New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-02
NOTES FROM LONDON.
,vpsoNAI. LITERARY, MISCELLANEOUS.

W.
The departure Of Lord Coleridge and his compan-
has led to the display of some legal erudton in
an. c.lursns of the daily press. 1t would not oe
a., In ask You to burden your own with mere repe-
sson Of this lore astonishing as some OF 1t Is, nor
-,u II perhaps, strike you az absolutely novel TO
a. ,ols that the citation Of American cases in Eng
Hsb court, is common aud increasing practice.
W, may not however be equally familiar with the
tact tLat Americas jurists eminent as MI Justice
Glory were extraordinarily anxious for the APP
,,oval of Baron Anderson. Lord Coleridge, again,
nav hear with slight surprise that, as lawyer
49, doe. not rank with such giant Ms Anderson.
,ro. Anderson gIanti Or IS it compliment to
ord Coeridge to say that he has difficult part to
-,ov in a6ling the room" of predecessor who
80. ,os Il profound lawyeri Yet in this singular
.nI,it ~ she Lord ChiefJustices American journey
discussed by leading journal.
Tn another journal not less leading the spirit is
not lass sipgular. A column and a half OF ponder
ans banter 10 thought suitable to the occasion In
s,ired 80 far as 1t is inspired by tho prodigious
r,noramme of entertainment which has just beon
made public. The imagination of this writer shud-
asrs At the catalogue of receptions aud excursions
and festivities which American hosts oifeI to Ia e
ll.b guests "For many thousands of miles Lord
Coerdge is to he the centre of connected piece OF
Natioral fire works. condemned to be dazzled aud 10
.rrnr,es you it will surprise you not less to be told
that he does not visit America as Judge. Wbyf
Rscauss "a Lord Chief-Justice cannot 60 on
starring judicial engagement, though 1t would be
exceedingly instructive to both countries were
an an ak tension of the Summer AssiZes practi-
catlsp He aud his companions are only going as
CONSERVATIVES of the ED glsh bar. This interest
%, ana ingenious distinction is worked out with
slahoralsness and with such lucidIty Ms may DO
fonud in the statement that he and they VIII be
waited under a canopy of professional goodwill
which may be trusted to temper and tone down any
excess Of National hospitality or tyranny OF sight
seeing into o delicate perspective" There Is
great deal more of this bnt the sentences have
quoted must serve samples.
Mr. Charles Russell, Q C., who is of Lord Cole
ridges party may fairly be called tae leader OF the
common-law bar. Ten. years ago he was an IN
known man-unknonn to the general public If not
TO his profession. Five years ago he was spoken OF
as q man who was making his way TO the front
To-day he is one of the few English lawyers emil
nent alike in the conduct Ct a cause before a jury
aud IN arguments before the Court OF Appeal. Mr.
Russell has seat in Parliament and Is known AS
holding very advanced opinions on the Irish land
question. He is not Home Ruler nor In any way
connected with the Parnete coufoderacy.
IhS lfnle8 OF InuTsuay ulSCOuIocs Oh nV'ciS III
vein which, if not precisely instructive. is at least
entertaining. Parts of its article seem to have
been composed year or more ago. and crowded out
A writer who followed the current of novel writ
ing very closely would hardly speak of "John ln-
elesantp as a novel of last year. writer who
knew much of action outside of England would GER
tauIy not ehoose Octave Feuillst or Cherbulnz
as types OF French excellence. Still les would be
Law down the astonishing proposition that the
q fundamental theory" of Mr.. Howells and Mr..
Henry James is the same that of NJ. lola III
this eccentric person had bu. so much As heard OF
NJ Alphonse Dsudet. or had read Mr.. James, in
terestlng and enthusiastic study OF him IN The
Century for August, be might have been saved from
his inapt remark about NJ. lola. We have none
the less thank him for restoring the balance of
opinion as regards Mr.. Henry James anu Mr..
Howells which some chsuvnstc Britons of the
Phstine order have lately sought to derange.
q We have no unquestIoned leader among u.s." cries
he, auo one 10 whom the title of really great
novelist can be unhestaIingly applied" Then by
AID by he adds: 4" Such impulse toward new fields
and new methods as our writer's have lately re-
ceived Ia As come, not from country men. but
from AmerIca--from the snbtly shaded miniature
painting of Mr.. Howells and Mr.. Henry James"
The same writer has given in a sentence an accur-
ate account of the singular book which here still
passes for photograph of the public life of Amer
,ea Democracy" he saws. "raised the political
pamphlet to the level of pure literature" He
might have added that its literary quality was not
more remarkable than it's narrow imporfecton of
view OF must we say wilful Limitation OF view
Il skilful presentation of all that is worst in the
public life of America and the ingenious British
reader Is never allowed to suspect that there Is u
better aud higher side.
Mr. Howells indeed, has no reason to complain OF
neglect in England. The LINES took him up some
time ago with energy, and IL pot altogether with
discrimination. certainly with enthusiasm. The
hostility provoked by this eulogy did him on the
whole little harm. Perhaps the ferocltios OF The
Quarterly were as helpful te Mr.. Howells as the in
judlcous applause which in some quarters was be-
slowed on him. This weeks Truth devotes to him
an "Anecdotal Photograph" If one must repeat
that vile phrase. Studies OF this sort may not be
very serious. but they often hit the popular fancy,
and they are at any rate proof that the individ-
ual photographed had u previous celebrity of his
own. Ii is rather startling to be told that slr.
HoweIlss recent success Ia England is entirely
due to the enterprise of Scotch firm which had
the foresight to issue cheap edition Of his works.
Presently, however. we discover that his novels
are not only cheap but remarkable for delicacy of
bnmor aud consummate skill in the delineston OF
character" In the main this photograph" is oc-
cupisd not with criticism but with details of Mr..
Howel.s's biography. told in friendly spirit
Then at tho end comes in that picture of Mr.. How
ellss features height bar and habits which belong
to sketches of this sort. With these you may be
supposed to be familiar, and you cannot require an
Engiisbman to inform You that he is @ani nterest-
Ing and humorous companion, aud can talk well On
any subject"
certain Autter has been oecasicned by the re-
publication in London OF Tho Neo- York Herales list
Of alleged holders of the Confederate loan. The
LIST 10, on the face of ii. ludicrously inaccurate in
respect Of the spelling Of the names, II not other
wise. Il looks as = whole MORE like guesswOrk than