The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-24
LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.

A RECENT ARTICLE on "Balh" in the Cornhal
Magazine, having coarsely assumed that the rela.
lions between the poet Pope and Martha Blount
were immoral, writer in the Athengu,l points out
the fact that 'the story that Martha Blount was
Popes mistress is rejected by all the poets,
critics, biographers and editors" and was indig.
nantly denied by Pope himself.
UNDER THE AFFECTED TITLE OF "a Pair OF Blue
Eyes'' Mr.. Thomas Hardy has written what the
Spectator pronounces an extremely good novel.
PROFESSOR TYNDALL's admission to the degree of
d. c. L. at oxford has been protested against by
Jealous churchmen on the ground that he has i'm
pugned the credibity OF miracles and the efficacy
OF prayer. The London Times thinks that it does
not follow, even If this be true, that Tyndall's
works have direct tendency to subvcrt the Chris
tan faith or that it is right or wise to withhold
from him a degree in civil law.
THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN Bible Society collects
and expends about one million dollars year.
Last year it circulated no less than $50 1886
copies of the Bible, New Testament and parts of
each.
AMONG THE So-cALLED 'new novels Of this Sum-
mer was "The Heiress Of Sweetwater,' by J.
Thornton Randolph; published by Philadelphia
house. The same novel precisely was published
seventeen years ago, by the same publisher. under
the name OF "Kate Aylesford, Story of the Re1u-
y
reputable business 1t ought to be.
AN ENGLISH CRITIC wants TO know, you know"
II margaret. o Story Of Life IN Prairie Home by
Lyndon" is the Margaret OF which Mr. Lowell
speaks in terms Of enthusiastic admiration in his
"Fable for Critics." 1t Is not. That Margaret is
the novel OF New England life written BY the late
Sylvester Judd, and since Illustrated by charac-
teristic series of designs in outline by barley.
JUNE l. 1873, there was opened at Rome circu-
lating library for the working classes. This aston.
ishing innovation upon the immemorial sequestra-
ton OF Italian libraries which little than
mausoleums OF dead literature, Is called by the
appropriate name of "Biblioteca Franklineana.n
1t is located in the Palazzo Biscione, and built on
the steps of the Theatre OF Pompey, where julius
Caesar was assassinated.
THE saturday Repieac, In q caustc article on 'The
Principles of the Reformation" says that the prn-
ciple OF authority was broken down by the Re-
formers, and voltaire was the lneal descendant OF
Luther, desm, pantheism, Darwinism, and all the
other advanced theological isms OF the day are the
natural varieties OF Professionalism. But the Re-
formers. one and all, would have cursed their
spiritual progeny had they ever heard OF it, as
heartily as the Pope cursed Luther.
| MRS. OLIPHANT. once the pleasantest and most
sparkling OF novel writer's, has grown weak and
weary like the rest Of them Her "Innocent'' is
CHRONICLES of Carlingford." The tact is, Mrs.
Oliphant has written too many novels under the
temptation growing out OF popular success No
writer can produce as she has done twenty novels
| in twelve years and keep up the quality either of
substance OF Of style.
MH. A. H. BEEsLY's sketch OF Greek and Roman
History" intended primarily for oxford students.
| Is good manual for the general reader who wants
! q simple, though not barren summary OF ancient
history. There is in 1t a good deal OF Momsen and
considerable of Curtius the two latest and in many
respects the best interpreters OF the sources OF
Greek and Roman story.
MRS. MARY H0wITT has attempted to abrldge
into one volume that tedious nine-volume novel
which was 80 much admired by our leisurely an.
cestors "Sir Charles Grandson The result is not
encouraging. There is none Of the crisp condensa.
ton OF modern days and none OF the sometimes
fascinating though prohx details OF the original
story of Richardson.
Mr. FURNRss' varisrum edition OF "Macbethn ex-
hausts history, fiction and criticism in the
illustration OF that sublime creation Of
Shakespeare. large and elegant octave
volume is filed with various readings, versions.
commentaries and criticisms, containing almost
everything which the ingenuity OF 300 years has
been able to accumulate concerning the drama
the author or the subject.
| MIAMI UNIVERSITY, at Oxford, and the Ohio Uni.
versity, at Athens, both institutions which have
received the State bounty, have been closed for
want OF patronage, combined with financial EN-.
barrassments. Meanwhile such colleges as Cor
NELL Harvard, Yale and the University Of Michigan
are crowded with hundreds OF students. In edu.
cation, as In nature, the big 1sh eat up the little
| ones.