New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-14
LITERARY NOTES.

hook ON DR.. o. w. Holmes, containing a opi"
roahv and critical study of his works as well as
much biographical IN formation concerning INN, has
inst been completed by Mr.. W.. s. Kennedy "h'9e
yolu,,e on Whittier apDearel not long aso =
,vou,d he interesting to know what these auIno'S
think of publications so suggestive oil the ooi'ua''
curious piece of literary history IS reia'ei "
The Bostoa Courier Mr.. Em@rson's early wo'Ns NV
Ct xoIumes of ESSAYS. Mature" and his first
ooor,s we're nrinted by the old publishing house OF
Monroe g. Co After the authors return from Eng
1o,5 no became acquainted with the head or the
firm of Phillips & SamDton, who asked that Ne
sbould he all,w to publish Mr.. Emerson's neXt
volume 81 am very willing" was IN substance
Emerson's reply, "but wish to own the plates my
selfD And so it was arranged. Emerson had az
this time been before the public for number OF
year, had pubi she'd three volumes OF ESSAYS ana
volume of poems; The Dial had lived and 0iedand the
VIII ngs of he Sage of Concord read or at least
talked about, on each side of the Atlantic 50 that
the sale of any book from his pen was in a manner
assured beforehand Some time after the appear
apce Of Representative Men," Mr. Phillips sent
Mr. Emerson a check for considerable sum OF
,noney-about 5000. Mr. Emer, on went lmme-
diately to see his publisher. g You do not under
standn he said " before receive any money wish
to paw for the plates" eff you had examined the
statements sent YOU" was the publishers answer,
"you would have seen that you have already PAID
for the plates" "And The copies that are on your
hands," inquired Emerson, "who owns them 7
"Y0u," vas he.reply, subject OF course 10 our
commission" And this check is mine also ?" " Ger
talnly; hat covers the balance due YOU" Well"
observed Mr. Emerson, with all my publishing
that is the first money l ever received from one OF
my books"
Two more volumes of Houghton Mflin q Co.'s
new edition of Hawth0rne's works have just APP
peared. One of these contains 1.-The Houe OF the
Seven Cables" "The Snow Image" and other tales,
while "The Wonder Book Tanglewood Tales ETC."
fill the other. This is particularly good edition.
but it would not suffer if the illustrations were
omitted.
The first of Professor 2. Topelius's historical TO-
mances has been translated from the Swedish, and
has Just been published by Jansen, McClurg ~ Co.
II is romance pure and simple; there is nothing OF
the modem "subtety" and " finish " about 1t. Yet
it has much excellent character-study and is neat
in execution The figure of the king is In many
ways a striking one. In a time OF tncal writing
there is hing refreshing in this PLAIN story Oh
war; of love and of persecution.
Gambetta was not brilliant writer, and he never
knew when TO stop 1t is related that he would
enter his editorial room, say. =" shall want about
half n column tonight" and sitting down. he
would begin to cover page after page with his close
cramped handwriting. For so impetuous man he
wrote curousy stiff hand, and. though his fingers
moved fact, their motion was feverlsh ana
spasmodical 1t could never be said OF him
that he dashed off, any of his
illusions; he rather jerked them off, sway
ing the upper part of his body ponderousy
TO and fro as he wrote and now and then collecting
his thoughts by passing his large left hand rapidly
through his hair Black coffee would be brought
him. and he would go on writing; then he would
call for bottle of Burgundy and gulp down twoo or
three glasses munching sweet biscuits afterward,
or else sticks of chocolate in lieu OF dinner Inc
editor. who had been making allowances Tor half a
column. would see Gambetta's article overflow one
column after another, washing away all other art'-
ces and notes till it spread like an inundatlon over
the entire front page of the paper Then with
hearty Ouf," the French exclamation OF relet' ne
would throw down his pen and say, -" There, think
those few lines will state our case plainly; what :
do they really run to five columnsf Sacre6tea IL
seemed t. me as if had only been writing ten min"
utesr and upon this he would break into langh
that resoupded all over the Office, and partly dis
PEELED the gloom of bis contributors, who had been
milling wry faces at seeing their evenings WORK
loSt.