Page:The Story of the House of Cassell (book).djvu/197

A Letter of Thomas Hardy

twenty-nine volumes, each play having an Introduction which was the joint work of Dr. Furnivall and John Monro.

Another early effort in popularization was "Gleanings from Popular Authors," a compilation by Manville Fenn, who also compiled "The World of Wit and Humour." Among the authors to whom he wrote for permission to make extracts from their works for the "Gleanings" was Thomas Hardy, who replied:

"Dear Mr. Fenn,—An accident has delayed for a day or two my reply to your letter. Any episode from 'A Pair of Blue Eyes' that you think good enough for your purpose is at your service; the scene you mention would, I should think, be as good as any. I should tell you that the one volume edition contains the finally revised text.

"I am so glad to perceive how successful your 'Gleanings' have been hitherto, particularly, I think, in the country, where people take them, even if they possess the original works—to save themselves the trouble of using their own judgment, I suppose. The world gets indolent in its reading, and there seems now to be quite a demand for trained minds as pioneers.

"I was not aware till now that The Echo critique was yours, and I take this late opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks for it. Indeed, if any fault could be found with your critiques at that time, it was that you were too kind.—Believe me, yours sincerely,

Thomas Hardy.

"P.S.—I hope you don't forget the birds in the whirl of your critical writings. I am expecting a big work from you some day embodying those tender essays on the humbler creatures that you seem to have a special gift for writing."

An important and most fortunate association of the House was that with Prof. Henry Morley. Popular and successful though he was as a teacher, it is questionable whether Morley quite succeeded in doing justice to his gifts. Like most other men of abounding energy, he was apt to undertake more work than he was able to get through without a good deal of hurry. It may not be generally known, though the fact is noted in the "Dictionary of National Biography," that he began his

159