New-York tribune., 1874-11-20
THE GOSSIP IN LITERATURE.

THREE LITERARY TALKERS-sTORIES OF FAMOUS
MEN-A NEW SERIES OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
NOTES.
BRIGHTON, Nov. 19.-R. H. Barham,
William Harness. and George Holder were literary men
of graceful taste and knack for narrative whose happy
fortunes led them among many great Engshmen OF the
present century-and by consequence into coming
volume of the Brca-Brac series. Barham was genial
parsou above gossip nor below good literary WORK.
as his "Ingoldsby Legends" testify Harness. too was
a clergyman, a kindly man, Of whose writings httie
probably will remembered outside his Life OF Miss
Milford" and the scraps Of anecdote OF which Mr..
| stoddard makes excellent use. or HOLDER
| there is not much to say save that
| he was professional writer, and once upon time,
Thackeray's amaDuenss He gives some stray notes on
Leigh Hunt which to show that poet to be some
thing of skimpoe after all. Holder meets HIM at a
| dinner and says his complexion seemed strangely to
harmonic with his hair in one uniform tint OF rongray
and that his shirt collar assembled from his neck in
m6gltgS manner, which might be considered sioveny,
but which pcturesquely e1ectivcn its loose lux
| urance There was moreover, sort OF yaletudiDa-
rian air about him. and he appeared extremity particular
as to what he ate and drank preerrng, he said the
midest form Of nutriment, such he was accustomed
10 at home-"just the wing OF chicken" and only
a moderate quantity Of sherry and water" being es-
peciay demanded. After dinner he managed the piano
d nnn~ irh. of the famous Harold he sees
| have been inconsequent, too for when some ume
after Holder offered him ian article for the JourDal he
was then editing, the poet acceptedi and then lost H.
never taking the least trouble toward It's restoraton
And the fancifu poetTom Moore-s Enthusiastically
touched of by Holder, who describes Kenny Meadows
calling upon the dandy Anacreon and finding him seated
with his boots of and wearing pink silk stockings.
Harness tells queer story OF Ion' Iaifourds
Housekeeping. On occasion, when he was
dining in company with several judges al
Tafourd's house. the Sergeant and Mrs. Talfourd sat
4 oh fnpdl " n
another dinner party in the same house the hostess
begged a guest to cut q tart which was before him.
Certainly. If you desire it, was the reply; but per-
hans YOU are not aware that 1t has not been in the
oyenf, Harness exceedingly disappointed by
dinner at Thackerays He anticipated rich intellec-
tua feast, and indeed arriving he found plenty OF
learning talent When the ladies retired, the good
parson settled himself comfortably to hear the delight
fu repartees the brilliant thrustR OF wit he was 30 sure
were coming. Cigars and tobacco. and the cup
which biteth and stingeth appeared, but to the
poor mans amazement, the only observations
he heard the great Thackerays table were
"Pass the box" and "Fil upp OF another literary
celebrity Coeridge. Mr. Harness gives an amusing pic
ture describing him capturing unknown little boy
playipg in the street, aud walking along with his hand
ON the trembling victims shoulder dscoursing the pro-
foundest metaphysics 10 him. never" he exclaimed
one day TO the bakers boy-"I never knew a
man good because he religious, but have
letter from Fanny Kemble TO Harness Is given in
this yolume-a letter written in 49, whom the beautiful
young actress playing In this country with her father
Here is her characteristic description OF city which
is not at all troubled with humility now: Boston is
Yankee town. which dare say u as mneh as yQn know
about it, is sr the most bellies kesh aud blue town
in the Union; It tis Sir. the aristocratic In
the Union and decidedly bears the greatest resemblance
20 Enslish town of any have The society Is
little stiff they havG unfortunately, reputation in
this good town for superior INTELLECT and are proper
oualiy starched and stupid" Harness knew actors In
spite OF his profession and sometimes criticised them
as Macready witnessed. The latter said that he lost
$40 600 year owing to an article written by Mr. Uar
ness in The Quarterly.
Holt Co. are about to prepare series OF volumes
some what resembling the Brie-sBrac, in that these
volumes to be l2mos. aud to treat OF famous
Masters Of statecraft noted Warriors and Of the
aud learned professious-.n short Of men remark
able In all lofty and honorable ways Each volume will
do more than simpy discuss ts subeotsit viii present
also an outline history Of the art praeuced by them.
Literary mon do Rot often leave iuheritOrs Of their
name TO continue thor fame. but 500 that Barry Corn
wallis nephew, Mr. Bryan Waller 10 about to print a
volume Of verso. The Twilight Land" Guisors son.
too Is writing early English literature There IL
prospect OF reading Castear's "Efe OF Byron
before many months for Mrs. Arthur Arnold turning
1t into English. NE AAsaDnm has curious criticism
on Mr.. Bayard Taylor's " Prophet" says: "a score
of Interpretations may be fxed up0n the work. aud as
many different morals may be assigned. To "a. how
its chief value appears historical
how teaching Like that Of Joe Smiths influence
commuRty not wholly composed of fools nscreants"
EA.a.