New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-02-28
LITERARY TOPICS.
RECENT LONDON PUBLICATIONS.

IAIS HUNTS TALKS ABOUT ALL N'@"
DIcTIoNARY OF MUSIC.
IFROM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT cP TiiE TRIBUNE
LONDON, Feb. 5.-Messrs. Longmans have pub
lsbed new edition of Alnolds Sermons, edited by
the daughter of the great preacher and school
master Mrs w +. Forster. Arnods name. spite ol
some reaction against his influence, IS still great
one IN England and he is likely 70 rank permanently
i should suppose among the best loved ana most
gifted of her teachers. Stanley's life Of him mas
gone through | know not how many edltlohs' anu
is at tbs Do book sought Tor and read 40 hn'
his serluons st so much i'll demand Is to require
a new edition is surprising the genera pupHc
taking for the most part, but langmd interest,"
in literature of the sermon KIND when pIlhtcd'
possibly from notion that its duty has been pretty
wei done in once listening to them when spoken
from the pulpit Exceptions there certainly are,
and Arnold's must be counted among them. Lord
Melbourne may he mentioned as one OF those VINO
thought very highly of Arnold's diseOurses. Me-
bournes appreciation is noteworthy because he was
an old man when Arnold's fame was highest, and
old men are not generally the Teadicst to oteI
homage to what is Il refer to these volumes
1t IS not because can pretend TO have read theIn'
but from still fresh interest IN Arnolds memory
kept aliv, as it is by constant reference I" MS
wors among many Of those who profted by 1t IN his
life and who reverently hand down tine traditions OF
his greatness. There Is, moreover review OF Inc
sermons in The Spectator, which cannot but guess
was written by Mr. Hughes, and to which the reader
who cares little for Arnold VIII he atudcte"
by tone of atfectonatc admiration sucI as seldom
gets EXPRESSED in these days of over-crical citi-
clsm. So might add, those who know Arnold only
through his pupils. and through those who are
nearer to him than pupils, may form some idea OF
the manlincss and sweet reasonablcness" OF his
character " On looking again through these vol
umes,7 writes Mr. Hughes, the feeling comes back
10 us rs strongly ever, that apart from his PRIOR
ity in the field Arnold stands still prim"s inter pefeS
head, # not a head and shoulders, above any OF
the siawart men who have carried on the same flag
since his day" Let me quote also the concluding
passage of this admirable review:
ITO those like ourselves. who can contrast II ~
memory what great schools were forty years
aro and what they are now the man and his work
will stand out as they recede, II larger proper
tons the more they study them. And, however
much they NAV differ from Arnods9oiucs or lis the
ology, few persons will now deny that he signIliy
fulfilled the prediction of the Provost of Orelthat
Il he were electc, To the head mastersp OF Rugby,
he would change the face of education through all
the public schools of England The spirit IN wnch
that great work was taken in hand, and the meth
DDS by which it accomplished. shine out OF, ana
can best be studied in, these volumes, with winch
we cannot part without thankful testimony to the
care and good taste with which they have been
edited. 1t was, no doubt labor of love 10 MIS-.
Forster but labors of love- in literature at any rate
are seldom So thoroughly recentiy, and 50 grace
fully performed"
The February number of Mr. Ruskihs i0rS
Clarioerd is distinguished among all other numbers
by an outbnrst of petIllant eccentIicliy which WI!
delight his enemies and furnish plenty of food FOR
the scoffer Mr.. Ruskin has qnarrclied Win Miss
Octayia Hill because she took the lbrIty to speak
of him to some third persOn as an Impractical man.
long correspondence grew oat OF the single licau-
tious word, and Mr. RUskn, in contempt OF Hiss
HIS EXPRESSED wish. and Of all couyentionall-ea,
has printed the letters. II appears that to doubt
whether Mr. Ruskiu possesses good business talents
Is to commit the iatalcst of all errors faacst be-
cause common. and because it most intcIfcreS with
the scheme OF founding his ST. Georges Guild on
solid Legal and moncycd basis. have no notion II
going INTO the details of this pitable dspute Miss
Oc,avia HIPS name is known 20 everybody infer
ested in charitable labors. ShO has beer hr. Rus
kus csadiutor in one of his best charities has man
aped the MarvebOne houses for him, which have
given comfortable homes TO the poor q: reasonable
rent ana had earned Il title 10 consideration which
he has strangely forgotten.
-Messrs Macmillan have reprinted Mr.. W. u.
Hunts " Talks about Art" an extract from letter
by Mr. Milias serving as preface to the Ehg1sh
reader Mr. Millais remarks that Hunt say, yigor-
ously good many things We say amongst our
selves" and that though he appears at times to con-
tradict himself, his advice is, on the whole, sound
and useful 10 the student, if he, the student. can
possibly anticipate what comes of experience
Millas says further:
"The fact s what constitutes the finest art 10 in
descr babe: the drawing not fautless, but possess
inc some essence beyond what IL sufficient. The
French school which Hunt speaks of appears to Inc
at this moment 10 aim chiefly ut perfection
" NeiSsOnier is more complete than any old master
ever was. | continually see French work Of winch
one can only say. don't see how 1T can be better.
and vet it is not necessarily tine art of the highest
order. not greater than H0garth who was innocent
of all fResse of execution. The question how hard
q man hits not how beautifully he uses the gloves;
anil q useful writer art should be able t. sepa-
rate the v9riOus qualities IN our work without
prejudice which is one Of the 2Ieatestculscs wchave
u should like very much to see your friend when
he comes over here and We Will have IN exhaust
i've G. talk the subject. He il healthy and manly,
90 that there would be cunning defence of his
principles, which are III the main NY own"
Mr. Hunt cOuld hardly have better introduction.
Mr.. Mlllais stands. by common consent, FIRST among
English painters of to-day Americans who have
not seen his work will find In these few sentences
useful hint or two respecting his notions about art
work His Own theory and practice are summed up
in that assertion The question is how hard man
is vigor in Millais's painting which amounts TO
downright violence. As yOu look at his work you
get an impression that it must come frcm man sur
passing most men in physical strength; as he does.
ONLY muscular hand cOuld have welded that brush
thsse cOlors must be laid by q man in whose
veins the blood hot and full HIS complaint OF
prejudice IN writers on Art shows how heartily he
symoIihizos with Mr. Hunts continual Ontcries
agaIus criticism and critics. Ihere Is nothing III
Mr. Hunts printed savings vehement the
marx Mr. Niliais Is said once 20 have made: 1--WE
pretend we don't care for the critics: damn thcm,
should like to cut their throats.' Without prcjU-
dice, suppose.