New-York tribune., 1885-01-17
LITERARY NOTES.

The author of "The Story of Country Town" has
written another novel which Osgood viii shortly
publish 1t is entitled The Mystery OF the LOCKS,
and it deals with the life of dscaying river town In
the West.
DR.. Ranke, the historian, who has just passed his
eighty y-nnth birthday, shows no greater sign Oh age
than the degree to which his interests withdra"h
from all things except the history on which he is en-
eaged, the 'Alegemeine Welt-Geschichte.' which he
has carried be, ond the Roman Empire. On this his
tory his mind and heart are concentrated. lie Sui
works for eight hours every day. DIR. Ranke's wife
was an English lady, remarkable for her learning hav
ing knowledge of Latin, Greek and Hebrew.
new periodical, half magazine, half journal, has
made its appearanee In Columbus Ohio. 1t Is entitled
The Inland Monthly" and proposes TO accomplish
for all the Inland States what the Eastern mOnthies
have done for the Seaboard States Its first efforts os
exhibLg some refined literary tendencies are praise
worthy. but 1t must SAID that its ntentions-partcu-
larlv in the line of ilustraonare better than Its ex-
ecution.
Part Ill of Professor Francis J. Childs noble colec
tion of English and Scottish Popular Balacs Is now
on the press of Houghton, Milin Co. II should be
remembered that this unique work is published only
by subscription
Flatland" the queer satire on modern life which
has had in England, is TO be repuDshed mere
Immediately by Roberts Brothers.
For the first twenty years Of its existence no woman
was admitted to the library of the British Museum
then for ten years the only lady reader was Mrs
Catherine Macaulay, the historian. Now women form
no small proportion of the readers Miss Mary Ander-
son has been among the recent been en-
poqed in studying Veronese lite Of the time o Romeo
and Juliet
Strange questions asked at the Museum ana oy
Rritisb as well AZ by American readers. Superin-
tepdent Garnett says a gentleman once asked me
in one breath if there were any eItant autographs oi
Jesus Christ. and did know Mr.. Moncatta, diamond
merchant of Bernard-st lady asked for particular
cookery hook which she was told in dream she would
find in tn, library It lad q plate illustrating Tho
carvinp of various dishes. and contained recipe ioi
! curing ham, A book answering to this description
was found understood, too, that during my absence
lately q gentleman asked for works on the subject
sorcerv and afterward wished to know If there wa
| sny wise man in the room who could raise inc Dew
| for him. but, unfortunately We had no warock al
| hand persons often come to verify pseudo OLE
! master and ths class am bound to say, have on
virtue-they are easily satisfied. On one occasion W.
directed gentleman "a I'VE generally do, to deSerp
tive catalogues of paintings i'll which, when name
| not given. the work is presumably anonymous. Ih
| UictuPa this instance WIS supp'SVi w D' w wv
| rerpio Under this name "A motley list OF howers
fish and fesh Dutch interiors, sea-peces, landscapes
| and Court beauties-a anonymous My friend sc
them all down to that painter, and finding description
that answered to his picture he went away satisde
that he possessed a veritabe COrreggo.'
The scope of &" The Book Buyer, it is announced,
70 be enlarged and il will hereafter cover every in
portant book published here and abroad 1t propose
10 be not critical but descriptive and to offer reguIar
for a very small price mass Of correct aud invitn
literary information.
Mr.. Durands translation of Tane's +" History of II
French Revolution, will be published almost nmed
atey by Holt.
The American Historical Association. of which
Andrew D. White is president proposes to publish
The form of serial monographs original contributions
history After the report of tho organization OF IL
society and the address of the president will appear
Dampblet on Federal Land Grants Tor Education
the Nortnw est Territory by g. w. Knight.
The bound volumes Of the Harper periodicals. Il
1884. lust issued, furnish richly illustrated and a.
proximatcly complete commentary on the time. II
literary matter il of uniform excellence and the ilil
trtons with some notable exceptions are both artist
snd interesting No other American publications ha
through long course of years done so much to educa
the eye and for tins the public may well be grateful