New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-03
LITERARY NOTES.

.Diotonary of Political Economy" 10 be
prepared by specialists, is projected in England
The late Josiah Quincy's volume of "reminiscences,
sFieures of the Past" will soon be brought ous Dy
Roberts Brothers.
Mr. Goodwin Smith intends hereafter to publish
his magazine, The Bystanda. as quarterly 10 po
Entirely written by himself
THE Siege of London" is the curious title Oh
Mr. Henry James, new story. The sceue opens Ill
the Theatre Franeais during performance ana
two Americans are the first persons presented One
ga bored person who has ben long abroad; Tue
,ther is youth to whom European CIVILIZATION mas
lot ceased 10 be novelty
Mrs. Oliphant with story running in Btacscood
I'D ano her III MdcmilIdH's Magazine, Is about 10
publish third under the odd title of 1T vas q
Lover and His Lass" Not content with tins she Is
writing snort storles will shortly publish volume
b. her.dan, and is &C ing editor OF one OF Inc
, pular literary series.
Thomas Hardys testimony to the honorable treat
nent accorded 10 MIN by the Harpers is clear ana
terse "For my own part" he says, " may state
mot 70 mention tine bona tides of The MessrS. Hdr-
Der in ordinary translcrions-that some time ago
agreed to supply hem with The advance she' Us Oh
b ovel for so much money, the said novel 10 oe no
shorter than specified length, while flonger there
the story plauned without reference to the agree
hent. tunei out to BE- one-tAird long T than the
kuaranteed length. ana l was greatly surprised
and not less charmed to receive from them the pro-
portionate tiri above the price agreed on III Is
bad that other publishers delight III paying an
aui bor more than he expects to get but beheve
The excel mt practice is not yet universal" 1he
4fheRdum refuses insert any more letters on THIS
subject.
MIR. Leslie Stephen has undertaken to edit
nnew' "Biographa Britannica" and makes an ur-
gent appeal for cooperation. The dictionary is IN
tended 10 include English, Scotch AMI IRISH names
from the earliest period. This includes Americans
who were also British subjects. 1t viii
not Include any names Of living persons.
Mr. Stephens statement OF his plan
f. 30 suggestive that it deserves 10 be noted. lie
declares that he will aim at condensation, but Will
not economic space by emitting any useful lh1Or-
nation. Elaborate analysis OF character OF en-
POSITION of critical theories Is irrelevant; but q
reader may fairly ask TO have characteristic anec-
dotes in their most authentic form. ana q clear
statement IF the view taken by statesman OF po-
tica controversies OF OF the position in the history
of literature of a remarkable poem Awriter III the
dictionary must be historical, not controversial OF
discursiye he must credit his readers with some
know ledge of surrounding facts; he must put what
he has TO say In a pithy aud condensed form; ne
must. as a rule say nothihT which would be equal
" appropriate under several other names ana IN
short be must be strictly biographical But, grant
ing this ihink that it would be hard TO excInde
ANYTHING which fairly deserves the name of bio
graphical. / have been asked whether anything In
the way of literary style is 20 be admitted. III
s,yle means superAuous ornament ISqy.emphatlc-
ally. NJ. But style, and even high literary ability
Is required for lucid and condensed nisratiye and
of such style shall be anxious to get as much as
can. A biography written with a single eye 70 CIV
ing all the information presumably desirable by an
intelligent reader, may not only be useful Du' m
tensely interesting, and even modei Oh literary
ertn