Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-01-26
LITERARY BOSTON.
something About its Old Authars and
New Books.

Icorr, spondencc Of The Ere, Press and I ilnef.l
BosroN, Jan. 90.
There Is one singular feature about Boston
society which do no, recall as having been
noted. 1t is proud of its culture, and justly
proud o. lis being II literary centre, proud OF
its institutions and lis citizens rs citizens con-
stitutc a society devote to the purposes
of mutual admiration. But. the literary
element, the shining lights That act as bea-
cons to call attention 10 the city all is i'm
ported. OF the writer's personal ucquair-
lance among them not unc is native of the
city, although it includes men rom Maine
10 California; At lcas, the If whom are Cd
itors of the most literary of its publications.
or course there aic native men # note, here
and there, but the bright, particular stars are
not-BostOniaus.
1t was my fortune TO SEGA little group Of
four authors the other day Aldrich, whose
curly head and athletic swing gave him the
air Of being tue youngest of the party; Hor-
ace Scuddcr, brold-Lrcased, sludous look
ing, with II thoughtful, iar-awav air that
seemed miles deep in abstract on-he looked
short beside the tall slender Charles Dudley
Warner. The latter looked tired. Thee
came at times IN utterly wearcd look into
his face, which the white whiskers and red
dish heard did not disguise He STOPPED
slightly, too, and his hair is gray. The other
man, he with the pale, Frenchy face and
precise dress was G.. p. Lalhrop, law-
thorne's son-in-law. He looked little cyni-
cal, at the moment, which contrasled strong
ly with the compaoency Of Airich. 1t must
be comfortable to hold the editorial chair of
the first literary magazine in the land, and
doubtless he appreciates it, when he sees his
friend waxing fat, aai enjoying life as only
prosperous and much-reud author can.
Boston is proud of attracting such men.
suppose an carthcn jar might boast that
it contained diamonds, but the Jar itself is
clay.
Mark Twain was in town the other day,
tall and heavy-looRing in his overcoat, with
great collar turned up, dense ,hatch of
iron gray hair that stuck right up in the nir,
and smoking II cigar Ossood is to have his
nc" poon ieauy III May pH'IJ lhauc up Oh
his Mississippi sketches. although the bulk oil
it is new. Perhaps lis Southern trip with
j. r. o., last fall had something 10 do with
it.
A. Villains " Co. are preparing the third
and revised edition of DR.. Nichols book
upon the great subjects oil the known aud I'M
known life, whence, what, where:" 10 be
issued February LIST.
Estes II Laurmt announce ready January
Goth, "rhc French Revolution, 1889, 1885,
by Il. NJ. Gardiner, "Reminiscences and
memorials OF men of the revolution aud their
families" by The Rev. A, b. Muzzey, and a
book that in the Present political status is
timely, young folks history of Mexico"
by Frederick A. Ober.
The lesser Nations are rather prominent
nowadays. Lothrop& Co s Leading men
Of Japan" is now published, aud to the stu
dent OF our ietiy haired cousins, is n work of
great value, giving as it does concise bio
graphes of some sixty Of their most promi-
nent men from the earliest times dowuto date,
and with it blivf glmpses Of a civil service
reform, that III Its wisdom and patriotism
puts the English speaking world to shame.
The growth of America has been rapid, but
that of Japan was like a mushroom, and
its treatment in this book, which
also contains sketch of the
empire anu blDliosraphy OF wOrks
written on the subject shows the hand of one
thoroughly conversant with the work in hand;
too much SO, for the author has considered
| an index OF referanCe as unnecessary, and re-
iers nonclalan,ly to the principles of 'Son o
Jo-i" as matter too well known TO need elu-
cidaton. There are still few people in the
world to whom it II matter Of ncco ssary ig-
norancc.
Roberts Brothers have issued another mo
Name" third series, and therefore decorated
extremely with the three horse-shoes. They
have had extraordinary luck in the past. in
preserving so well the general pitch Of excel
lencc. II is no easy matter, and the lapses
have but made the others brighter. The
present volume, ''BarringIon's Fate, is one
of the brighter 1t presents the unheari of
spectacle of modern book, published in
America, with plot locatea in London for
the most part, and yet which nowhere even
mentions lord or lady, all the actors being
English born, AT that. II deserves being well
spoken of for that reason, even had 1t nc
| other claim for notice, aud it has many