A LITERARY LETTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7853, 15 July 1911, Page 12

A LITERARY LETTER

(BY "LIBER.”) “Bob” Ingcrsoll. I am no great admirer of liigersoU’© religious or anti-religious writings, but he was in many ways a niO't remarkable man, and there are many who will join with mo in cordially disliking the whole tone of such works ns “Tho Mistakes of Moses.” who will read with the greatest interest what is said to be tho first realty reliable biography of Ingcrsoll that has been published. Tho title of the work Js “Ingersoll: A Biographical Appreciation,” the author being a Mr Herman E. Kittrcdge. Reading Mr Kittredgi*’s chapters one cannot help coming to tho conclusion that there was very much in the great American Freethinker's life that is worthy of the warmest admiration. His first start in life was as a country school teacher at a little town bearing tho high-sounding name of Metropolis, in Massac County, Illinois. He wa.s a gcnerous-soulod young fellow, of whom it is recorded that it wart bis practice to give every pupil a receipt in full for his school fees whether they wore paid or not. But in matters of religion he was a sad rebel, and to ‘Teach school” and be unorthodox, was in those days, and especially in an American country town, accounted Utile short of Anarchy. Very soon ho foil foul of tho elders of the place—in what manner I will leave it to Mr Kittrcdge to relate : Engaged to teach in a rural district, Ingersoll was “boarding 'round.” Several Baptist ministers and elders who were conducting a revival in the neighbourhood wore also “boarding 'round.” They made a practice of discussing religion at tabic. The young teacher took little or mp part in their discussions until lie. was one day pointedly asked what lie thought of baptism. He hesitated, hut thev insisted. Thereupon ho said: “Well, I'il give you my opinion : With soap, baptism is a good thing.” Tho brethren were shocked—horrified ! The witty thrust sped from gossip to gossip, and so intense did tho feeling against its author become that ho was obliged to abandon bis school. It is interesting, if not pleasing, to note, however. that the pious zeal which compelled the latter action does not seem to be alive to an overkeon sense of justice; for the patrons of the school concerned failed' to recognise, certainly in a practical way, that even an ‘‘infidel” teacher was entitled, at least:, to compensation for services already rendered -according to agreement. As a consequence, young .Ingcrsoll, being, otherwise unsupplied with funds, had to make bis way on foot to his homo—a long distance from where lie had merely, given an honest answer to an impertinent question, .As a Federal. Ingersoll made early response to the call to arms during the Civil War. _Of course ho was on the Northerners’ side. Lu 18G1 he raised three regiments of volunteers and was under lire at the battle of Shiloh. During the winter of 18G2-G3 he was at Jackson, Tennessee, and was ordered to advance towards Clifton. A determined struggle followed, but Ingersoll’s men were raw and confronted with overwhelming numbers. They made a gallant light but were overpowered. Says Mr Kittrcdge : It is thoroughly characteristic of Ingcrsoll that, even at fho frightful crisis of his capture, his wit was in active evidence. "Stop firing!” ho shouted to Major G. V. Rambaut, of General Forrest's command. “I'll, acknowledge your d d old Confederacy.” Immediatelyi after this, the general himself rod© up, and substantially the following colloquy . occurred : “Who’s in command of those troops?” cried Forrest, pointing toward f/owe of the flying cavalrymen. “I don’t know.” replied Ingcrsoll, jocularly. “Who was in command?” amended tho general. “If you’ll keep the secret,” said Ingcrsoll, blandly, “Til tell you.' I was.” At that moment began a warm friendship, which terminated only . with the life of General Forrest, lie never lost an opportunity to visit tho Federal colonel who, “in 1 tho great days,” unwillingly but wittily became his guest. Ho was paroled three days and soon afterwards resigned his commission and was honourably discharged on Juno JOth, ISC3. What is Real Blasphemy? In 18G7 Ingcrsoll’s name became known right through the Slates through his eloquent defence of one Charles H.' Reynolds, who was prosecuted for blasphemy, hls‘ offence consisting of what would bo nowadays-considered quite the mildest form of freethought exposition. It was tho only case of its kind in fifty years, but the law was clear and Reynolds was convicted and a minimum fin© imposed. In his address to the jury Inge rsoll asked, “What is real blasphemy?” and “replied to his own question,” says Mr Kittrcdge, “in words that will live after the intolerant bigotry that gave birth to them is dead” : To live on the unpaid labour of other men—that is blasphemy. To enslave your fellow-man, to put chains upon his body—that is blasphemy. . To enslave the minds of men, to put manacles upon the brain, padlocks upon tho lips—that is blasphemy. To deny what you believe to be true, to admit to be true what you believe to be a lie —that is blasphemy. To ©trike the weak and unprotected, in order that you may gain the applause of the ignorant and superstitious mob—that is blasphemy. To persecute the intelligent few at the command of the ignorant many—that is blasphemy. To forge chains, to build dungeons, for your honest fellow-men—that is blasphemy. To pollute tho souls of children with the dogma of eternal pain—that is blasphemy. To violate your conscience—that is blasphemy.

A Definition of Liberty. For over twenty years Ingersoll wa; the most popular lecturer who stood on tile lecture platforms' of that land, pal excellence, of lecture-loving people, the United States. One of his most successful orations was entitled “The Liberty of Man, Woman, and Child,” and hero are some of his more striking passages, ns collected and arranged by Mr Kittvedgo : By jdiysieal liberty I mean the right to do anything which docs not > interfere with the happiness of another. By intellectual liberty I mean the right to think right and the right to think wrong, provided you do your best to think right.

Liberty sustains the fame relation to mind that space does to matter.. What light is to the eyes, what love is to the heart, liberty is to the eoul of man. Without liberty, the brain is a dungeon and tho soul a convict. To preserve liberty is the only use for government. Tuoro is no other excuse for legislatures, or presidents, or courts, for statutes or decisions. Liberty is net simply a means—it is an end. Take from our history, our literature, our laws, our hearts—-that word, and wo are nought but mould.cd clay. Liberty is the ouo priceless jewel. It includes and holds and is the weal and wealth of life. Lib- ‘ ertyis the soil and light and rain—it is tho plant aud bud and flower, and fruit—and in (hat sacred word 1 lie all tho seeds of progress, Jove, and joy. His counsel as to the treatment of convicts has ‘not yet been fully accepted, although hero, too, there has been a vast improvement since he wrote: The next time you look with scorn upon a convict, lot mo beg of you to. do one ■ thing. Maybe you are not as bad as I am, but do one. thing :■ think of nil tho crimes you. have wanted to commit: think of all the crimes you would have committed if you had had the opportunity; think of all the temptations to which you would have yielded hqd nobody been looking; and then put your hand on voiir heart and say whether you can • justly look with contempt even upon a convict.

Brave to the End. Ho died, in. 1897, from angina pectoris, due, it is said, to his unwearying activities, but with the unselfishness that; was his religion, he concealed his condition from his family :

Duriu" tho night of Thursday and Fridav, Juiv 20th and 2Ut, 1899. at ' "Walston." 'lngersoil had an attack of acute indigestion, sleeping very little, suffering great pain, which ho sought to relieve with nitro-glycerinc, previously prescribed; but he wont lo breakfast in the morning, and afterwards ©at oil tho veranda, art no was wont to do, reading and talking with the family. . At 10.30 he remarked that ho would lie down aud rest awhile, and would then, return, and play . pool with , hie pon-in-law. Mrs Ingersoll accompanied her husband upstairs to their bedroom and remained with him while ho slept. About 11.45 he arose and sat in ins chair to put on his shoes. Mies Sue Sharkey, a member of the family, entered the room, followed by Mrs lucersoll’s sister, Mrs Sue M. Farrell. Airs Ingcrsoll said: “Do not dress, ‘■papa, ..until after luncheon—l will • eat upstair* with you.T He replied: “Oh, no; X do not want to trouble you.”, ■’Mrs Farrell then remarked: ‘How absurd, after the hundreds of times you have eaten- upstairs with her.” He glanced lautjhin-sly at Mrs Farrell, as ©ho turned, to leave tho room ; and then Mrs Ingcrsoll said : “Why, papa, your tongue is coated —1 must give you some medicine.” Bo looked up at her with a smilo and said, “I am better now.” and, as he did so, closed his eyes. Ingersoll way dead. I have, T have ©aid. no sympathy with certain of the methods employed by the Kieat Freethinker lo discredit orthodox Christianity, but a man who lived and died as did ingersoll most win the admiration of even those who most bitterly oppose his attitude towards accepted religion. “The Book of the Coronation. *’ Coronation literature is naturally plentiful just now. An. excellent shillings-

worth of historical information is “The Book of the Coronation” (Cassell anJ Co.. London and Melbourne; Wellington: I b. aud- H. Mackay). It mciuaes a fuL description of tiie ceremonies- attending tno crowning of a, King, an account o* the regalia, ucscriptions of past pageants, and a concise ungraphical ©keten of qui 'present monarch. , The illustrations inchide eight full-page pla’iOS in colouj and numerous others in Juuf-toue. The book is beautifully printed on fine paper, bii.Uibiy and ©Ugaiuly bound, and forma naudv and hauusoAuo souvenir of Loroliation -Year. A New Form of Censorship. Miss Annesley Kcncaley hart written a novel. “Thus Saith Mrs Grundy,” which has been . “banned” by Hie libraries, even before’ publication. This is a curious point which requires explanation. It appear© from a letter Miss Kcnealoy has written to the “Athenaeum” (June 3rd)'that her publishers, John Long and Co., informed her that the Librariefc Association “now’ requires all publishers to -submit authors’ proofs .of all forthcoming iictior* to the Association. Mie*> Keneaiey s novel, her first —she must not ■he", confounded witn Miss» Arabella. Konealey—was so ■submitted. Miss Kencaiey says; “Certain passages were blue-pen-cilled, and ,1 was called upon to re-;, writ© my book lo the tastes of the circulating libraries, or suffer the penalty of bexispc -banned.’ TVtbis Mbs KenqaU-y objected, and hold her publisher’to his, contract to. publish the book in the form had: accepted it., “'-Miss' Kenealey writes: “The formation-, of dangerous' understanding between -pub-, Ushers and libraries.’bet rays British lit- 1 erature entirely into comu.ercrai hands. It is a position which critics and authors have a.right to resent. *if the reviewers 'condemn my book, their verdict is‘ backed by literary training. But 1 cannot accept Mr Boots, the chemist (Boats' Libiame are found ail over England), or other book piuveyors, as the censor of British literature and morals. ; Tne objection to my book is that a Eugenic character decides , that his dipsomaniac wife is unfitted to bo the mother of his children.” Tnis is all very well, but Mi few Kenealey is surely'not over modest in assuming that her novel is “literature,” and even a chemist who runs a circulating library may be’pardoned-fho exercise of.a little care lest he should put before his clients what they may. consider unwholesome fiction. Fersohally I think that the novel is not. the .best, and proper medium by which to conduct a propaganda on physiological questions. A Novelist’s Library. Mr S. R. Crockett has been selling a portion of his valuable library. Sotheby’s sold on bis account, on May 24th, quite a number of valuable works. Tho minister-novelist must have done wellout of fiction, in his day—a day now’ over, I fear—for he had got together some very rare and expensive volumes. A collection of first editions of Dickens's writings brought .1:220; a similar collection of Thackeroyana <0225. A set of “Notes and Queries,” 107 volumes, went very chsan at <£l9, and the novelist’s first folio. Shakespeare, must have been a sadly incomplete copy, for it brought culy a hundred guineas, Mr Crockett's tastes in literature nro evidently eclectic, for I notice in the .catalogue Burton's Arabian Nights (the Kamashashtra Edition, 17 volumes); a set of first editions of tho Sisters Bronte’s novels; a ©et of first editions of Jane Austen (fancy , Jano Austen and Burton's “Nights” on the same shelves!); Washington Irving’s Works, 45. volumes; the Nuremberg Chronicle; Gould’s pßirds of Great Britain,” and, oh, hero is a snrprise, tho complete works—l 96 volumes, no fewer—of G. D. R. James! I hop© Mr Crockett has not fallen on evil days, for I remember with pleasure “The Raiders,” “The Grey Atari,” and others of his earlier novels; lo say nothing of “Tho Stickit Minister.” But when a

book-lover sells his library, it looks bad. And had "Liber" the good fortune to possess certain of the items in' the Crookett sale, nothing short of bankruptcy would compel their clearance.

Rossetti. The June number of "The Bookman" is largely, devoted to Rossetti. Ford Madox liuefler, whose "Ancient Lights and New Reflections" was the subject o- a recent "Book of the Day" article in "The Literary Corner," contributes a long article full of most interesting, personal details as to the Rossetti Circle, and Professor Saintsburv writes on "The Poetry ox Rossetti." But the chief attraction to me is the splendid series of portraits and other iliiihtrations. It may not be generally known• that Rossetti was a skilled "caricah rist. Sonic examples of his ability in th 5 direction are included in the "Bookman" series* and are most amusihg.

Conan Doyle as Poet. Poet, perhaps, is hardly the right word—versifier might bo better, Doyle’s now book of verso, "Songs of the R-civU," is for the million, not for the ultrafastidious. English critics praise a little "nioralitv ballad/* "The Outcasts," but do not like . "The Hymn of Empire" — being Coronation Year such productions are no doubt inevitable. The author's ‘‘Foreword" fairly disarms criticism: If it were not for the hillocks You’d think little of the lulls; The rivers would seem tiny If it were not for the rills. If you never -saw the brushwood You would underrate the trees; And so you see the purpose Of such little rhymes as three. And there is some good common-sense in soiUO jingling rJiy.nes of advice addressed "To a Young Author." and concluding as follows: 1 "Critics kirid, Never mind 1 . Critics flatter, No matter! Critics curse, None the worse! i Critics blame, AH the• same! Do your best. Hang, the rest!" A Novel on Mormonism, Winifred Graham, whose "Mary” ww such a striking book, has written a novel with Mormonkm as a subject. Miss Graham has lived in Utah, and is a recognised authority on Mormonism. Her r Lovo Story of a Mormon"—how many heroines has it,. I wonder? —is said to throw a vivid light on the methoiks of the "Lnittor-Duy Saints." Mormonism lias of late', got quite a strong hold In many parts of England. “The Showing-up of Mr Shaw/ 1 The great "G. 8.5," and his biogranher, the fatuous hero-worshipper. Professor Henderson, of the University of Carolina, have, it seems, fallen cut, and great is the joy thereat of not a few people who have long ago doubted the sincerity of that champion ■ poseur, the author 01 “The Showing up of Blanco Posnet." Under the headings "You Never Can Tell—The Saowing-up of Mr Shaw," the "Westminster Gazette" prints extracts from some; piquant letters which nave recently 'passed between the. great man and his biographer. •Mr Shaw, whoso ordinarily rlunoccvos-Uko hide had been pierced by some of tho reviews of Professor Henderson's book—Mr Charles Wuiblcy in particular gave tho muchboomed playwricht a 1 severe dressingdown—wrote to tho papers to say that it was a mistake to assume that he had read tho proofs of tho book and ; was therefore responsible for .everything it contains. But Professor. Henderson, who, by this time, has apparently rowgnisca that he has been worshipping a god of clay, completely disposes of "G.B.S/s" protest by ; declaring that last summer the manuscript.of the whole book was p : aced in Jus hands, and- at his-own request was left come weeks longer* than tho allotted time/ : Further, / when the manuscript was'? returned, Henderson wiys ‘“Air Shaw personally discussed the main'features of the book-with, mo, ana the returned manuscript annotations. the gi»t of which was incorporated in the printed bock." And much more to equally damaging effect. /

The Great Man’s Homes. U But the, funniest part of the '.quarrel relates to the' illustrations. Firstly. Mr Shaw waxes satirical over the American literary pilgrims : It (the book) is already attracting a stream of American pilgrims to a house in Osnahurgh street in which I never, lived. ... It contains a portrait of me;- said to he taken in Dublin in a year, when, as the biography - allows, I was 'in London, where the -photograph was actually taken. Those things do not , matter.

The American can, worship as devoutly at the ginger-beer shop as . if (Wiuburgh streetyvero really my first home in London instead of ruy third.

and if the authentic temple were not in. another part of tho street. The above characteristically Shavian outburst was. at once replied to by the Professor ~ from. North,, Carolina, who shows that ho can hit back, and with interest. Ho’says: All three pictures tnfeen Ijy Mr Coburn 1 showed to Mr Shaw myself, and ho _ passed them without corrcc-

tion. If Mr Shaw does not know his early home front a ginger-beer shop how should I know any better? 1 grieve for the discomfit mo of ray fellow countrymen who arc wasting their incense at a false shrine. . . . Among the class of Americans who swing incense and burn candles many new gods have arisen since the Shavian star rose and set. In suite of ' n'.y ■ praiseworthy efforts to make Mr Shaw appreciated and understood in the Untied States, he is still to the vast majority there what Mr George Moore once called him. “the funny r man in a boardinghouse." By this time, 1 expect, the Professor ot the University of North Carolina is a ead, sick, and sorrv man so far as his Life of G.B.S. is concerned. But meanwhile "G.B.S.*' himself has been thoroughly exposed as a posing humbug who has not oven the courage of his humbug, lor there caii be practically no doubt but that he was just as uluch responsible for this precious biography as was the nominal biographer. When, however, the book is severely slated by Whibley and others, he turns round and "rats'' upon his co-partner in literary booming. Tis a sorry business afl through, .and the Great Man comes out of it very badly. “The Showing-up of Blanco Posnot" has now had an unexpected sequel.

The Liszt Centenary. . The Liszt Centenary is responsible for several books, some out, Some yet to come, on the famous musician. One, which seems to be well reviewed, is “Franz L'szt and his Music," by Arthur Hervey (Lane). There was no trace in Liszt of that narrow-mindedness which sr many musicians are afflicted with. Mi Henry says: “If Liszt the musician occupies a place to himself among the great musical creators. Liszt the man is equally worthy of admiration. Upon this last point there cannot indeed hr two opinions. 'Time has gradually revealed his goodness, self abnegation, humility.' d votion to art and to the, interest of others, and the world has won dered. The co• preh-nsivencss of hi:, outlook and his entire absence of envy enabl’d him to adopt a thoroughly inde pendent attitude towards his contem porarms. . . . Musicians are often i - ; cbned to Ire narrow-minded in thei opinions and to close their ears obstin ctelv to any music the conception o which does not correspond with thfil own special ideas. There was no vestige o' 1 this feeling in Liszt.” The catholicity of his tastes greatlv annoyed tlm ultra-classical school in Germany, and he finally had to resign his baton at Weimar, so great was the offence given by producing "Lohengrin.” for the first time on any stage, an offence followed by another, the production of “The Barber of Bagdad." bv Cornelius.

The Personal Liszt. Personally, although, undoubtedly c; centric, Liszt appears to have boon a very good-natured man to whom nothing* gave more vdensure than to assisr. young talent. Here is a story of Lisz and Brahms : Brahms, when quite a young man, journeved to Weimar to show the master some of his compositions. It is needless to say that ho received both sympathy and encouragement from Liszt. The contrast existing between tbo two musicians was, however, never so well exemplified as it was in the course of their first meeting. An authentic account of what happened on this occasion has been furnished by William Mason, the American pianist, who was an eyewitness of the occurrence. It appears that Brahms was too nervous to play his own works, so Liszt eat down to the piano in his place, and taking the first piece at hand from tho heap of manuscripts, he performed tho Scherzo at sight in such a marvellous way, carrying on at the same, time a running accompaniment of audible criticism of the music that Brahms was both surprised and do- : lighted. And now for the «?qucl, A little later (Mr William Mason writes) some one asked Liszt to play his own sonata, a work which was quite recent at that lime, and ol which he was very fond. Without hesitation ho sat down and began playing. As he progressed, he came to a verv expressive part, which he always imbued with extreme pathos, ami in which he looked for the interest and sympathy of his listeners. Glancing at Brahms, he found that tho latter was dozing in his chair. “The Ghosts of Lincoln’s Inn,” In '‘The Gardens of Gray's Inn and Other Verses, '' a new poet, Christian TearJe, has some pleasant verse. .Gno ox the pieces, “The Ghosts of Lincoln s inn/' hap, it is pointed out in a London weekly, quite the Dobsonian touch. Mere is an extract; Students Jostle with, enmned peers, Baying their court to the bufioteere. Bach mov drink as his will be fain: “Silver-tongued Murray eips -champagne; Taps ms snuff-box and citos a trope, Just as it fell from the mouth of Pope. Garrick, beaming at Camden’s side, Lifts a glass of the amber tide; Bows to Kush ere he tips it down—"Warwickshire Will and Stratfoid Rubicund ancients, mellow and gay, oracle the jokes of a bygone day; All of a-chuckle at Erskme's .wit; Cowed a little by Treasurer Put; Bt-ncber Canning, in wonderful form. Drinks—"To the pilot that weathers the storm.”, . .. . Eldon back in his ancient court, .Spins his yarn as he swigs his il.nts a longing for "liver and crow ; Beach grimaces and sips noyau; llardwicke (incstlons without avail, broomstick legends of Matthew Haile. “The Downfall of tho Gods.” Sir Hugh Clifford, who might ho called the Kipling of tho Malay States, has taken to novel ■ writing—he was recently married, by tho way, to Mrs' Do la lasture, a very popular novelist. Ho weaves fact and imagination into a very attractive literary ‘ composition in his “Dowufali of tho Gods”' (London : John Murray ; Wellington : Whitcombe and Tombs). The plot of his highly dramatic etory, full of luscious Eastern colouring, deals with tho love of .an out-caste youth, a Brahmin “bye-blow,” for a.girl of the temple cult and caste. But the plot, pure and simple, is really only an excuse for a vividly picturesque description of the decline and fall of a vast Brahiiinioal Asiatic Empire. A fine story in every way, but specially interesting to those who have travelled in or know, the ways-of that East whose philosophy., is so utterly, completely alien to that of the West. , The American Press. It would be idle to deny any good qualities to the American newspaper. It is in some ways vastly superior to onr own. There are wit, humour. - human interest in it; our newspaper too often consists of emasculated nows, from which all life, colour, and humanity .have been carefully removed. The American newspaper is full of picturesque gossip, which is generally unreliable, and often cruel and venomous, but always arresting, and in its way entertaining. The American newspaper "live-’.” ours is 100 often a dreary waste of arid news facta.—N.W.F. in tire “Bystander.".

Reason and Spiritual Being. Till now, though the world has been flooded by mrtapweical disquisitions, man has—apart from belief—required the logical, the dialectic, the transcendence of human experience, for proof of his spiritual being. If, now. Reason, with the aid of human experience only, assures ns we exist, each one, as a spiritual self, 1 lias not a . great, advance been '.made in human thought?—Mr F. C. Constable in “Personality and Telepathy.” Gieegan Paul. 7s Od net.)

Stray Leaves. I am obliged to hold over reviews of several novels. A movement is on foot in America with the object of preserving and keeping intact the Orchard House, at Concord. Massachusetts, where Lou.ea Alcott wrote “Little Women” and many otnei books.

A public monument to Verlaine has been erected in the Luxembourg Gardena. 'Paris. The work is a bust by .\l. Niederhauien-Rtdo, and the pcueotal presents three young ‘female ligures sym- • toucal of thiCe of me poet's works. Miss I. R. Wylie’s Anslo-Germa.t novel, ’’Dividing Vvaters,” reviewed lr.-t week in “Tne Literary Corner,” is already, X notice,, in ils'liitn Lngiish edition.

“Ha-llada and Rliyn.es,” a selection from Andrew Lang s . “iiallads in . Jflue. Cniiia”' and '‘till, ities a la Mode,” is a recent addition to Longman’s pocket library, in which there are several good titles. , Price Is Od and 2s Gd. <