New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-18
LITERARY NOTES.

Hero is writer whose literary conscience IS
ary worth noting! Margaret Dclands is said to have
rewritten John WARD six times before It was given
to the printer.
Scarcely any long book really nves,' says J. +.
scelev except Don QulXote.' There be many who
VIII NOT agree with him in this but says another
thing which ought to be regarded as a trnSm: In
lyric poctry there really is literary Immortality. But
room can rarely be found in Fame's conveyance for
largo works. Nevertheless, no poet IS happy until
he has prepared for Fame long and rarely read
piece Of verse.
aTbe Empty Purse Sermon for a later Prodigal
SOM IS the title of George Meredith's lately frished
noem. II IS long; and It presents the story of a
MAJ whose AIMS a." wrons, who loves tie wrong
woman obtains the wrong sort of success, and whose
career, in short, Is series OF mistakes.
The George Meredith "culto IS growing in this
country. lie IS already the subject Of enthusiastic
adiectives among small number OF literary people.
He can never be popular writer, Of course, for
his undcniable genius too often finds expression in
a dilfusc and ragged style which is uninteligDle to
ordinary people. The brilliant I" Egolst' IS,
douht,dlv that one OF his works which the largest
nroportIon Of his readers understand and appreciate
# is the men and wO nen who think deeply and who
have wide expc~lence Of life and character who
fully comprehend the marvellous strokes of perception
and Interpretation in Meredlths novels.
Mr.. schurz Is writing biography Of Lincoln for the
American statesman series.
II Is said that 100000 copies Of Robert Elsmere'
have been sold in this country and Ct the proceeds
NJ this sale Mrs. Humfry Ward has received Just
$500! This may be justice but It doesn't look like
H. Nobody here, 1t is stated, has maize any money
out of the book as there have been too many cheap
reprints to secure profit on any one of them.
Erie Mackay, the author of Love Letters Of
ylolnists IS the son Of the writer Charles
Mackay He Is a broldshouldered and stout young
man rejoicing in thick mcombcd masses of black hair
which arc said TO mako him look like poet How
long must this ancient ideal OF poet exist Lord
Tennyson and Walt whitman probably the last
conspicuous examples OF the disevelcd style OF poet
\ feminine observer who saw Lord Tcnnyson last
summer sadly speaks of him as decidedly mussy"
The younger poets of the day generally models Of
tailored and barbercd neatncs5 and finish.
To number Of the most distinguished students of
Shakespeare the query How did you become
Shakespeare student ~ lately addressed by shake
spearana' All the answers wero more or less interest
lrg. Mr.. J. o. Halllwel Phluipps says: TO the
best Of my recollection Shakespeare fascinated me In
very early life chiefly, II not entirely, by the un-
rivalled melody of his vcrslncaton, and now.
SO far tho effect In reading Is concerned.
my temperament is more distinctly affected by that
melody than by the gaLder results OF his genius.
II not until had witnessed the exquisite imper
sonations Of Miss Helen Fauclt that had the least
appreciation Of his dramaf!c art They have dwelt
IN my memory since, witness In themselves
sufficient for the conviction that MO satisfactory high
general criticism his dramas Is possible without
Tho assistance of stage Interpretation
DR.. Furness says: IL cannot but think that
have bccn peculiarly favored In my Introduction to