"Mrs. Hamerton"s "Golden Mediocrity" has pa.s.sed through a second edition; the first was 1,000 copies."
This last book was a novelette that I had written at the instigation of Roberts Brothers, and which had been corrected by my husband.
The ill.u.s.trations needed for the completion of "The Saone" took a great deal of Mr. Hamerton"s time in 1886. Early in January he went to Chalon to take several sketches, which he worked out afterwards in pen-and-ink.
We took the opportunity of this journey to see a few houses which had been recommended to us as possible future residences, La Tuilerie requiring expensive repairs that we were not inclined to undertake, because every time we made any our rent was raised,--no doubt because it was thought that just after a fresh outlay we should not be disposed to leave. But we found the house-rents much higher about Chalon than in our neighborhood, and although Gilbert was fond of the Saone--particularly for boating--he was far from admiring the landscape as much as that of the Autunois, from a painter"s point of view. After much consideration we decided to go through the unavoidable repairs, and to renew our lease.
I suppose that the Saone voyage had directed my husband"s thoughts towards boats more than ever, for his diary is full of notes about them.
I shall only give a few to show the drift of his mind.
"Made a sketch for a possible triple catamaran.
"Made an elevation of hull for the "Morvandelle," using an elevation of a quickly turning steamer in "Le Yacht," and _improving_ upon it.
"Made a new balancer for canoe.
"Began to prepare pirogue with marine glue before putting the rudder-post.
"Lengthened cross-pieces; completed beam for catamaran, adding details of ironwork.
"Demolished old balancer log of canoe, and began to saw it to make a little bridge.
"Found that boiling wood was the best plan for bending it; steaming is too troublesome.
"Thought much about sails.
"Wrote a letter to "Yacht" about invention of paper-boats."
In October he began to write for "Le Yacht" a history of catamarans, which was highly appreciated by the readers of that paper.
In the course of that year he also wrote a long and careful review of "L"Art" for "Longmans" Magazine," "Conversations on Book Ill.u.s.trations,"
and a review of Mr. Ernest George"s etchings. He also worked at the autobiography.
It was a real sorrow for my husband to hear that in consequence of the demise of Mr. John Hamerton, h.e.l.lifield Peel and the estate were for sale and likely to go out of the family. He had been considerately offered the first option of purchase, and he wrote in the diary, "How I wish I had the money!"
In January, 1887, he wrote to Mr. Seeley:--
"We are rather troubled by the possibility of a war between France and Germany. The French papers take the thing coolly, but the English ones, especially the "Daily News," are extremely pessimist. If there is war I mean to come to England, having had enough anxiety and interrupted communications during the last war. My sons would probably both volunteer into the French army in defence of their mother"s country, as it would be a duel of life and death between Germany and France this time. If you and Mrs. Seeley visit the Continent in the spring you may perhaps witness a battle. I have seen just one, and heard the cannonade of another--sensations never to be forgotten."
In the spring he had had an attack of gout, in consequence of working at the boats instead of going out. He bore it with his usual philosophy--trying to read or write whenever the pain was supportable.
It happened during the Easter vacation, and Stephen used to sit up late into the night to keep his father company.
At the end of the vacation Richard, who had obtained a post in Paris, took his sister with him, and in June, Gilbert being now quite well, I went to fetch her back. M. Delaborde had recommended her the study of harmony, and we found an able professor in M. Laurent, the organist of the cathedral at Autun.
It was with great satisfaction that her father noticed her application and success in this arduous study. He considered it, like algebra, an excellent discipline for the mind--too often wanting in a feminine education.
Against all expectations "The Saone" did not sell well. It was unaccountable; the ill.u.s.trations were numerous and varied, picturesque, and greatly admired by artists,--Rajon in particular was charmed with them,--but it appears that their sin consisted in not being etchings; so at least said the booksellers, as if the author"s works were never to be ill.u.s.trated in any other way. The subject was new, and presented in felicitous style; the reviews were hearty; but in spite of all that could be said in its favor, the book never became a popular one. Mr.
Seeley had mentioned in a letter the uncertainty of the publishing business, and my husband answered:--
"What you say about the lottery of publishing is confirmed by the experience of others. Macmillan said to me one day, "As one gets older and certainly more experienced one ought to get wiser, but it does not seem to be so in publishing, for I am just as liable to error now in my speculations as I was many years ago." Evidently Roberts Brothers are the same."
The subject of "French and English" seemed too important to Mr. Hamerton to be adequately treated in a few articles, and he decided to give it proper development in a book, for which all his acc.u.mulated observations would become useful. He proposed it to Messrs. Macmillan, warning them that, as he intended to be impartial, they might find that his opinions--conscientiously given--would often be at variance with those generally accepted. Mr. Craik answered: "As to "French and English" I do not think that it matters in the least that you differ from the opinions of others." Then he went on to say: "I hope to hear from you about a large ill.u.s.trated book for 1889, and we will gladly go into the matter with you when you have got an idea into your head."
In the autumn we learned with deep regret the death of our dear cousin, Ben Hinde. My husband conveyed it to his friend M. Schmitt in the following letter:--
"J"ai recu ces jours-ci la triste nouvelle que mon cousin--le pretre anglican que j"aimais comme un frere, a succombe a une a.s.sez longue maladie. Ce qu"il y a de plus penible c"est la position de sa soeur qui s"etait entierement devouee a lui et a la paroisse. Elle a vecu toute sa vie au presbytere, et maintenant, son frere mort, il va falloir qu"elle s"en aille. Elle a une pet.i.te fortune qui suffira a ses besoins, et j"ai l"immense satisfaction de penser que c"est moi qui ai pu sauver cet argent des griffes d"executeurs testamentaires mal intentionnes. Je les ai forces a payer quarante mille francs. Ma cousine supporte son sort avec un courage parfait. Je n"ai jamais rencontre une foi religieuse aussi parfaite que la sienne. Pour elle, la mort d"un Chretien est un heureux evenement qu"elle celebrerait volontiers par des rejouissances.
Elle n"y voit absolument que la naissance au ciel. Ceci l"expose a etre tres meconnue. Quand elle perd un parent elle est tres gaie et on peut s"imaginer qu"elle est sans coeur. Elle va se devouer entierement a ses pauvres; elle vit absolument de la vie d"une soeur-de-charite, sans le t.i.tre.
"La mort de mon cousin, et peut-etre l"eloignement de ma cousine, me laisseront, pour ainsi dire, sans parents. Je ne regrette pas de m"etre donne une nouvelle famille en France, et je me felicite des bonnes relations, si franchement cordiales, que j"ai avec mes deux beaux-freres et avec ma belle-soeur."
Some time later he wrote to the same friend:--
"Nous avons fait un charmant voyage sur la Saone, de Macon a Verdun avec retour a Chalon--une flanerie a voile avec toutes les varietes de temps: vents forts et vents faibles, calmes plats (c"est le moins agreable), bourrasques, beau temps, pluie, clair-de-lune, obscurite presque complete, splendeurs du soleil. Comme nous voyageons a toute heure du jour et de la nuit, nous voyons la nature sous tous les aspects imaginables. Cela renouvelle pour moi cette _intimite_ avec la nature qui etait un des plus grands bonheurs de ma jeunesse.
"C"est a peu pres le seul genre de voyage que j"aime reellement, et c"est le seul qui me fa.s.se du bien."
Note in the diary:--
"January 13, 1888. Fought nearly all day against a difficulty about "French and English," and decided to divide the book into large sections and small chapters, divisions and subdivisions. Chapters to be confined strictly to their special subjects."
It became the main work of the year, with the articles on catamarans for the "Yacht," and the numerous drawings to ill.u.s.trate them. The autobiography was also carried forward.
Our little pony, Cocote, was growing old and rheumatic, and could no longer render much service. My husband was unwilling to make her work at the cost of pain, and we found it impossible to do without a reliable horse at such a distance from Autun.
As Cocote was not always unfit for work--only at intervals--her master decided to buy a horse that he might ride when the pony could manage the carriage work. He chose a young, nice-looking mare at a neighboring farm, and took great pleasure in riding her every day; this regular habit of exercise in the open air was of great benefit to his health.
The death of Paul Rajon, which occurred in the summer, was deeply lamented by my husband, who, besides his great appreciation of the artist"s exquisite talent, entertained for him sentiments of real friendship. When we came to live at Paris, he made a pilgrimage to his house, and to his, alas! neglected tomb at Auvers.
In August, Mr. Seeley wished to republish in book form some of Mr.
Hamerton"s contributions to the "Portfolio," and to give his portrait as a frontispiece. He wrote about it: "My traveller says he is continually asked for your portrait. If Jeens were living I would ask him to engrave it, but as we have no one approaching him in skill, perhaps the safest plan would be a photogravure from a negative taken on purpose."
My husband suggested that perhaps Mr. H. Manesse might etch the portrait satisfactorily. Mr. Seeley thought it an excellent idea, and said he was willing to give the commission.
Mr. H. Manesse arrived on October 17, and set to work immediately. He was most a.s.siduous, and progressed happily with his work. His model drove him out every day--the weather being fine,--and they derived pleasure from each other"s society, being both interested in the beauty of nature and in artistic subjects.
CHAPTER XVIII.
1888-1890.
"Man in Art" begun.--Family events.--Mr. G. T Watts.--Mr. Bodley.
--"French and English."
After long reflections given to the choice of a subject for a new ill.u.s.trated book, Mr. Hamerton thought that after "Landscape in Art,"
"Man in Art" would be interesting as a study.
Mr. Craik wrote: ""Man in Art" is an excellent idea; you will find us ready to embark on it with sanguine expectation. You will later tell me your ideas of ill.u.s.trating--it ought to be well done in this particular; but if there is a chance of your coming to England next winter we might settle this better in talk."