New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-01


i' ~ LONDON, April Ia.
English tributes TO Mr. LongfelOw have been nu-
,nerous and also various Most of the articles de-
voted 10 him were conceived in a good spirit 1he
1imes TO be sure, managed to hint that he was u
thin echo of Tennyson, but it may be douD'eu
whether the writer did not suppose himself 10 DC
paying the American poet a high compliment VI
all critical opinions expressed about Longieilow
that of the Figaro Paris is the most remark
able The Frenchman who contributed this
study to the journal of the Boulevards
considers Longfellow an American Lamartine but
with cross of Victor Hugo; the latter perhaps OF
oil living and many dead poets, the one from
whom Longfelow stood at the furthest remove. ms
London publishers Sgnalized their gnet ior MS oean
by orowding the newspapers with advertisements
of such of his books as they happened to nave IN
stock And an Oxford-st. potter has adorned MS
windows with variety of jugs each OF which bears
"a verse OF number of lines from some OF Long
fellows poems.
Who wrote Democracy" American novel;
The book is published in New-YOrk as No. ll2 OF
Messrs. Henry Holt g. Co.'s Leisure Hour series, and
bears date 1880. 1t has never been reprinted In
London. A few imported copies are in circulation.
not at the libraries. but among people who take an
interest in American literature and politics. 1t has
been reviewed l think in The Spectator. That was
some time last year, and | cannot turn to the
review but know that the book has made what 1t
is the fashion to call a sensation IN
circle within whose circumference sensations are
not common And the unanswered question OF
every English reader is, Who wrote 1t No name
is on the tItle-page. Mr. Clarence King has been
named as the author and so has certain lady
whose name will not presume to PRINT on mere con-
lecture. Ii is q very well-known name though she
who bears il has not made any other appearance IN
literature and may not choose to make one now.
She is known in London, and this novel is assigned
to her wholly internal evidence Cannot you
hear her saving" such and such things in the book
cries critical friend | am disposed TO think
can but this is a case where there is better evidence
than ones ears, and of us would be much
obliged TO any of you who would tell us authorita-
lively who wrote the book. | will add that here 1t
seems such bitter caricature of Washington life
that nobody accepts it anything but a carica-
ture. II its title be meant to point political SATIRE
it fails with all its extraordinary cleveruesS. to
convince people that life under democracy Is really
So barren and selfish and vulgar as il is here painted
Among the books of the late Mr. Frederick Ouvry
inst sold by auction first folio Shakespeare.
described in the catalogue as remarkably fine
copy, sound throughout, and measuring ~ by "a
inches Sound throughout il may have been; re-
j
sions given sufficiently prove. 1t sold for ff20,
and is sad TO be the copy bought at the sale Of the
late Mr. Sawin's ~ collection by Mr.. Halliwell
Phillips for f4lO and by him sold to Mr.. Ouvry.
Before that time apparently ii had passed through
the ordeal of binding. and now appears IN red mo-
rocco BY Clerke & Bedford mot desirable sigma
ture), with Harleian gold toong and gilt edges the
whole enclosed in a locked red morocco case.
copy of the third folio II SIP by S4 inches in red
morocco by Bedford, with the verses on the top
turned upside down." fetched GIG The third
folio is perhaps more rare than the first; which Is
not rare.
book which occurs more seldom than the
Shakespeare folios is the first edition of Millions
Iycidas 1888. Lycidas is the concluding piece of
thin little volume in two parts; the first part
collection of twenty-hree Greek and Latin elcgies
entitled "Justa Edovardo King naufragio alb
amcis mGrentibus" etc; the second comprising
thirteen English tributes to King. with black
bordered title, "Obseques to the memor1e OF MIR.
Edward King. Ammo Dom. 1855" The Lycidas
fills six pages in itaic type. This copy is good
one though with modern binding IN red morocco
by Riviere and was bought by Mr.. Balm for f64.
Mr. Dew-Smith's copy sold, says the catalogue,
for f73 perhaps taller for the prices of early
Millions are not receding, but rising rapidly. An
assemblage of 1T autograph letters of Charles
Dickens and 149 more by other celebrities, was
disposed of for ESQ; highly interesting" though
they were. London bookseller is now advertising
the manuscript of Dickenss Christmas Carol
c'My own and only MS of the book Charles
Dickens. 1S43." for $500. Dickens gave it TO his
schoolfeow and friend. Thomas Milton, and the
present owners say 1t is 90 chiefly remarkable for
the great number of alterations. excisions and
additions it bears; as are other manuscripts of
Dickens.
A correspondent of The Times declares that de-
mand has arisen within the last few days for
Beaconsfeld Buttonholes i'm other words, for
small punches of prnroses to be worn OIL the an
niversary his death. 10th instant. He AYERS that
this spontaneous expression OF popular sentiment
has nothing to do with party feeling. Perhaps not,
but it would be interesting to know how many
Liberals are laying III a stock of prlmroses for next
week. aud who they are. 1t was a common remark
toward The end of last season-that is, within three
months of Lord Beaconsield's death-how entirely
the Tory chief was forgotten. That meant he had
ceased TO be a topic of conversation at Belgravlan
dinner tables There are. to be sure other forms of
immortality than the gossip of fashionable society,
and it may be that primroses are one, as volets
were and are for the late Emperor OF the French
But what is the evidence for Lord Beaconshelds
passion for the primrose The only alluson to
them can hit upon in Mr. Calcrafts anthology is
from Venetia, where though they were q" fast dis
appearing. their wild and shaggy leaves still looked
picturesque and glad"
There is, however, just now animated revival
of one part of the Besconseld legend. Lord Sails
bury is trying on much of his mantle as used to
cover the Conservative workingman. whom Lord
Beaconsield beyond all doubt invented, or, to say
the least developed You remember Lord Bcacons-
fields exposition of the development theory. First
there was nothing, then there methng."
little ouburst of pretty sentiment and primroses in
the upper classes will work harm with the lower