New-York tribune., 1884-02-20
LITERARY NOTES.

The biography OF Martin van Duieh 90,
Be included IN the American Statesmen series VIII
be contributed by the Hon. William DorsheImer
Edward Everett Hale is engaged, in cooperation
svitb his son on an historical sketch of Benjamin
Franklin's life in Paris during the Revolution ~
will be published in two volumes by Roberts pro'i-
ers. with the title Franklin in France NO "olh
was suggested by the purchase by our oo'o'nn.on'
of the Franklin papers. That immense cohoo,,on'
an account of which has been printed In ihE
rp,auSr is understood TO throw very curious SIDE
lights on the history of the great negotiations IN
which Franklin was engaged. Mr. hale VIII iiaho
full use of these new treasures.
The volume of Dickenss Speeches which has been
brought out in London by II. Shepherd contains
fftysix of the novelist's short addresses Some OF
them are of trihng intcrest-replies to votes OF
thanks. and expressions of gratitude for silver cups
and boxes of cutlery and the best of them require
the point and grace that Dickenss own delivery
gave.
Many old Creole MSS. are said to have been
placed in Mr. Cables hands for in his stories.
writer for The Philadelphia Inquirer who saw one of
these MSS says: 1t the story of an old French
lady of New-Orleans, written by her own hand at
the request of her young friends. The old lady IN
1898 was pretty French countess, married at four
teen TO nobleman many years her elder. Hus-
band and father were both guillotined, and the
young wife, seeking to escape was protected by her
fathers gardener In his family she lived as
daughter by adoption till the gardeners son fell in
love with her, when reciprocating his attachment,
she became a adanghter-in-law. Later this prede-
cessor of Claude Menotte emigrated with his high
born bride, and ultimately became prosperous
citizen of New-Orleans. The story is beautifully
told, and the manuscript, like the Others in Mr..
Cables possession, is of undoubted authenticity.
NJ. Octave Feuillets last novel, which is decent
enough tells the story of an officer who, dying on
the battlefield begs his best friend to carry mess
age his wife to the effect that if she remarres his
curse will rest upon her. The friend acquits him
self of this mission by marrying the widow and then
committing suicide in a fit of remOrse.
The reviewer of The Pail Mall Gazette thinks that
there is certainly reason in the subject OF the
book why the writer of "The Breaownners
should permanently deny himself the credit of
lively and vigorous piece of work. The critic con-
cludes his review thus "'The Breadwinners is
emmently clever and readable, worthy cOntribu-
ton to that American novel literature which is at
the present day, on the whole, ahead of our own.
But, except in the really beautiful and pathetic
scene where Alice hangs over the bleeding form of
the lover she believes dead it is wanting in tender
ness and spontaneity. The writer has yet to learn
the art of claiming and holding our finer and deeper
sympathies."
Over $60, 900 has been collected for the fOunda-
tion Of free public library IN Philadelphia. When
the reaches $250000 the trustees will begin to
erect the library building
The great -grandnlece of Miss Barbaud gives in
her recently published" Memories many interesting
anecdotes of the writers of the last generation.
Concerning Samuel Rogers, whose generosity and
whose polished manners she praises, she says
"Going night to the gallery of the opera, which
he thought the best place for hearing, he noticed
respectabe-loOking elderly man gazing at him very
intently for some time. AT last between the acts
he left his seat and placing himself in front of Mr.
Rogers, said in solemn tone, Pray, sir, is your
name Samuel Rogersp Mr.. Rogers who always
cherished the hope that his works were popular
with the lower classes replied most graciOusy that
it was. Then, SIR said the man, should be glad
to know if you please why you have changed your
poultererP"
This lady once heard Walter Scott tell Mrs. Bar
baud what MADE him become poet. He reminded
her that when many years earlier she had visited
Edinburgh she had with her manuscript copy of
Tayors version of Birger's LeOROra. This she had
read to Dugald Stewart. He" said Scott, " re-
peated all he could remember OF It to me, and this,
madam, was what made me poet had several
times attempted the regular kinds of poetry
without success, but here was something thought
could do"
Joanna DallllS lOHl inc WTIitI VI lut hcHlOIIcS
how some of her old friends IN Scotland had been
shocked at the line of writing she had taken to.
No doubt it her plays at which they looked ask
ance Have We heard" wrote one of them, that
Iocky Baillie has taken to the public line ~
The Massachusetts, Historical Society is preparing
to-oring out a volume of Judge Samuel Sewals
letser Many of these preserved for the Puritan
magistrate was one of the most systematic and
methOdical of men. and retained copies of most of
the epistles he wrote.
There is a report that Walt Whitman was re-
Gently paid $50 by a noted publishing firm for |
poem six lines long.