Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1880-05-04
LITERARY NOTES.


field. Mass. Number eight, opens with a
story by Mrs. Rcbecca Davis which is not
lacking in her usual vigorous touches. The
other stories are A Tale of the North
Sen" and Not In the Curriculum" both
from new contributors. "Barberry Island
of the last number is followed by 1.-The
Schoolmistress on Burberry Island, equal
Iy attractive in quaintness. A readable
paper on archery as IL Is, Is by Maurice
THOMPSON. the well-known authority on
this subject. T.. 5. Gilbert contributes one
OF his fascinating articles, entitled Spring
Flowers which gives evidence Of much
familiarity with them Mr.. George NJ
Towle writes interestingly Of CASTELAR,, the
Spanish statesman, aud Edward Abbott
gives some account OF Mary Carpenter,
The devoted English philanthropist, whose
visit TO this country some years since will
be recalled. There are also "Gettng
Breakfast at Bruges," 1.-The Preacher IN
Print" "As 10 Family Newspapers, and
other articles.
Mr.. Cables new novel in ScribRsr is
awakening a good deal or enthusiasm
among contributors 10 that magazine, one
of whom writes as follows Read Gran
dl.sImes' last night with increasing adj
mjratIon. The death OF Bras-Coupe is
arandly told neither Victor Hugo nor any
5ody else 20 nv knowledge, OF the roman
tic school. has ever put such picture be-
fore us" Another contributor writes.
'.Whae a sunrise in our sky OF fiction is
Mr. Cables 'Grandlsslmes'! That episode
of Bras Coupe, in particular, Is haunting
ly vivid and powerful. don't know where
we would look in current storytelling for
a match TO t." third writes 1.-THE
Grandissimes' is the greatest addition 10
American literature since Hawthorne wrote.
Ii Is thoroughly American, without any OF
that selrconscioHsncSs which makes so
much Of our literature weak. Mr. Cable
has brought virility into fashion. He Is
pioneer In the reaction against the nice
books. The Grandisslmcs' gives reason
20 hope that the mantle OF the great novel
lists. Thackcray, Balzac aud Hawthorne,
may find in America shoulders worthy 20
wear It," Still another, after speaking
with enthusiasm of the April installment,
saws: Gable will be a famous man. u
IS said that some OF the best scenes in the
story are yet To come.
The May ITide l,-dke Is sown a thick
with pictures a. the spring waysides are
with dandeloDs. The opening story, one
OF Sophie MAYS best, The Two Cousins,
has three illustrations, and Miss Lathbury'S
"Spring Snow Storm is the most charm
ing picture possible. Mr.. Shillaber Mrs
Partington) IN ''The Uninyitcd Guest tells
4 capital bear story; and Mrs. \. VI. DiaI,
in "Annetta'S Diary" provides bit OF
quiet fun for the little ones. one Of the
best stories In the number i "Jlm's
Troubles, by Grandmere Julie. +. A. con-
int Tn ri -. al
that pioneer IN chlldrcn's literature Jacob
Abbott, full Of tender "reminiscences. Mr..
Beniamin's paper in the American Artist,
series Is about Edwin Lord Weeks. \
very summery article Il How we went
Birds Nesting" the first Of four papers on
this subject by Amanda b. Harris. w.
Bodash contributes an amusing picture,
"In Ye Olden Times-Thc Puritan School
master" and J. T.. Francis the cat-artist,
has four very funny drawings for an anus
ing poem for the little folks The three
serials, Five Little Peppers, Two Young
HomesteadcrS. and Professor VI. i.
Paul are very entertaining and pleasant.
Various short articles, the Large Print
story Of The Carnatiou Mouse, TangleS,
and an exercise song for use IN schools, by
Louis G. Elson, complete an excellent num-
Der. Only $500 4 year. Ella Farman,
Editor. ID. Lothrop CO., Publishers,
Boston, Mass.
An odd certificate OF merit comes up
from an unexpected quarter 10 that already
famou, novel OF life In the South, a
Fools Errand. by One OF the Fools Tho
Raleigh IL. c. Obserrcr declares in an
guish Of spirit ut is powerfully writ
ten work aud destined, we fear, 10 DO us
L., H.. A A fv.1.
Cabin Now, Uncle Toms Cabin
seized the universal heart like an inspira-
ton. II was translated into more Ian
guagcs and had more readers than any
other book in like period. Its sales wcra
by millions. IL was-and is--unique. 70
be compared with Il ~ al. book must Do
phenomenal But this Southern journal
Is not alone In It's idea, for a Fool,
Errand" forces upon the critics everywhere
recognition OF Its kinship with Mr..
Stoves great work-not only as "a vivid
exposition of peculiar phase OF Ameri-
can history" but also Ia It's "time mess
"colloquial raciness and humor, touch
ing pathos and tragic power one paper
says that ''if Uncle Toms Cabin WAS az
electric light, a Fools Errand
Is n slcdge hammer" another that il may
hold the same relation 10 great social and
moral revolution that the former did % the
civil war and others variously carry out
the parallel But the comparison bids fair
To hold also in the matter OF sudden pop
ularlty, for the sales OF ~ FOOLS Errand'
are almost unprecedented. The stated
noycl-rcader," says one staid New England
Journal, "ilndS II fresh aud thrilling; the
statesman may gather wisdom from it.
pages Distinct in style and methods
from its famous prototype, il exerts the
same indelnable charm OF genius; and
aside from its romantic interest, has a
swing and dash OF thought, knowledge
of historic fact, an intuition Of the deep
springs of sentiment aud conduct, and
vigorous, astute mode Of discussion that
no noyel--not even Uncle Tom'-has ever
before displayed. Its thrilling scenes are
evidently from experience, and yet the
reader is impressed with its impartiality
and fairness, the precision or It's state
ments, and the force OF its logic. The
clears" OF the Carolina paper may be real
ized-and certainly will be, II 1t is any
''harm' TO delight all readers, to throw q
flood Of light on public evils before unreal
lied, aud 10 become great educator in
critical times. As "A Fools Errand' j.
selling by thousands every week, it Is
hardly probable that even the fear OF such
dreadful mischief CD will induce the pub
fishers TO withdraw 1t. No one can afford
to leave 1t unread.
REMARKABLE. - John Hunt, of Proyi-
dence, X. l., found himself seized with