New-York tribune., 1885-01-31


author of the " Life of Mrs. Duff" and Mr. Curtis
Guild of Boston, are also owners OF extremely rich
and beautiful extended or extra illustrated dramatic
books superior to those mentioned In the Herman ca
lopue Americans tho best purchasers Oh Iaro
and costly books in Europe and two OF our ieadng
sent over heavy bids for choice lots In the
above mentioned London sale.
relative of Mr. w. d. Howells is the widow Of
George H. NJ johnson, the eminent lroqucls chief
whose career is neatly sketched in The Magazine
of American History" This lady was, before her mar
riage to 0nwanonsyshon," Miss Emily susanna
Howes.
Miss Blanche Howard is said to have lately drama
tized her striking novel Guenn.r She is engaged
in writing another novel.
Mr.. Andrew Lang's Rhymes la Mode" are just
out in London The volume has this neat little envo
entitled The Spnet y:
NV hearts an old spinet with strings
TO love chiefly tuned, but some
That Fate has practised hard on. dumb,
They not whoever siLgs.
The growth of half forgotten things
viii touch the keys with fingers numb,
The little moekng spirits come
And thrill 1t with their fairy wings.
A iipglng harmony it makes,
Ms heart, my Tyre, my old splnet.
And now memory 1t awakes.
And now the music means forget
And little heed the player takes
Howe'er the thoughtful critic fret.
Mr.. Henry James's new story, The Bostonians' is
fhus referred to by " The Boston Herald: =" Is it
not gross violation of good taste to buresque, in the
character of Miss Birdseye of the most esteemed
philanthropists. lady who will live in the ethical
history of Boston by reason of her admirable works
and eminent personal oonnectioDsi Mr. James so
describes this lady in her peculiares of voice fgure
and manner and even in the dimiQutive suggesting
resemblance Of the names, that persons VITO know
the original would fail recognize the carcature. If
this fashion of ridcung living personalities in fiction
goes op reputable people will be likely to avoid con-
tact with an author they enormously supposed
to shun an interviewer"
Prince Nicholas of Montenegro has added his name
TO the list of titled authors He has written tragedy
"The Empress of the Balkans" and ie was not long
ago successfully performed at PodgoriEza. Mr.. e. W.
Harris of Cornell University, writes to The Library
Journal that there is serious haw in the " Edition
Detnitive of Victor Hugo's works. About year
ago. he SAYS the set ordered for this library.
and we received all the volumes then published, and
among them were: Poesie, Vol. VII, Les Chansons
des Rues ct des Bois' and 'Poesie, Vol TX. EAnnee
Terrible A few weeks ago We received another in
stalment containing: Poesie, Vol VII, La Lesende
des siecles. Vol. L. and Poese, Vol X, La Legende
des Sieces Vol w. Then it became evident that
Poesie VOL VIII and TX, should contain the second
and third voumes Of la Legende des Seces, bn IN our
sptt hey
there is similar defect in the Astor Library copy On
iook;np nm the publisher Hetzers last announcement
end the contents of the sets stated as follows
spoesie. yII.-X, La Lcgende des siecles 4 vols.
sPoesie XI Chansons des Eues ct des Bois, yol.'
sPoesie, XII, EAnnee Terrible, VOL An arrange
mept to which the volumes published. or at least as
we have received them do not correspond That the
plunder regarding Volumes VII. and TX is not con-
fined to the title page evident from the contents, and
from the fact that each signature of these volumes
hears Poese VIII or Poesie TX. respectively
throughout The result to be that shall have
twovoum III and X of the Poese differing entirely
and shall have no Volume XI or XII One would sup
pose that in so handsome and costly edition and one
which intended to be the standard edition OF the
works of writer like Victor Hugo blunder of this
sort would have been impossible"
Count Won Moltke's book, " Poland Is being trans
lated into English and viii soon apear in London.
Beginning IN La Revue Politique ct Litterare,' a
seres of articles on " Professors du College de
France" Mr. j. Lemaitre describes the author of the
Lite Of Jesus as he appears in hls lecture-room.
an. Renan enters; is applauded, and thanks his
students with little nod and the smile of an easy
going man. He is bulky short fat, rosy with large
features long gray hair. large small eyes,
well IshaDed mouth otherwise he Is quite round, moves
his whole body at once; his large head rests on his
shoulders He has the air of being wellpeased with
life. and gayly he exposes the formation Of the
Pentateuch and the book of Joshua, a
collection which ought to be called the Hexateuch
His explanation is clear, simple, animated His voice
is somewhat hoalse little oily his dicdon firm and
very hurried, his gestures familiar and almost ex-
cessve As to form, there is not the least studied re-
6nement or elegance nothing Of the grace and
superiority of his writings He talks TO be understood
that is all. His expressions entirely homely .
He should be when unexpectedly he comes upon
good joke His powerful head, thrown back and in
clined toward one shoulder becomes illuminated and
brilliant his eyes glitter, his fnely-shaped mouth
balf-opened showing the tiny teeth, contrasts enor
mously with his opulent episcopal cheeks large and
coarse as ihev are. NJ. Renan is gay very gay
and what is more his gayety is rather comieal" NJ
Iernaitre sums up his account of the sage, lnhdel
APOSTLE sn-Christ, what-not, with the reflection
that The world would be more gloomy it there were
no II. Renan."
~ HIy