poor, when the head of the family took ing to put some of these stories | vorite cry against the working classes; on paper. The first bit of writing but it seems a pertinent question to ask which she published was "An Account how much room there was for improvof Clopton Hall," contributed to Wil-idence when a family of five members liam Howitt's "Visits to Remarkable had little more than 6s. per week to Places." This was followed by a few depend upon, at a time, moreover, short stories for the People's Journal, when bread was sold at 6d. per pound, and then she wrote "Mary Barton: a and other articles of food and clothing Tale of Manchester Life." The man- were much dearer than at present. uscript, which, it is said, was written Mrs. Gaskell told Mr. Travers Madge on irregular scraps of paper, was re- that the one strong impulse to write turned unread by the first publisher to "Mary Barton " came to her one evenwhom it was offered. It was then sent ing in a laborer's cottage. She was on to Messrs. Chapman & Hall, who, trying hard to speak comfort, and to after keeping it in their possession for allay those bitter feelings against the twelve months without even acknowl-rich which were so common with the edging its receipt, wrote accepting the novel for publication, and offering the author £100 for the copyright. It was published anonymously in 1848, and its appearance caused great excitement, more particularly in Manchester. The book is too well known to need much hand. After some twenty years had description. It is a tale of the poverty and distress then only too common among the factory operatives of Lancashire. No one was better acquainted with the life she tried to depict than The writer says: "Mrs. Gaskell Mrs. Gaskell, and there is no doubt writes something well worth hearing that on the whole she gave us a true and laying to heart, and that her words picture. A little one-sided it may have and others like them have been laid to been, but that side existed in all its heart, and have brought forth the fruit horrible reality, and it is impossible for of good deeds, witness the universal any enthusiast to produce a work of charity that prevailed during the recent art in vivid colors that shall reflect all cotton-famine, and contrast with it the side-lights. Mr. W. R. Greg, her se-angry distrust that existed between the verest critic, said that the book could rich and poor during those calamitous be rightly understood by Manchester years of 1846-7 and 8, when she first people, who were able to supply the began to teach and preach. side left untold, but that it was calculated to do mischief away from home. passed, and conditions had greatly changed for the better, it is curious to note the change of tone adopted by the British Quarterly. Words are things, and a small drop of ink, lions think! We must not forget that Mrs. Gaskell wrote mainly for Lancashire people; she pleaded the cause of the poor, who were not receiving adequate considera- Mrs. Gaskell's vocation was that of a tion at the hands of their employers, peacemaker. She compels us to feel, whose wealth they had helped to build not how different men are, but how up. A reviewer in the British Quar- much they are alike, when the acciterly complained that the book was dents of wealth and poverty are put one-sided; that the great enemy of the aside. She utters her voice often working classes was improvidence, and through tears, but always to most wise that factory work was very light. I and Christian purpose, and throughout am afraid he had not such close ac- Mary Barton' her cry is for patience quaintance with facts as our authoress. with the poor! The discussions she Improvidence has always been the fa-strove to smooth are cropping up again in these days with quite another light | after its publication-"Mary Barton " upon them, and it is not always easy to was dramatized under the title of "The get at her original point of view; but Long Strike," a remarkable testimony when we do get at it we see that it was to its abiding popularity. just the point for that time, whatever About this time Mrs. Gaskell paid modifications and changes twenty years several visits to London, where she may have wrought in the respective came in contact with literary celebrities positions of masters and men. The of the day, among whom we may menliterary merits of the story are great, tion Dickens, Forster, Mrs. Jameson, but the moral of it, the deep, direct, Lord Houghton, Mrs. Beecher Stowe, earnest intention that underlies the John Ruskin, Thomas Carlyle, Florstory, which has performed its mission ence Nightingale. She also went and become out of date, is its most abroad with fair frequency, her faforcible part." vorite places being Paris and Rome. Here I venture to differ from the In Paris her genius was greatly apwriter. If it were not for its literary preciated, and during her stay Guizot, merit the book would lose its hold; the Montalembert, and Odillon Barrot interest of half a century ago is not honored her by their attentions. In enough to bind the reader to any work. Oxford she had two trusted friends, Its excellence for all time as a work of Professor Jowett and Mr. (afterwards art lies in the simplicity of touch with Dean) Stanley. Her friendship with which the cottage scenes are put in, Charlotte Brontë also dates from this and in the pathos, which can hardly time. It was at the home of Sir James be surpassed by anything in the and anything in the and Lady Kay Shuttleworth, near language. Let us hear what one of Bowness, in Westmoreland, that these England's greatest novelists, Charles two ladies, who were destined to beDickens, thought. come such close friends, had their first I quote from a letter addressed to meeting. Mrs. Gaskell also numbered Mrs. Gaskell, January 31, 1850: "I do among her nearest friends Catharine not know what your literary vows of Winkworth, of Bolton, well known for temperance or abstinence may be, but her translation of the "Lyra Geras I do honestly know there is no liv- manica." Her home at Plymouth ing English writer whose aid I would Grove soon became the centre of a desire to enlist in preference to the distinguished literary circle. Thomas authoress of Mary Barton' (a book Carlyle was a guest there when he that most profoundly affected and im- came to Manchester, and during the pressed me), I venture to ask you Art Treasures Exhibition in 1857, Mrs. whether you can give me any hope Gaskell received many distinguished that you will write a short tale, or any visitors. During a short stay at Buxnumber of tales, for the projected ton an intimacy grew up between her pages (Household Words). I should and the Duke of Devonshire, and ever set a value on your help which your after she was an honored guest at modesty can hardly imagine, and I am Chatsworth. In spite of her modesty perfectly sure that the least result of and retiring habits, she was rapidly your reflection or observation in re-drawn into that society which suited spect of the life around you would her, and of which she became a valued attract attention and do good. If you could, or would, prefer to speak to me on the subject, I shall be very glad indeed to come to Manchester for a few hours and explain anything you might wish to know. My unaffected and great admiration of your books makes me very earnest in all relating to you." In 1867- that is, nineteen years 6 member. Her fame had spread rapidly, and her charming, womanly disposition and kindly, generous heart endeared her to almost everybody with whom she came into contact. In answer to Dickens's request she wrote several tales for his magazine, others for Cornhill, and some independent, smaller publications, and she also contributed to the Daily News. | est and most delicate manner. Being In 1850 appeared the "Moorland Cot- what you are, I confine myself to the tage," and in 1853 "Ruth " and observation that I have called it,' A "Cranford." Love Affair at Cranford,' and sent it off to the printers." No short tale could be more delightful; the early chapters own "Ruth," her second great work in order of publication, is, as regards style and power, inferior to "Mary Barton,' ,"describe the quiet, aristocratic country perhaps to all her sustained effort. life of the female population of the But it stands out from the rest, as the little town, and are full of the richest handling by a woman of a side of life humor. All is so telling and yet so which is unfortunately too often either good-natured, for Mrs. Gaskell is tellignored in real life and in fiction, or ing us about the worthy people among treated in a light, flippant manner. It whom she passed the happy days of is the story of an innocent young girl, her girlhood. She loved and respected led into sin by a profligate, who after-them, and though she quietly laughs at wards heartlessly deserts her. She is some of their ways, she makes them left in that position where, if a woman very lovable in spite of their oddities once reaches it, nearly all virtuous and somewhat stilted dignity. Cranwomen seem to consider it their duty ford represents Knutsford as Mrs. to keep her, by treating her with utter Gaskell knew it some seventy years contempt, debarring her all respectable ago; many of the characters she drew society and any decent means of earn- were true to life; many of the inciing a livelihood. We will not say all dents she relates stand out in their women; there are a few at least among bare reality. That most laughable inciChristian women who can more truly dent of the cow dressed in a grey flaninterpret their Master's words when he nel suit Mrs. Gaskell declared to be said, "Neither do I condemn thee; go perfectly true. The pathetic story of and sin no more." Mrs. Gaskell bids Peter's disappearance was undoubtedly us consider this problem. She shows suggested by the loss of her us how this poor erring girl is brought brother, who visited her a few times through the kindness extended to her during her childhood and then was to lead a good life, bringing up her boy heard of no more. Probably that sad in honor and virtue as any mother chapter in her life was the cause of her might be proud to do. It is a tale of keen interest in Disappearances," tears, most pathetic and pitiful under which title she wrote a paper in throughout; but it was given us for a Household Words. That most touching, high purpose, and we must admire delicately written account of the failure Mrs. Gaskell's womanly courage as well of a bank in which Miss Matty's money as her talent. The world should be was invested, and which reduced her careful to distinguish, in its zeal for almost to poverty, was based on the honor and morality, between those failure of a bank in Macclesfield, about who court sin and those who are sorely that time, by which many families tempted, and in their weakness fall. were ruined. "Cranford" will bear Let us be watchful lest we thrust mere reading many times, and the same may weakness into wickedness, by barring be said of some of the other short tales the doors forever against those who bound in the same volume. "Libbie are anxious to return where once they Marsh's Three Eras," the story of a stood. poor girl living in one of the back "Cranford" appeared originally in courts of Manchester, shows us how in Household Words and Dickens wrote in this sphere a woman may lead a noble, reference to it: "If you were not the unselfish life by keeping a high purmost suspicious of women, always look-pose constantly before her. The story ing for soft solder in the purest metal is extremely simple and natural, but it of praise, I should call your paper is so lovingly told that it lifts us above delightful, and touched in the tender- the level of every-day life. A writer 66 who can with such simple materials | no need. Margaret Hale, the heroine, make us feel so much deserves our is made to tell a lie in order to screen lasting gratitude, and must ever rank her brother-save his life, indeed among the highest artists. "Libbie Marsh's Three Eras" is worthy to stand in spirit, though the story is much slighter, beside George Eliot's "Silas Marner." In "Lois the Witch," a sad but true story, we get some glimpses of Mrs. Gaskell's schooldays at Stratford-on-Avon. instead of daring to speak the truth. There is no doubt that most people would have done the same, but I like my heroes to be of sterling metal, to stand head and shoulders above the crowd. Such men and women exist, if only rarely; let us take our heroes from the chosen few. Sir Walter Scott thought so when he gave us his Jeanie Deans, and we all know the effect. In 1857 Mrs. Gaskell published “The Life of Charlotte Brontë," a biography which has been compared with Boswell's "Life of Johnson." It brings the little Yorkshire lady, who possessed such great genius, most vividly before us. No one could have been found so well fitted to write her life, and we feel grateful to Mrs. Gaskell for having undertaken the task. She knew Charlotte Brontë as few could know, and she Her next great work, also contributed to Household Words, appeared in 1854. The editor writes about it thus : "January, 1855. Let me congratulate you on the conclusion of your story, not because it is the end of a task to which you have conceived a dislike (for I imagine you have got the better of that delusion by this time), but because it is the vigorous and powerful accomplishment of anxious labor. It seems to me that you have felt the ground thoroughly firm under your feet, and have strided on it with a force and pur-loved her most truly and tenderly. A pose that must now give you pleasure. tender, loving hand was needed to lay You will not, I hope, allow that non- bare the records of that sad, lonely life lucid interval of dissatisfaction with amid the Yorkshire hills. And yet had yourself (and me ?) which beset you they not been told how much we should for a minute or two once upon a time, have lost! Not only should we want to linger in the shape of any disagree- the key to the books which, coming able associations with H. W. I shall from the lonely parsonage at Haworth, still look forward to the large sides of took the world by surprise, but we paper, and shall soon feel disappointed should have missed what is of greater if they don't begin to reappear." | value still-namely, the lesson how "North and South" may be called a this woman bore up against the keencompanion book to "Mary Barton," est trials and became thereby not hardsince, like its predecessor, it deals with ened, but only more and more refined the labor question in Lancashire. to the end. Some later authorities Here Mrs. Gaskell defends the mas- think that Mrs. Gaskell put in the dark ters' side. But the interest of the lines of the picture rather too thickly; book does not centre there, but rather but her book remains on the whole tenin Mr. Hale's resignation of the minis-der and true, and will be prized as one try for conscience' sake. This subject of the best biographies in the English would have a peculiar interest for Mrs. language. Gaskell, for her father's sake. The Passing over two short tales, scene is laid in the south of England," Round the Sofa" and "Right at and Mrs. Gaskell takes this opportunity Last," we come to "Sylvia's Lovers," of contrasting Hampshire with Lancashire men, greatly to the advantage of the latter. These she knew with a fuller and truer knowledge, and it is plain to see where her heart lies. which saw the light, as our French neighbors say, in 1863. Its plot deals with the smugglers of the last century, and is cast in the picturesque little Yorkshire town of Whitby, whose real There is one weak point in this book, name is but thinly veiled by Mrs. Gasa blemish for which there surely waskell's substitute - Monkshaven. What man of the world." fitter name could she have found for | after Mrs. Gaskell's death, as follows: the quaint fishing town, where the "In these later books you feel yourself ancient abbey of St. Hilda commands a caught up out of an abominably wicked view from every point? All who have world, crawling with selfishness and visited this delightful spot, who have reeking with base passion, into an atlooked from those glorious east cliffs mosphere where there is much weakon which the abbey is situated on to ness, many mistakes, suffering long the roaring sea beyond, and tasted the and bitter, but where it is possible for delicious air born of the ocean and the people to live calm and wholesome moorland, will not be slow to recognize lives; and, what is more, you feel that the descriptions which are drawn for it is at least as real a world as the us in "Sylvia's Lovers." It is a sad, other." Georges Sand, who was a pathetic story of death, betrayal, and great admirer of this novel, said to Lord disappointment of the worst order Houghton: "It is a book which might that of a wife in her husband and it be put into the hands of an innocent is all the sadder for being so exceed-girl, while at the same time it would ingly true to life. The men and women rivet the attention of the most blasé become real as we read of their fates. Next came " Cousin Phillis," in 1865, a short story remarkable for its grace and delicacy. It has been fitly called an "Idyll in Prose." The fresh country air breathes through its pages, and the reader is introduced to the company of good people, who have neither riches nor power, but who possess what is better far than eithertent. Poor Phillis goes through a great sorrow, but her heart remains whole, thanks to the kind help of all her friends. The kind but outspoken words of the old servant, many a one, cast down by grief, might do well to ponder, and be roused to action thereby. "Now, Phillis, we ha' done a' we can for you, and th' doctors has done a' they can for you, and I think th' Lord has done a' He can for you, and more than you deserve, if you don't do something for yourself." The testimony of such writers as Dickens and Georges Sand, who knew the difficulties of novel-writing, is worthy of the highest consideration. There is yet another, George Eliot, who, perhaps, more than any other of modern writers came under the influence of Mrs. Gaskell. True, she betcon- tered the instruction, but we find in her work the same homely style, the same absence of straining after effect, the same noble aim to make every-day life worth living. We have, moreover, her direct testimony. After having read "Ruth," she dwells on those very points of excellence which make the charm of her own writing. "The style was a great refreshment to me from its finish and purity. How pretty and graphic are the touches of description ! That little attic in the minister's house, for example, with its pure white dimity bed-curtains, its bright green walls, the rich brown of its stained floor, reminds one of a snowdrop springing out of the soil. Then the rich humor of Sally, and the sly satire in the description of Mr. Bradshaw." Let And now we come to the last, but by no means least, of Mrs. Gaskell's books, that which the sudden hand of Death arrested and left unfinished. As an artistic production," Wives and Daughters" is almost perfect, its scenes move so easily and gracefully; nothing very us remember also that Mrs. Gaskell striking or dramatic is introduced, and was credited with the authorship of yet our interest in the progress of the "Scenes of Clerical Life" and "Adam plot never flags. A story of every-day Bede," when they appeared under life it is, to be sure, but the life is high- the assumed name of "George Eliot." toned, and the writer's true, womanly When Mrs. Gaskell learnt who was heart speaks on every page. It was their author she wrote stating how contributed to the pages of Cornhill," earnestly, fully, and humbly she adthe editor of which wrote, immediately mired them." I cannot refrain from |