81 
description of a place Miss Muloch visited only for one day. The 
genial authoress had a wholesome love for the theatre. In her 
last published article we find the words—“ I have been a play- 
goer for over forty years, during which I have seen many a star 
rise and set ; in fact the whole dramatic hemisphere has changed, 
and there have been countless alterations, some for the better 
and some for the worse. But my hearty love and appreciation 
of histrionic art has never altered. I now feel a play as keenly 
as a girl of sixteen, while bringing to it also the cool criticism of 
a lifetime’s experience.’ In her novels we have clear evidences 
of this passion for the stage. She looked upon the stage as a 
great teacher, better than most books and many sermons; but as 
was natural, she lamented some of the dark spots which have 
given cause for honest criticism, and she appeals to the chief 
actors and actresses to lead the public taste instead of following it. 
The essays and short stories by Mrs. Craik are most readable, 
being full of gentle philosophy and quiet humour. Her eminently 
utilitarian mind here found pleasant outlets. In her one volume 
of poems there are many short ‘‘ swallow-flights of song,’’ quaint 
and singularly beautiful. The oneness of heart and mind 
exhibited in her poems, her novels, and her philanthropic work 
is most marked. And the author of ‘‘ John Halifax, Gentleman ” 
is not unworthy to be numbered among those whom George Eliot 
characterised as the ‘‘ immortal dead who live again in minds 
made better by their presence.”’ 
