New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
LITERARY NOTES.

A young writer, Mr.. r. p. Peacock has based a
historical poem called The Rhyme of the Border
War" e.. ". Carleton & Col upon the life OF the
guerilla Chief Quautrell and some of the incidents
of the Kansas Missouri war; He writes in dashng
hit-or-miss style. and usually misses. but lines oil
real excellence here and there, relieve the general
monotony of ten short cantOs.
European Modes of Living" by Sarah Gilman
Young g. p. Putnams sons, is well-written PAM
phlet OIL the question Of observation-disclosures Ii IS
full of good suggestions, but an American honse-
keeper would certainly smile ut the prospect Of a
dinin room five feet and eight inches wide, such as
is found in the plan given of French apartment
house in Paris, that IL held up Us q model.
The manager of the Nude Circulating Library in
London SAYS that more copies of EndymioW are
returned with the leaves of the second and third
volumes uncut than of any other recent novels The
customs officers in Liverpool ask every steamship
passenger from America " Have you 'Endvm0n y"
Large piles of the cheap FrankIn-Square edition
have been amassed BY these ruthless officers
Such modest preface az accompanies Echoes OF
Half a Century," poems by William Pitt Palmer
! C. =. Putnam's Sons. almost disarms criticism.
Nearly all of the poems and especially the light and
serious pieces published during the rebellion, APP
peaed with some force to the passing fancy of the
thor SAYS may prove OF interest to some future in
ouirer into the motives and passions of the civil
war. The book covers wide field of poetic treat
| inert and reveals some facility in versifcaton, but
is deficient u artistic feeling and originality OF eX-
preston.
The lare Charles Ives Of the New-IIaven Bar, who
| many years ago published book of poems, has left
| beLind INN new volume descriptive of life in
Nassau and the Bcrmudas. II is called The Isles
of summer" is protIscly illustrated, and describes
the fishes shells and flora to be met with In the
islands as well the inhabitants. The author SAYS
IN his preface, b. way OF an apology for being his
own publisher: " In many cases. probably in most,
the On bshcr is too busy even look at the literary
bantling although, fer all he knows 1t Is little
live. genuine, literary Moses, nestled among the
reeds and bulrushcs of the river Immortality
Two more volumes in " The Great Artists" series
of handbooks are ready at Scrlbner Il Welfords
In Fra Ang alico and Masaccio" Miss CathaIiue NJ
PhimOre has given some account of the history Of
Italian painting from GiOtt0 to Fra Angelica. aud
necessarily treated the important parts OF the sub
iect supcrticiay She has taken the best critics for
her guides and made volume that must prove USE
ful TO students of art in spite of it's lack of symmc
try Mr. Leander Scott has more easy and congenial
task in his volume on FRA Bartolomneo and An
ligious feryor produced works which stand in
marked contrast TO the paintings of Andrea del
Sarto. whose aspirations were worldly Del Sarto"
is sobriquet suggested by the fact that the artists
father was a tailor Both volumes are illustrated.
A notable feature of ScribHe's Haga.ine for March
will be an article by Theodore Thomas. entitled
Musical Possibilities in America" 1t was only
after the earnest personal solicitation of Dr. Holland
that Mr. Thomas consented tn write upon this inter-
estug subject He did not wish To appear anxious
to thrust his views upon the public nor did nc desire
To give out the impression that he aspres to liter
ory reputatou He discusses, Ill IA simple, straight
| forward manner the present condition OF musicai
deyelopment in this country, points out some OF It's
defects and obstacles, and mentions the remedies
| which no thinks would produce the best results
Certainly there no man more competent 10 SPEAK
| understandiugy upon this subject. Whatever All
vance this country has made IN musical culture
during the past quarter of century Is due almost
! entirely 10 Mr. 1homas's leadership lie has Kept
steadily before the public the highest standard, and
| has allowed no consideration, pecuniary or other
wise, to swervo him rom his loyalty to his art. h'
has given the public not always what 1t liked best
but always what il ought tO like BEST In his forth
coming article he writes IN this spirit. What
be says especially on church music and on music II
the public schools, IS certain to arouse wide discus
| sion, and ought TO lead TO much lasting good