The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-28
LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.

IL LLIOAItI Sf114 -OI1AA l..
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SEE ARTHUR HELPS new book on government
He proaounces this opinion on competitive examin-
ati0ns Tor the civil service:--
In Great Britain we have OF late adopred the sys-
TEN oil comretuve examination, as u means Of dis
corning mems qualiicaiions for ONCE. In my Judg
ment although the system has long been adopted
III CHINA, 1t Is most Inadequate tor its purpose.
1t detects qualifications winch are little needed,
while IL fails, inevitably, to discover those which
most needed IL Is q bringing back OF the world
to the schools. The main reasons given for It's
adoption are, tnas prevents joOoery, relieves men
IN power from Importantly and encourages educa-
ton. These may be very good OBJECTS, but unOr-
tunately they foreign to the main object winch
Is TO choose fit men, and, II possible the ittest men,
for certain empOymentS. Competitive examination
Is manly mode of RELIEVING those persons VINO
the responsibility OF SO DONG.
THE Pail Mall Gazette gives to Mr. Edward A.
Freeman, whose ssHsIorica Essays" have Just been
published, the high praise OF having 'done more to
spread sound historical knowledge IN England than
any other one person." He belongs to the annual
isc school OF historians VINO laugh at the rhetorical
and '.pnilosophicaln schools as scioists Mr.. Free
mans principal works are "Hist0ry OF the Norman
Conquest" just completed, and q ''History oil Fed
eral Government" one volume only Of which has
been published
DR. CARL BOTH has written and Alexander
Moore, OF Boston, will publish q new book on
"Smallrox; the Predlsposlng Conditions and The ir
Prevention"
The NEWSPAPER PRESS in Russia is by no means
so wide in It's circulation as might fairly be ex-
pected from so great and progressive an empire.
They have but one daily journal which ctrcuates
over 10000 COPIES AMI that Is the MOSCOW Gazette.
No ST. Petersburg paper prints over 1000 copies.
RICHARD wAGNER's ellie and Works OF Bee
thoven" mas been translated BY Albert R. Parsons,
and will shortly be published by Benham b Broth
ers, OF Indianapolis.
The PUBLISHERS OF THE GALAXY promise for the
current year q brilliant succession or papers from
writers already fully tested and Of conspicuous lit
erary ability. They Will also give series Of articles
by General Custer. OF the cavalry SERVICE entitled
'.Life ON the Plalns;' several political papers BY
Judge J. s. Black, &c.
ANOTHER JOURNAL devoted to the interests of
workngmen has been started In London, called The
Labor NetUs.
ANTHONY TROLLOPR, the indefatigable, has begun
new story IN the January number OF GOOD Words,
entitled 'Tne Golden Lion" The equally mex
hauslible Mrs. Ophant commences her novel, cat
His Gates" In the same periodical
MR.. FRoUDE, having engaged to continue editor
of Frase1's Magazine. has given up his projected
trip to the United states.
PROFESSOR BLACKIE writes an indignant remon-
STRANGE against the growing fashion OF the wOuld-be
purists in classic literature Of spelling Greek
that came to through the Latin, IN their original
orms, as "Aischulos'' for Eschylus "Herakles' for
Hercules, &c. He says there more than one Greek
scholar who considers this new-fangled style rdicu.
lOus pedantry.
THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF Americans are solicited
to memorial OF the poet William C0wper in the
church OF his birthplace, BerKhamsted, In Hert.
lordshire. The place has long been something OF
q shrine for literary pilgrims, yet no permanen mt
rioI oviaf Of vhOoo
have delighted young aud old In two hemspheres.
Mr.. Longman. publisher, London or the rector
OF Grea: Berkhamsted will recelye funds
REV. WILLIAM BUTLER, D. D., has published,
through Messrs. Carlton 4 Lanahan, "The Land
OF the veda: or, Personal "reminiscences OF Indian
being general account Of the religions, mythol-
ogy monuments and people of that remarkable
country.
The AGGREGATE NUMBER OF COPYRIGHTS entered
in the United States during the year 1871 1880.
This includes all the books, pamphlets periodicals
musical compositions, maps, engravings cnromos,
photographs aud prinls for which copyright was
secured.
AN INGENIOUS AND ECONOMICAL PHYSICIAN named
Thomas L. Nichols has written a book entitled "How
TO Live On q Dime and Half Day." soon TO be
published by J. s. Redfeld.
MEssRs. Observation-Disclosures "Man of the
People," just out, Is a story OF the French Rev0u-
ton Of 1S4s.
THE Saturday Revie,o praises Melines '.Mary,
Queen OF Scots" and thinks that in temper and
courtesy ne has much the better OF Mr.. Froude.
The Saturday Reuie,o In an essay on the private
life Of men OF genius takes up the question Of
Joaquin Miller, poet Of the Serras. and his domestic
separation. Says the Reuie,o: -
letter written in vein OF satire or whether 1t Is
only the emanation OF devout simplicity. It Is
up to public admiration as deadly pistol, even
with the qualification that good sometimes comes OF
evil. IT must also De remembered that there are
two sides 70 this as to every other story, and that
Mr. Miller has not yet been heard at least In dis
tinct and arucuate manner The poem OF "Myrrh"
presents his version OF the subject, but leaves only
vague impression that he thinks himself a very
illused man. the passive victim OF passionate but
unreauied love, and that his wife has .'stormy ee-
ments of soul, which We suppose is poetlcal way
OF saying that she has temper OF her own Their
parting alter the divorce appears 70 nave been OF
Mr.. Mler's account OF his own behavior on this
occasion -
And when 7 should have said, Farewell ~
only murmured "rhis is hell"
Some day. perhaps the conJugal differences OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Miller may form the subject OF pas
sionate and unpleasant controversy as that which
periodically breaks out concerning Lord and Lady
Byron; but Tor the present. the author OF Songs OF
the Sierras" Is fortunately not parsonage OF SUM-
Client historical importance to demand further al
tention.
THE Spectator says Gustave Dore has put some Of
his very best work, as well as some OF his poorest.
into his London" The same journal calls MIR.
blanchard Jerrold's text accompanying the Dore
sketches "high-nown rubblsh.'
In "HIs SECRET OF LONG LIFE' Mr.. Mortimer Col
Inns has convinced us that no man can i've long
that is If he tries to do it, though lie may do 50 In
spite OF himself ana OF circumstances.
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NEW YORK CITY.
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