New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
LITERARY NOTES.

Harriet E. Francis the wife of the Hon. John NJ
Francis of Troy, has written book describing her
travels with her husband She has had 1t beautifully
prlnted for private circulation, under the title Of
Across the Meridian"
Mr. Gladstone wouldn't wrI0 an article on "John
Ward Preacher when asked to do So Il never
write about religion" he said, unless have a
special object My for writing about ROBERT
Flsmere, was to show that tho arguments brought
forward against Christianity In it wero faacous. NO
such excuse would justify article on John Ward,
Preacher, in which no attack Christianity IS con-
tanned, Mrs. Gladstone once said that her husband
considered It Of his most sacred duties 10 GO MS
utmost 10 check the food Of infdelty which was
sweeping over England.
Mr.. whittier's eyes are not strong and he cannot
read much. Consequently no has not read Robert
Flsmcren Tie has read John Ward, Preacher and
cnioyed It. al think that is good,' said he, where
the old lawyer is dying, and the minister comes IN
and wants to read and pray. The lawyer doesn't
care about It lie Is tired and suffering. Then tho
minister happens TO say how God IS good We'll,
that's all right then; that's all l want to Know
II God is good, that's enough" In speaking OF tho
hereafter he said that need no more PROOF OF lts
existence than the ncomplcteness OF this life, ana
he added that it quito certain that we are not
going to DO much different in the other life than we
are In this
Margaret Deland, who wrote "John Waru'
Preacher says that "RObert Elsmere' Is great
novel: not 50 much In what it gives as in what IL
suggests that one may gain for ones SELF and, after
ALL that IS the most valuable gift. II is Impossible
not 10 see by the struggle ia Robert Elsmeres soul
that the Eternal may DO reached sometimes Without
the aid or limitations Of creed.'
10th Frclmann and Charian now have comfortable
fortunes made out OF their literary work They are
about seventy years old. Erckmann Is blue-eyed
pnk-cheeked bachelor. Chatrian Is httlo curly
haired black-eyed old with bunny forehead
The two were schoofellows. 1t is said that they arc
engaged in preparing new novel; 1t IS long umo
since they have published anything
Tennyson IS better but, at tho ago of seventynine
his working days arc over. lie will undertake here
after no moro laborous task than little revision OF
his POEMS His severe Illness brought on through
indulgence in a lifelong passion for walking IN tho
rain.
There is probability that Brewing will be tho next
Laureate. Though only threo years younger thah
Terny son. he robust IN mind aud body as man OF
fifty
oh Donnelly Donnellyi He is mad" his httlc
temper is exacerbated "Nine-tenthS Of the graves OF
he world" says Donnelly filed with unadulteracd
fools" The present inhabitants of the globe seem 10
be wiser than their ancestors they don't believe In
Donney for thing Yet Donncy is not discouraged
No, he will continue TO combine craftsmanship ana
literature, Ike the gentleman who was the " wiSest,
brightest, meanest OF mankind u cannot well
keep out OF politics. says Donney, ~ work of great
of surplus activity in that And then, besides
I think the mind IS not healthy which in ono
rut This seems to have been Bacon's idea also
BY taking some part in public affairs come back
refreshed to my literary labors. Next spring shall
settle down quietly at home dismiss from my mind
all other thoughts, and take the cipher where left
Il of | think can perfect the workmanship of It ;
that u.s. think discover the missing links of the
rule governing the arrangement OF the words in the
sentences have doubt II had had that part of the
rule perfectly / should have avoided many OF the
criticisms the Ian guags of the cipher narrative
and should have brought tho whole thing down TO an
absolute demonstration. But the spirit Of tho critics
seemed to be TO give me any credit for what
had done, but To denounce me for what | had not
done. don't sixpence about what anybody
says about my book or myself. l am right, and time
Will justify me-
Mr. stedman writes thus to The Boston Adver-
tiser' In response to query to what theme offers
tho greatest scope to the coming American novel :
al am too much ovcrworRed to add anything Of
interest to your literary supplement- But will say
this respecting your characteristic Boston conundrum
IL never has occurred TO that specific themo Is
essential to a novel-which take be a work OF the
creative Imagination, anu neither sermon a
schooLcomposition. And suppose the coming novel
Will be written by a novelist, and not BY who Is
first OF all, a propaganda relormer.
Mrs Mona Card, the woman who started the dis
cusson Of Is Marriage a Falluref' Will probably
find in that fact the means Of boom" for her forth
coming novel Tho book presents the history of tho
daughter OF a country squire and his puritanca
Wife, who from different motives. induce her daugh ter
10 marry the OF a mel ghboring proprietor. Matr-
monlal misery Il Indicated
Santo- Beuve said to Tane In tho heat OF
an historical discussion "Tasez-Vous, Tame You
know books, but you know nothing about men"
Montreal lawyer owns the only existing copy OF
the first book published in Canada 1t Is Archbishop
Languet's catechism bearing date l7o5.