The Portland daily press., 1879-04-10
Gossip.
About Books and Art.

| Turgenitff who recently arrived at his home
in Moscow, resolutely refused to listen to the
entreaties of his friends that he would write a
| fresh novel; He so much dislikes the way 10
| which his last work, Virgin Soil, was treated
| by his countrymen that he has resolved, it is
| said, never to publish another story.
Mr.. Herkomef's principal work this year is
| watercolor-abnormal in size, about seven
feet by five-sf peasants playing skittles in the
| Bavsran Alps. The drawing is intended to
| show that watercolor may bs made to rival oils
| in strength For this purpose it will probably
go to the Grosvenor Gallery, where Sir Coutis
will allow it place among the oils.-Loncon
World.
The Spectator denies that Poe was poet.
If Lord Mscauiay was one, then was Poe, but
''neither can claim with justice that env;ed
name." He was, however, man Of genius.
In Pos's tales it thinks there is nothing inco-
herent aud nothing logically impossible.
"Grsnt him his premises, and his conclusions
are drawn with almost faultless accuracy"
His logic is far more precise and far more
cogent than Bszac's. While in his descrip-
ton Of an imaginary jlurney to the moon and
in his descent Of the MaelstrOm, he has been
initiated and perhaps surpassed by Jules
Verne, the latter has given the world nothing
10 compare with Poe's account of the destruc-
ton Of the earth by a comet, "and 10 ally case
the brevity of the American stands out In
grateful contrast with the intolersble long
wiDdedness Of the inventive Gsul."
Western bankng-house incloses us some
lines of poetry and asks Us 10 explain them.
They constitute specimen Of what critics cal
"Nousepse Verses," and the French denomin.
ate Anaphigoarie. The whole verse is itself
initiated from the French, and we quote all of
il, as it is one of the fuest illustrations of this
array of words without meaning to be found Ia
the language:
How happy to defend our heart,
When Love has never thrown dart
But ah! unhappy when IL bends,
If pleasure her soft bl So suepends!
Sweet in a wild, dsoIdered suan,
lost aud wanueripg heart to gain!
OFT in mistaken language w0oed
The skillful lovers understood.
Even the celebrated Fontenelle was misled
by this composition Tin its original FreDch),
aud undertook to explain its hidden meaning,
but, after being rallied by Nine. Tencin on his
mistake, at last gave up in despair, and ad-
mtted that the composition was sound without
sense-N. 7. Journal of Commerce.
M. Munkacsy spared no pains to secure the
striking effect which was SO remarkable in his
now celebrated picture of "Milton debating
Paradise Lost to his Daughters, which fig
ured at the Paris Exhibition last year. He
procured an authentic portrait of the poet,
which he most carefully studied, and when he
had made himself thoroughly familiar with
every outline of the features, he turned his
attention to observing the manners Of blind
people and finding suitable model Having
procured the necessary authorization he WIS.,
tied an asylum and examined all the inmates.
After a prOtracted search he discovered one to
suit him, whom he dressed up in Millions COS
tune and installed in an armchair in the studio.
The painter had even wig made especially to
increase the resemblance to the poet.
Mrs. Lynn Linton is engaged on new book
that is shortly to be published. The subject
is the iuf1u os clergy on women, and the
story is The fight between husband and
SRitualistic clergym an for influence over the
wife of the former.
Messrs. Macmillan & Co., of London and
New York are credited by the Ather &c um with
the intention Of publishing gigantic dictionary
encyclopedia, which is intended to supersede
all works of the kind in any Language, at least
so far as fulness of detail is concerned.
Among the contributors to the coming Salon
in Paris, is the American artist, Henry Bacon,
who has been rapidly rising in favor of late.
The Paris correspondent of the London Stand
ard saws the picture to be exhibited this year is
likely to make hit sit represents burial
at sea, cond ucted on board one Of the transat-
lantic packets. Ii is painted with scrupulous
attention to detail, and there Is touch or na-
ture in it that stamps il as work Of art Of the
highest class"
There is in En- glsh criticism, especially as
represented in certain familiar journals of opin-
ION, a depth of inadequacy which it is difficult
20 fathom.-London Examiner.
Scribner for May will contain the first of a
Iopg-promised and important series of papers
by Herbert b. Smith ON Brazil, its title being
1.-THE Metropolis of the Amazons." Para is
the city to which the distinction is given. The
paper will have many illustrations. DIR. Hol-
land contributes, it is SAID, q sonnet entitled
False and True, which is the only sonnet he
has ever written. j.. R. G. Hassard has pre-
| pared for this number an article on Wilhelmj
| and kemenyi, and pen-and-lnk portraits from
| life have been made for it by William nj.
| Chase. A sketch of Richard Henry Dana has
| been furnished by James Grant Wilson, and
| Mrs. Pratt will have poem called The De-
! scent of tie Angel Besides chapter IN her
| Haworths, Mrs Burnett will have tragicsl
story Of artist life in the Latin Quarter OF Par
| il. A portrait of Oliver Wendell Holmes, BY
Eaton and Cole, will be the frontisplece, and
! an illustrated article on DIR. Holmes will be
| printed from the pen of Francis II. Underwood
|