New-York tribune., 1886-05-18
LITERARY NOTES.

Marshal MacMahon Is writing his memoirs but is re-
solved have them published until after his death
1t il stated that the translator OF "Salammbo y Is
woman, Mrs" not " Mr." sheldon.
Lady Dlke's new book OF stories is ugubrous, both
Internally and externally. Bound III black cloth, with
hut little Ornamenauon, 1t Is printed In very black
faced letter. with pageborders i'll species of half
mourning black bead-andian pieces TO the chapters;
md on the last page all. docfu sketch OF skeleton
riding black horse. with attendant skeletons III the
background The stories OF the most dismal sort
Fantastic and weird subject, they all melancholy
in tone The shadow of death is over them all All the
heroes and to violent ends, ana most OF
them arrive at them by violent means.
"a Characteristic of Modern Life" is the title of five
short ESSAYS by the author Of Tho Recreations of
Country Parson reprinted from larger collection and
issued in a dainty dress by A d. f. Randolph d Co.
The characteristic OF modern lie to which the synpa
tLetc essayist directs his attention is Worry" With
lis IL almost the dignity of national vice. and
the preacher VINO teach us how TO overcome the
habit may he OF an Interested audience M Boyd
treats the subject with his customary sense and suavty
md shows the Dquring Christian how to use trial as
moral discipline and convert weakness into an element
OF religious strength.
The Boston Browning Clubs are amusingy described
by Mr. Arlo Bates in The Irortdence Jolunat :" The
central and prime principle OF all these clubs he says
seems be that poem by Robert Browning is sort
Of prize rebus of which the solution Is to be reached
rather by wild anu hap-iaLtrd guessing IMAM Dy
process OF reasoning What does it mean is always
the first question: although TO ordinary and common
place intellect 1t may appear perfectly Obvious that it
means what it says There delightfully."- original
ideas evolved and then in these discussions. One
evening when "A Toccata OF Galiups' being read,
and the passage reached
Those coumiscraiinS sevenths-'Life might last! We
.were you happy r-'Yes And are you still as
happy r-'Yes-and yonF -
Then more Kisses-' Did stop them, when million
seemed So few |!
Hark-tnc domuants persistence, TIL IL must De an
swercd to
When a lovely young woman. her dark eyes shining
with OF her inspiration suddenly bent forward
with casped hands crying: oh why can't we get the
and have It played and then when the sevenhs
and the dominant should know just where
We exactly what notes met those words do
not know the ingenious scheme has ever been carried
but the proposal illustrates oxcelenty the sort OF
literal Interpretation which these students of Browning
require"
Selections from Walt Whitmans poems to be pub
lshed in London by Chitto Wndus in beautiful vol
uniform with their clifton of Bret nartes poems.
W. NJ Rossetti is writing ali Introduction for It,
Mr.. Tuppers Autobiography has just appeared in
London and is said to be credtable to the authors
and TASTE lie belongs TO family whose remote anees
tors tho TOphorcs. dwelt originally in Thurngia.
Mr.. Jumpers father an eminent medical man. who
twice refused barouetcy and his mother came of
Thackeray and Helps and eech records pride
that whio at the University he won prizo ior theo-
logical essay the head of Mr. Gladstone VINO how
ever, made "a good second" Mr.. Tupper destined
suceessveiy for the Church and for the Law. and
actually called TO the bar. but fmDediment IN his
speech unhappy closed both professions against him.
The FIRST portion OF Mr.. Walter Leafs edition of the
Had" has come from the press OF the MacmiaDs. Tho
editors object offer guide students who desire
Go know more OF Homer than be gained from the
ordinary text-b2oks For this purpose Mr. Leaf has
made an exhaustive study not merely OF Iiomeric
themselves but also OF the OF literature mostly
Germany that has grown up round the subject
Dr. Holmes has been heartily welcomed By the London
Journals, and By pleasantly than by The Teie-
Qrdph It's editorial writer IS OF the "Autocrat":
Ihe total ell OF prose an lyrics read together, is
one Of singular and almost bewderng charm No book
simce the once famous and unusty neglected Noe
tes AmbroslaDa' OF Christopher North conveys such
an idea OF intellectual versatility and measureless re-
source Wise and thoughtful aphOrlsms rub shoulders
with the slyes strokes OF satire Puck peeps from
under the hat OF Bacon the poet ever and
anon lays his hugers upon the lips of the jester and the
perfection OF the lyrical touch combined whhe cheer
ful the ssdsning air of the writer's phios
Ophy recalls but writer of the ancient world as wor.
thy compete with the Transatlantic poet
jn his own linc DR. Holmes might DO not unapty de-
scribed the Horace OF America Alike In tone OF
thought. and more in that curious felicity style
recognized from earliest days In
the most modern OF Roman poets the resemblance
have HO,cd is clearly traceabe 1t s however in
satiy of literary gf' In equal command OF tender
bess w.t. ana passion that the parallel most complete