The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-02-24
Literary Notes,

LlCerary NOUeS.
The edition of the "Ancent Mariner" illus
trated by Dore, published during the wi inter- by
Harper 8 Brothers, was exhausted three weeks
ago and new edition is about to be pub
lshed.
The ninth paper in Mr. Clarence Cooks Sc
ries on Furnishing and Decorating" will APP
pear in Scribner for May. There will be about
dozen articles in all in this series. The illus
trations have all been made under Mr.. Cooks
personal supervision and the publishers have
spent $4,000 for the drawing and engraving
alone.
The future tone of the Revue des Deux
Mondes depends on the man into whose hands
it falls-whether into those of M. Buloz' son.
in-law, M. Pailleron, or those of bis Sod M
Charles Buloz In the former case it will be
clerical and reactionary; in the latter, Liberal.
It needs an editor, the last number in partcu-
lar showing great remissness.
Still another version of the Ilia1 has ap-
peared in England, c. B. Cayley having es-
sayed to translate Homer homometrically. 1t
hardly need be said that the sounding Greek
hexameter is not reproduced in the hexameter
of Mr.. Cayley, which is indeed extremely I'M
musical, and not comparable to Longfellow's-
the freest use of that sham meter Though
some people like it), the English hexameter,"
that has been made. But that, it is true, is
compromise. Mr.. Bryant's reasons for using
blank verse instead OF attempting the hexa-
meter as set forth in the preface to his noble
version of the Iliad, are conclusive against
such experiments as Cayley's.
A curious little book, which will be interest
ing to all lovers of reconcile history, will be
published in few days by A. D. f. Randolph
& Go. 1t is sketch, by Mr.. w. q. Prime, of
the entire history, so far as it can be gathered
out of old authors, ancient chroniclers, and
other writer's, of the wood known as the True
Gross, which played such an important part on
the worlds stage for nearly thousand years.
Mr.. Prime does not believe in the verify of the
wood, but rightly judges that its central impor-
lance in history justfies such sketch. The
subject runs into all departments of history,
literature and art.
The epithet "the Magnificent" applied to
Lorenzo del Medici, had (says an Athenaum
reviewer of Reumont's new life of that person.
age) originally no reference to Lorenzo's per-
sonal character Cosimo. Piero and Lorenzo
were alike called Magnificent by their con-
"yoar Magni6oence." 4 distinguished Italian
of high rank, bearing no other title, was called
your Magnifcence," in the 18th century, just
as an ambassador is styled "your Excellency"
its correct sense. speaks of ''magnifcos" in the
plural-one of the many instances of his sim
gular intmateness with italian usage
"Place aux Danes is the title of dramatic
sketch in the last number of Lppincott's Maya
zine. 1t represents four of Shakespeare
representative women, Juliet, Ophelia, Portia,
and Lady Macbeth, tea-drinking at water
cure establishment. Ophelia, in babyish
way, is perpetually quoting what her "Ham"
says; Juliet fippantly refers to her difficulties
with Romeo, who is excessively jealous. and
confesses she loves flirting. Portia, spouting
bad Latin, malapropos Of everything, recounts
her difficulties with Bassino, who is always in
debt, Antonio, whom they are obliged to sup
port, and Shylock, who now owns her charm
ing Belmont; Lady Macbeth explains that
Shakespeare has slandered her abominably, and
they all agree to be revenged on him for his
misrepresentation.
In naming this book {s'Hard Times'') Dick
ems found much difficulty. He sent the follow
ing titles to John Forster, as expressive of his
general idea: 1. According to Cocker; q
Prove 1t; 8. Stubborn Things; A. Mr.. Grad
grind's Facts; 5. The Grindstone; 6. Hard
Times; z. Two and Two are -Four; 8. Some
thing Tangible; 8. Our Hard-Headed Friend
III. Rust and Dust; IL. Simple A rithmetic; 12
A Matter of Calculation; ID. A Mere Question
OF Figures; IA. The Gradgrind Philosophy.
theses. Ii and IA. Forster was in favor of
one of three of these-2, 6 or IL As both
agreed on No. 6 that title was chosen. Yet
certainly No. IA, The Gradgrind Philosophy,
was the best of all, for it best indicated the
purpose of the story. "Hard Times is an ex-
tremely vague title and might apply to almost
any story that Dickens or any other novelist
has written.-E. P. Whipple in March atlantic.
Carlyle's honesty in criticism was shown in
the letter he wrote to Kingsley about s.Alton
Locke" in which book, as every one remem-
bers, the Scotch philosopher was highly lauded.
THE book is defnable as crude,' said he; "by
no manner OF means the best we expect of you
If you will resolutely temper your fire. But
to make the malt sweet, the fire should and
must De slow; SO says the proverb, and now, as
before, | include all duties for you under that
one! Saunders Mackaye,' my Invaluable coun-
tryman in this book, is nearly perfect; indeed
greatly wonder how you did contrive to man.
age him-his very dialect is as it native had
zone 1t, and the whole existence of the rugged
old hero is wonderfully splendid and coherent
piece OF Scotch bravura. In both of your
women, too, find some grand poetic features;
put neither of them is worked out into the
Laughter OF the Sun she might have been;
indeed. nothing is worked out anywhere IN
comparison with Saunders;' and the impress
sion is of fervid creation still lett half
chaotic"
MI. George Haven Putnam's manual Of The
Best Reading has proved one of the most use
full helps within the reach of the ordinary read
or, as has been shown by the demand for suc
cessive editions. 1t is now to be ressued in
much improved shape, under the editorship of
Mr.. Fred b. Perkins of the Boston Public Lii
brary, with Mr.. Putnam's cooperation. The
stereotype plates of the original work have
been sacrificed, at no little COST and the supple
ments of recent editions, with many new titles
bringing the book up to date, will now be in.
corporated in the body of the work. Mr.. Put
nam has prepared, with the aid of several
scholars. lists Of leading books in the French,
German, Spanish and Italian languages, which
will form supplements in the new edition.
After the publication of this volume the Put
nam lhouse will issue supplementary list,
quarterly, in the shape of little periodical to
be called The Library Companion. For this
Mr.. Perkins will furnish the new feature of
brief descriptive notes, of one or two lines each,
to follow the titles of the more noteworthy
books. These quarterly classified lists will be
combined into an annual list at the end of the
year. Mr.. George Haven Putnam, in his sue
cessful photographed efforts, has worthily
taken up the work of his father