eventually tne fact transpires Unit Cynthia is in reality. Burdmore s wue, and that his second marriage with the eccentric and elderly but wealthy Louisa was an act of bigamy. Glynn saves the woman from the death by inches to which the Burd’mores had doomed her, and the culprits flee before-they can bo accused of tho more serious crime. The strength of the story lies in the carefully elaborated portrait of the younger woman. Cynthia. Whitby is fascinated by. her, and even when I readied the close ot the story X was in doubt whether she has not been touched by his affection. But she obeys the , abominable husband to the bitter end. and goes away to join the scoundrel, who flees / when no matt pursueth/ > "without apparently a single regret. There is nothing melodramatic about this curious but cleverly wrought storv In less capable hands Burdmoies rough joviality might have been overdone, and Cynthia have been but a criminal of the cold calculating type so common in melodrama. ‘‘Poor Louisa, with her North Country accent, her pas6XOII for weird dishes, gaudy jewellery, and strong perfumes, and her unswerving belief that Burdmore really loves her is a decided success in. portraiture. From the very first one feels that her dislike of her young sister-m-law must have some good cause, yet * 8 dot jealousy—it is memy an all-oomma-ting yet inexplicable hatred ot the .youiit,er woman, 'i’he contrasting of these two characters is very cleverly done, it is rather difficult to believe that sum a woman as Cynthia could ever have consented to take part m.lur husbands crime, but there is an air of. uuxet i talism and truth about the episode winch is moat convincing. One cannot call "Whoro No Man fnrsueth a pleasant story, but sensational as its plot maybe, the• psychological interest is dominant, and tho story is quietly and grimly fascinating. .-i North Country I^ovel.

The scenes of Mr Huckroses story. A Golden Straw." are laid in the Holderness district of Yorkshire m the little coastal village of Garstwick ahe heroine. Averild Verlsy, is loved by two men, one the nepnew oi a quaint old yeoman named Daniel Walgate, tne second loin Hunt, a pusning, young merchant at Marsnpool. Uuy \v aigate, who is pool, is charv of avowing his love, ana Aieiild goes away to Germany, whore, hall in pique, half ill pity, she marries young Winsuip a musician and a sau wastroi. Wuisiup drinks, and the girl leaves him and returns nome with her secret. H-unt behaves very meanly with regard to old Vvalgate’s hidden treasure, which he discovers by accident, and uses in his business, out becomes a prey to tue blackmailing, of a,humorous 'BStl. the village drunkard. Hventually, as the result oi a storm which causes a subsidence of tho dill's, young \V msiup, who had returned that night, is drowned, and Avon Id is free. Hunt restores a portion, at least, of tho Walgate gold, and the lovers are made happy', nothing very original or striking in the plot, as vou will see. yet "A Golden Straw is a most captivating little siory. interesting to readers who hail iioiii tbc \orth Country. lor the author has >eiy cleverly worked in some or the superstitions which still survive in eastern i oi-k----ahire just as they do m feuttolk: and hisses* The story in a word smacks of the soil hut there is no haifhng dialect to contend with, although tue local colour is so strong. walgate is a tnfle -till as a hero, but his worldly old aunt is capital and the Verleys ano Wmships, and indeed. all tho Garstwick iolk, nave the air of being real people and not merely fictional puppets.