New-York tribune., 1886-08-17
LITERARY NOTES.

Mr.. Andrew Lang who writes many Of the editorials
The London Daily News" Is also the author Of the
critical reviews printed in that journal under the
btle of Sibyline Leaves" These reviews display
scholarship but are not otherwise remarkable. But
then the average book to be criticised is not remark
able either.
The September number of The Magazine OF Art
IL an unusually attractive one, both in text anu
illustrations. 1t contains among other pleasant things
Mr.. Austin Dobsons latest poem,
BRoKEN SWORD:
The sho pman shambled from the way out
And reached II down
Snapped in the blade Twas scarcely dear. doubt,
At hall crown.
Useless enough. Aud yet may still be seen,
In letters clear.
Traced on the steel In rusty ddmasEeen-
"Povr ParueDyr"
Whose was 1t once i-who manned 1t once IN hope
His fate to gain
Who was 1t dreamed his oyster world should opo
To this-ip vainf
Perchance with some stout Argouaut 1t sailed
The Western Seas 90
Perchance put to some paltry Nyn avaiiod
For toastIDg cheese
Or dccked by Beauty some morning lawn
With silken knot
Perchanco night for Church and King twas ar'"n
Perchance twas not!
Who knows-or cares To-day. mid foils ana groves
It's hit drpenuS
Flanked by the favors OF forgotten ioves
Remembered iriehus'
And Of, its legend lends in hours OF stress
word to als oess
Or ike warning comes in pafeSd SidSa success
T., .,oucbtful paper on the modern imprcssiohist
-, :, literature The London Spectator" says
that ono great of the prevalence of the impress
zionist school is tie loss of distinct standards of
tboucht and Judgment. This makes it very difficult
"a tell story well, to excite the higher sympa-
thies of the reader. In the modern wealth OF moral
snalogies. the modern uncertainty of moral aim and
the modern vacation TO moral ideal. which mark
the present day, the subtler writers OF fiction hardy
venture hold up any character to scorn on the one
hand. or 10 reverence on the other. They have not
made UP their own minds as to what they shall
admire what they shall detest what they shall ex-
ouse and what they shall commiserate So they take
refuge In co 1veying only the mixed impressions made
on some one plastic fancy by what takes lace, that
one being usually selected that it does not help the
reader at all due discrimination OF what is noble
and ignoble in the action of the story. This Is not,
We think fortunate condition of things for the higher
efforts either for the poet or the novelist In the
highest imaginative efforts fixed standards almost
essential to success"
OF Mr. Hardy's "impressionist - story the
GWind Of Destiny" The Spectator says that
it. has certainly spark OF genius, but
that spark of genius is almost lost III
the rarid and almost mcoherent succession OF waves
"Yet Mr. Hardy" adds the critic. "is. we believe, a
distinguished Transatlantic mathematician with
keeny scientific mind, who when he plunges into the
world of fiction though he takes for himself philo-
sophca thread for his story INDUCES so lavishly II
the luxury of stringng together reveries Of personal
feeling that ho only just succeeds in bringing here and
there out Of the troubled mist two or three vivid
faces with two or three vivid expressions chasing each
other over those faces"
The parers on Gettysburg which the Comtc dc Paris
has contributed to War literature to be brought
out IN a volume 10y Porter Coates. The BOOK VIII con
tam il Is said the complete rosters yet published
OF ae ederal aud Confederate Armies with the losses
given detail up to July L.
Literary FrenchmeD telling an amusing story about
Edmond About. ard the fashion in which he disposed
OF a graspiug aud cheating publisher. After the fr7t
instalment of novel of his had appeared in La here
DIS Deur Mondes. he went TO ask for his money only
10 be informed it not the custom OF tie Rer"e
ever TO pay for the first article OF any author very
WELL" said About quietly "n It is not your CUSTOM no
matter" and he went on his way But when they sent
TO hmlor the manuscript OF the second nstalment OF
the st ry ne refused send it, saying that was not
his custom to send the second installnent OIL
stoy until he had been paid for the first
Lippncon will no longer print personal records under
the head of Experierce Nee ings" Articles of this
kind which are to appear in the future Will not te
cIouped together but will appear alone. walt whitman
has promised TO contribute paper.
"The Children Of Old Parks Tavern" uiarrers is one
of the most delightful Juveniles which American author
ship has pro luced Mrs. Frances A. Humphrey has
filed her work with heatul sweetness of spirit aud
with q pleasant humor Best OF all, perhaIs she mas
presented in apparently artess vivid picture OF
tho England of fifty ago. The little book de-
serves 10 be q household treasure.