New-York tribune., 1881-03-28
LITERARR NOTES.

Mr.. Richard Grant Whites recent articles IN me
1tlantic MonthIy on English character and society
will soon be issued in book form by Houghton,
Miflin e. Co.. with the title England Without and
Within" ghe articles grew considerably during
the process OF revision for which reason the BOOK
will contain much new matter.
Charles Dickens's " Dictionary of Days" which
has been received at Macmillan & Co.'S, is record
of the principal events of 1880 arrayed IN diary
FORM IL is admirably written for the purpose. the
style being lively crisp and full OF essential facts
Il is noticeable, however. that the book takes
narrow view of what were essential facts" aud
events in American life for 1880.
Professor Max Muller so far indorses phonetic
spelling as to write that he hes read The Literary
Leader" print ed in Mr. Pitman's semi-phonotypy,
without difficulty. He says of the unfavorahle
criticism on the Innovation that reviewer, II he
has nothing else TO say. can always fill a column
with ridieule of spelling reform That cannot be
helped No man was rldculed so much as Copper
nicus"
In 1872 Boston editor wrote to Mr.. Emerson for
facts concerning the publication Of Sartor Resar-
tus" in this country. Mr. Emerson replied sparingly
that the enterprise proved successful, and that the
preface to "Sartor" was his and concluded az fol-
lows: But why do you aski II occurs to me. as l
write, that you are dangerous man with your
frightiul speed and frank-speaking far-travelling
Journal and my friend Carlyle is sensitive extremely
on the point of journals and newspapers.
Leave him in the sky as a star and oblge your oft
Obliged friend, X. W. E."
Professor T. Fl. Palmer's Haroun Alrasohid and
saracen Civilization" (G. P. Putnam's Sonsl s one
of the most entertaining volumes IN the New Plu-
tarch Series About half of the book s gwen up TO
the real Calph, tue whimsical, cruel shrewd. jeal-
GUS tyrant of history Then follows the amusing and
entertaining history of the good" CaiIph he has
appeared to an admiring world through the legends
of the ARABIAN Nights" The real bloodthirSty
tyrant's cruelty was equalled in degree only by his
pety. The last public act of his life TO have a
political offender dismembered while alive. before
his eyes. On recovering from the swoOn induced by
this horrible sight he had readers ntone the whole
Koran in his presence.
Mr.. Moneure d. Conway. writing of international
copyright. fails to see that the proposed hmit OF
three or SIX months, within which works written IN
one country must appear in tile other, will prove in
practice hostile to the interests Of young authors.
Famous authors could of course obtain a publisher
in the foreign country even before finishing work.
"A young author" he says. ' who has written one
successful book is apt to write another. and If there
were an international copyright he would always
have the power of giving that next volume TO some
rival of the house that had not paid him for the
first No trade-custom would then interfere with
his freedom Of selection. The young author would
thus be virtually protected If his book repaid its
foreign publisher II not. he would be no better off
whatever the time-limit'