Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-10
ouRRENr LITERarURE.

fl -
CURRENT LITER4TURE.
An apparently new writer. Davida Colt,
'eseues in the September ATLANTIC some
GEMS OF medieval drama, instinct with the
vivid faith and warm devotion Of those
lays from ill-meflted oblivion. DR.. Holmes
is not yet up to his former level Charles
Dudley Warner still con Horseback" in
North Carolina is excellent. He finds 20
peaks higher than Mt. Washington. The
highest is Mt. Mitchell, named forthe ex-
plorer who lost his life on his third ascent.
Where he fell from the brow Of . precipice
his body lay in clouds, darkness and
cold for several days. Y was found
p fleet preservation. After some years
it was thought good that u grave should be
made for 1t on the very summit OF the fatal
For this road had to be cut.
The removal took three days and was ac-
by an illustrious and deeply in
cortege. Mover was interment more
wild and impressive. The solid rock could
not be dug away, but loose stones were re-
moved to sufficient depth and each Wis
itor piles up the explorers monument.
Every storm salutes this lonesome, weird,
majestic grave; every cloud bows obeisance;
the mountain winds caress it and the stars
are sentinels forever.
Ancient and Modern Greek" is a careful
essay, Mr.. Barrows gives Alto Velo a
episode. Country Gentle-
man becomes dreary and piteons, while
James in the opening of his new story,
strikes rather Il variation from accustomed
themes.
Canoeing is becoming so general a recrea-
ton that the account OF one OF the most
of recent canoe voyages, which
Mr.. G. II. Farnham is giving in Hdrper,s
Mdgdzite, has I'M unusual interest. His
second "Labrador" paper will he printed in
the October issue. 1T is profound expert
ence,n says Mr.. Farnham, ''to visit alone
the utter abomination of desolation." The
self-feliance which comes from solitary
battling with wind and wave Is chief
boast of the canoeist, but Mr.. Farnham
seems willing TO confess that there may be
another side to this delight. 81 often had to
take my will in both hands," he says, ..to
prevent decentralization. In the storms of
the Gulf of st. Lawrence his daily journey
averaged only 10 miles, At last he got so
far North as to lind himsell cGnoeing among
icebcrgs, and his description of the BURST
ing of an iceberg is NJ first hand. The
second paper has DOE u illustrations from
sketches which MIR. Farnham brought
home.
LIPriNcoTrs for September gives u deal
of that sort OF fiction which makes no
strenuous demand upon the reader. The
English tourists son This Side" wind mp
wanderings almost us weary as those Of
Ulysses. Of other fiction, the best is u little
Italian story. "AIuster-Dny in New Eng
land I" in vivid detail and interesting anec-
dote, is much like the great body Of
McAIaster's history.
One annoyed by dog worship takes plea
sure III stringing together scant and dis
paulging illusions in literature from Scrip
ture down. Sir Henry Holland lost Il wager
by not being able to find a single kindly
mention in Shakespeare.
Mr. Morris gives instances Of the maryels
of Spirtuaism. Nlaryels they are simply.
No one can boast Of the least use or good in
them. Pointing out the three ways of ex-
PLANTATION hitherto opened up, choice is left
10 the reader.
A selection from TourguenelTs letters
shows that tho Young Russian Bazaroif'
always held a prominent place in his crea-
tors mind. 10 define his aims and position
was his delight, and this clear exposition
should send MANY readers back to Fathers
aud Sons" one Of the grandest, as it is
most pregnant, works Of modern fiction
The letters were published lust winter at
st. Petersburg but, II we have Russian
scholars in our midst, viii certainly be
translated.
,rHE NnRTu AMERICAN REVIEW for Septem-
Der is an excellent Illustration of the strong
points and the Weakness of this periodical
under its present management. The former
consists largely in thG abandonment of the
Old theory that II review must conilne itself
largely to matters not of present interest.
III this respect, Mr.. Rice took Il very i'm
pOrtant step forward.
The main defect Of the RecieW is one
which arises naturally out OF the effort to
NYft 4. - Il
somewhat loose iointed and slipshod treat
meut Of important subjects, and II tendency
| toward the style Of Il daily newspaper. The
| principal article, on "Our National Banking
| System" is contributed by four writer's
| only one Of the articles rises in the least
tlegrae above the average newspaper edl
| torial, and that one, contributed b,
| ieSt at the head of the article
hut upon topic of special interest to hin
the silver question, with n concluding
| reference to Il possible use for Il nltiona
| bank entirely different from the existing
| system. However inasmurh rs the nationl
| banking system has never, since its exist
| ence been as firmly established us at til
| present time, and the banks have just la'
| their charters renewed for e years. tn
subject is not one, at present, of YER
| practical interest.
The other symposium of the number
on "Graht's Memorial What Shall il be-
The most practical contribution to thi
group Of articles is the Shortest, that q
Launt Thompson. whose idens on the sui
iHct have evidently crystaliaed about wha
is undoubtedly the most imposing AN
majestic sepulthrc in the world, the tom
of Napoleon, While architects may desir
to exploit themselves and appear to orig
nate something, il is TO be hoped that whl
ever has this matter in charge will remen
her that modern architecture has originate
nothing of consequence, and that its SUE
eesses are measured BY the accuracy {
their imitation Of the ancient models.
M one who has looked upon the tomb
Wellington, with its taw'lry accessories
und then lipOn the tomb of Napoleon, in il
perfection of taste and simple grandeu
can cyaar the feeling that something /
: nearly like the latter rs may be- would we
serve the double purpose Of u memorial I
the dead and an educator of the living.
John H. French contributes some Vcl
readable and entertaining "Reminisrenc,
, IF Famous Americans while the Rev.
lIrhcr Newton discusses the Decay
iaccltisa-tieisma in an article characterize
/ | by the accustomed holiness Of the write
and containing much food for thought {
! tue part of those who feel Il roal interest
& the present relations 81 the church and 4!
world.
! Other articles are the srrndnncics
English Fiction" by OuidH tile Gre
! lsyrhieal Opportunity" ~ Elizabrth Stua
Phelps, and NAVAL Tactics Of tlin Future
i ~ Nup3s l'asna.
i Tho letters published under tile head
Comments show quite au importance
tone over some that have hitherto II
P~arrd. New York. 30 Lafayette rlae
/. -iGsle number 10 cents yearly snbstrip,i'
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