Oxford Democrat., 1881-04-19
LITERARY NOTES.

Mr. Ruskin Is much better-so well
that he is able to leave his room.
A 'Carlyle Lectureship' is to be found
ed at Edinburgh Uniyersity-on some such
subject as history or German litarature-
as memorial of the late writer.
Murray. the great London bookseller,
made seven or eight thousand pounds per
annum out OF Mrs. Ruudelrs Cookery
Book, and two thousand pounds was after
wards given for the copyright.
Rather nice city," said Bret IIarte
to friend in Scotland as they rode through
Scotch town on the cars. What place
Is this, anyhow" The friend replied;
This Is Glasgow, where you have been
consul for the last two or three years
Miss Tincker's remarkable new novel,
"By the Tiber." is said to be an almost ex-
act personal history, Taleria, the heroine,
being the authors self, and the other char
acters being persons well known in Rome.
MIR. Bjornstjerne Biornson has been
much delayed in his travels through the
West by the often recurring suowstorms.
tie Is averse to notorlety, and has just re-
fused a public reception offered him by the
Norwegians in Milwaukee.
Miss Julia Bryant, daughter of the late
William Cullen Bryant, has sold her quar-
ter Interest in the New York EreRiRG Post
10 Dir. Parke Goodwin, whose wife, another
daughter of Mr.. Bryant, already owns a
similar share. The other half the paper
is owned by Mr.. Henderson, the publisher.
1t is expected that the new. revised
and enlarged Pooles Iudex of periodical
literature will be ready for the printer by
the beginning of next year. II will be
published by James Il. Osgood & Co. 1t
has been prepared by the co operation of
about fifty librarians of the country, who
have indexed in all lsS periodicals.
Mr.. Emerson is said, by the Boston
correspondent OF the Providence Press, TO
have not exactly approved Walt Whitman's
action in printing in second work the
Concord sage's praise of"Leaves of Grass. ."
The correspondent adds: when Whit
man was told of this disreliSh he made this
noble remark; Il used it because thought
Il was the chart of an Emperor.
DIR. Holland and Charles Scribner's
sons have sold their intere ST in ScribRer's
NIgd-iRc 10 number OF young men con-
nected with the editorial and publication
departments of the magazine. DIR. Hol-
land remains the editor, but the Scribners
made il condition of the sale on their
part that the name OF the magazine should
be changed. The new title has not yet
been announced.
The buying OF old books would not
seem 10 be 4 very profitable undertaking,
but a carefully collected library is some
times a. good an investment a. stocks. and
not infrequently safer aud more certain.
The Briuley collection, three-fourths of
which, by the sale concluded In New York
Thursday, has realized $4,000, did not
cost It's owner anything like that sum, and
the famous Menzir's library, sold about
three years ago, and especially rich in
Americana, brought double what IL cost.
On the other hand. however, the library Of
Richard Heber, brother OF the Bishop,
comprising 10000 volumes, aud filing
eighth houses. sold In 1884 for S2s5, 600
little more than half what they ccSt.
A charming story concerning the Poet
Laureate comes from the Isle of Wight.
\ popular dancing master there who had
taught the young TennySop's was one day
crossing 10 the mainland in the same boat
with their mother. AGter a little talk, dur
| ing which the Professor dismally referred
10 the success OF Mr.. TeunySon's poems,
this true artist mournfully shook his head
| for n space and at last uttered his sad
thought "Ah, Madam said he 10 the
wondering Mrs. Tcnnysou, "he may he a
very fine poet, but | grieve 10 say that any
one with an eye can see that his deport-
mcut WAS shamefully neglected IN his
youth"
Sir Julius Benedict, the famous Lon
don composer who, as pianist and director,
accompanied Jenny Lind In her American
tous in 1850. has written u biographical
/ and critical paper on "the Swedish uightin-
| gale" for the May >cribHer'S. The article
j. said 10 contain interesting comparisons
| OF her with Malihran and other contempo-
| rary artists. The accompanying portrait
! OF Jenny Lind. engraved by Closson from
an old daguerreotype. taken while she was
| Ia America, will be = striking feature OF
| the number. At the end of his article. Sir
| Julius hints that he may follow this paper
with another. upon the subject of musical
/ conse ryatorieS 10 this country.
"A NAMELEss NoBLEMAN," is the title OF
| the first volume of the Found Robin
Series OF anonymous novels, which is TO
contain works OF prominent American
writers. This initial story is one OF the
most picturesque aud thrilling OF the pro-
| ductionS OF our recent literature, and will
win thousands of delighted readers. The
/ Of 81 III Of iusn
years has been towards special analytical
| studies of society and manners. with slight
plots and little incidents. The nameless
author of "A Nameless Nobieman," how
ever, while outlining the characters Of the
story with delicate precision and conSum-
mate art, has given them free life and move
m. ut in most ingenious and complicated
plor, equally removed from senSatiOnalism
and from dulness. The scenes are laid in
Paris and Province, Quebec and New Eng
land, and the actors are French mobiles aud
Puritan rustics, moving in the most quaint
and picturesque years OF the colonial era.
Without obtrusive definition or ostenta-
tious analysis, the chief characteristic
willy, but well-meaning. able. the gallant
young baron. the lovely Nalerie, the sweet
Puritan madt n-are clearly indicated, and
are combined in situations full ofintensity
aud pathos. The book is fnll Of charming
description, stirring dialogues, and dra-
matte situations, and the veteran reader of
romances will fail 10 guess the deRoUe-
ment. The interest will not be diminished
| when it is known that the plot is founded
on the actual traditions OF an honorable
family in the Old Colony of Massachusetts,
"a region where ancestral legends are
handed down for centuries, with religious
care The binding of the Round Robia"
Series is very quaint aud pretty, and seems
10 promise the originality and versatility
of contents which the initial volume GER
tainly shows, and which We hope may be
continued through the subsequent issues.