New-York tribune., 1881-03-30
LITERARY NOTES.


Mr.. William Blacks next novel viii deal with the
fashionable seaside loungers at Brighton
"A Fearful Responsibility" the short story NE
W ID rowells il now writing for Scribae''s, VIII 10
tinisbea In two instalments, which VIII appear n
the June and July numbers
Each number Of Harpa's AaJasine since Decem-
ncr has had three ira editions and the May num-
her will be the largest ever printed. Inc regular
English edition is now $4,000 copies.
Mr.. r. d Aldrich the new Editor of The Atldatic.
is at work upon the May number, which will be the
first under his guidance. Some Of the wlseacres OF
Boston are already offering him gratuitous advice.
There is humor in the mere announcement that
nTayk Twain has written Handbook OF Eth
a,ette which James r. 0sgood e. Co. will publish.
The same firm intends TO issue q "Cyclop@dia Oh
Humor." by the same writer
curious book has appeared in Paris. 1t is a his
tory of the recent Expulsion of the Religious
Cougregatiens,n graphically told Oy three hundred
different writer's who were, presumably, witnesses
of the scenes that attended the expulsion IN diner
emit parts of France. The Due de Broglie hos Writ
len review of the political aspects of the question:
which serves as an introduction.
Harper's Young People has attained circulation OF
fifty thousand copies in little over year Oh eA-
istence The story of Toby Tyler" Dy boston
gentleman who is particular about concealing MS
jdentitv has been 90 successful with young readers
that many of them, believing that the hero was q
real character have sent small sums OF money 10 te
publishers to help the poor boy along. iooS ~
= youtb who ran away with circus and LAD an e1-
perience which will not encourage boys 10 10 hAo'
wise.
The valuable library of the American bloie Union
has been purchased by Ebenezer Morgan, President
Il
Morgan will retain the library in this city and min
isters and laymen of all religious denominations are
10 have access to it for Bible study. This library
contains many rare books. the rarest and most valu
able of which were purchased out OF the celebrated
Van yoorst collection. II has been collecting LOT
The past twenty-five years chiefly throughtb eholts
of the Rev. DR.. T. j. Conant who for many years
was the Bible Unions principal reyiser of the Eng
Ish version of the Bible.
now and cheaper edition of Mrs. Ohphants
admirable account of q" The Makers of Florence"
has inst been issued by Macmillan & Co. The new
volume is printed on good paper. Is handsomely
hound and contains all of the original ILLUSTRATIONS
This work first appeared about three years ago, ana
like all of Mrs. 0phants sketches and historical
writings is characterized by clearness, vivacty and
pictureSoueness. The lives and works of the great
FIorentnes-Dante, Giotto and the Cathedral build
srs Sayanarola and Michael AnGelo-form theme
which awakens Mrs. Oliphanfs enthusiasm and
stimulates her finest descriptive powers.
The well-printed little volume on the Scotch
moral philosopher, Butler" u. B. Lippncott e.
Coz. in Blackwood's Philosophical Classics is by
the Rev. w. Lucas Collins and is clear in style and
both entertaining and instructive. Joseph Butler
was born ia 1902, and the portrait accompanying
the volume shows, as well as such testimony can,
that he was man Of fne presence, mental keen-
ness and idealty. The theories and controversies
Of the moral philosophers of his time ha' fallen
into neglect with the newspaper and Ioagazi'e
readers OF this buster age, who ought. how ever, 70
ind time for perusing this excellent book
OF a certain kind Of success Mrs. Burnetts dash
ing novelette, " A. Fair Barbarian" 70 having an
unbounded amount Within few months it has
served as a short serial both in Phiiad"phia
magazine and ior its more Legitimate auG"nce IN
SeTibners Monthly. II now app"ns III neat 0o (
form bearing the imprint of James Il. Nsg *
Co., and we are told that the first oe;ion OF W
copies was sold Immediately on being re- idy.
Better stories have iared worse. Bnt il 1. is rpos
sible to give nnmixed approval o Mrs Burletts
version of Daisy Miller" it Is easy become fas-
rinated with it and to recognize its clear title to
great popularity. slight performance like this on
trivial theme gains 80 far as the au' lors reputa-
ton Is concerned, from having soUer and tried
works, ike "That Lass O. Lowries" and Ha-
vortbsn behind it. Like much of Mrs. Burnetfs
writing, the style Of this novelette, suffers some
what from her consciousness OF her eleyerness
One woull like to nda little more Iepose suited to
the refe ,tion Of moro spiritual light. and less
straning after effect. But the story is so bright
and so strong in dramatic qualities that its faults
of style do not impede even the critics interest.
Daisy Miller. as a type of the unconventional
American girl in contact with English fornality.
was greatly overdrawnH Octavia Bassett is much
better. vet something Of a caricature just as Lady
Theobald must be Of her ladyships English pro-
totype And the effort to develop tender, eener-
ous side to Octavias character falls through, un-
necessarily, with the heartlcss, rude way in which
she rejects Francis Barold who is snob to be sure,
but deserving of better treatment Miss Belinda
Bassett, the aunt, and Mr. Poppleton. the blushing
eurate are remarkably hfelike and it Is one of tho
merits of Fair Barbarian that It's people. like
lie victims of real everyday gossip offer son ethng
tangible for praise faultiindiGg to every point
of view.