Life — December 6, 1888 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

LET US HOPE SO. OMMIE: Doyou suppose Gener- al Harrison is ‘“ . » a betting man, THE PILGRIM'S SCRIP,” AND SOME HOLIDAY BOOKS, Mama? F one may say it, there is a movement brewing to “ Browningize" the works Mama: I of George Meredith. Already the “ Meredith cult” is spoken of; we are don't know, told, with considerable awe and mystery, that here is ‘rich ore that must be dear, Why? mined,’ and the impression is made that only those gifted with a kind of ¢/arr- TOMMIE: voyance need venture into the mine with the hope of finding treasure. This Because if he is, assertion of a kind of mental superiority in the disciples is always a forerunner perhaps he bet in New England of the organization of “clubs” and “circles” where the elect a new hat on meet to glorify the works of the Master. That Meredith, the bitter satirist of the election, Systems and Fine Shades and Nice Feelings, should himself be made a fetich in and then, you the temple of these idols is an incongruity that calls for Voltairian ridicule. know, he won't have to wear that horrid * old thing of his grandfather's in Wash- ington, . . E had hoped that this spirit would be wanting in “ The Pilgrim's Scrip: Wit and Wisdom of George Meredith” (Roberts Brothers), But the STEP-MOTHER—The leader of fifty pages of Introduction are filled with Brahminical utterances, of which the the ballet. following are examples: “He is a coiner of brilliant phrases, which he throws at us with all the insolence of prodigality * They are collections of precious stones, gathered from an experience which is world-wide ;" ‘ Both Meredith and Browning recognize the full ‘value and significance of flesh;’" “Mr. Meredith's conception of the spiritual life is less tangible and less personal than that of Mr. Browning;” “It is no theological, anthropomorphic, or even in- carnate deity that brings Meredith strength and peace;" “ He has a vast un- governed fury of creative energy.” This is probably the kind of exegesis which the Cult want, and if it helps them to a right appreciation of Meredith, they ought to have it. They will probably never see that almost everything which he has written is a protest against that culture which has for its only fruit a species of sentimentalism which delights in Fine Shades and Systems, and dwarfs the natural man. . . . THE collection of aphorisms, epigrams, and philosophical reflections which makes the bulk of this little book, is fairly well chosen, from the com- piler’s point of view. It will be more interesting to one well read in Meredith than enticing to the neophyte. The samples give as dim an idea of his novels Tus 1s Not A MipsumwER Nictt’s Dream, 954 Specimen brick gives of a cathedral. . _. BuT Meredith is great enough to stand this sort of thing from the Disciples. They are of the kind who judge an organ from the rich carving of its case and gilding of its pipes. T= most interesting part of the introduction is the biographical sketeh, which gives a glimpse of the author's personality. It is a pardonable curiosity in his admirers to want to know more of him. The impression made by these few facts is that Meredith is much like Henry James's “ Author of Beltraffio.” ‘The coincidence is striking enough to lead to speculation in re- gard to how much James knew of Meredith, years ago, when “ Beltraffio” was written, . . . N the multitude of books which the holiday season is calling out, there are many which deserve more space than can be here given them. Among the illustrated books is a handsome edition of E. E. Hale's famous story of “The Man without a Country’ (Roberts Brothers). There are forty skilfully-drawn pictures by F. T. Merrill. AN AuTUMN Sxooze. Two very elaborately illustrated books for younger readers come from comicbooks.com