New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-17
LITERARY NOTES.


Mr.. Aldrich is preparing q new book An Old
Town by the seA7-POrtsmouth. of course. His
charming article printed In scrbnero not long ago
Is TO form a part OF tho volume
Poor Walt whitman, lkesevery other author of any
prominence, has 10 suffer from tho incussons OF tho
ambitious young writer's who want advice encourage.
ment, fstery and advertising, all gratis. Ono OF
these called upon him the other day with tragedy
IN MS. Mr.. whitman" said he, Z" should like TO
read you my drama and got your opinion Of Its merits"
mo, thank you,' said the old gentleman, 1Pve
been paraIyLed once
Hn man." says The Saturday Review" VIII.
by no without truth, announce his completed
intention Of emitting barbarc yaup,' he must
rec kon with the expression Of the sentiments
OF persons who do not like barbsric yaups.
II, desiring TO DO new, no rushes to
cheap and obvious ways of being, not new but merely
novel, employs groteSque vocabulary, and dscards
Tho ornaments Of rhyme and Of recognized verso,
no cannot cat the cake OF eeeenteity and yet have
that of classic recognition" Mr. whitman himself
hardly say that this is unreasonable.
Friedrich Bodenstedt, the German poet, VIII cels-
brate his SEVENTEEN birthday on the ed OF April.
His friends and admirers-among which he counts
many IN this country-intend TO present him homo
on that occasion Wiesbaden, where he lives now,
and for that purpose solicit contributions, which may
be sent to the chairman Of the committee, Dr. Edward
AnSield, In Wiesbaden, Germany. Bodcnstedt has
travelled in the United states, lectured here about
four or ave years ago, and has written intelgeny,
alphabetically and appreelatngly Of Institutions.
His fame poet win prObsbly rest In the opinion
Of his countrymeu, upon Mira Schary," his well
known collection Of Oriental poems fun OF singular
beauty, simplicity and refinement AS translator
he achieved IN German version Of Eugene onagin,'
Puschkin's masterpiece literary tour-de-foree equal
.sI.,.Fn .f.Nlo - oatasn In
It's faithful rendering of the original both regards
the difficult metro Of the poem and the peculiarly
delicate favor which pervades all the writings Of the
great Russian.
II the persistent reader Of new books were 10
examine himself on the question, Am no. little
tired Of the Andrew Lang essayP there Is strong
possibility that himself would answer ayes Ills
minor topic editorials in =" The London Daily News'
are pleasant reading but they hardly brilliant
enough to deserve preservation in book form. Never.
tleIesS into book they golng-and tho book win
appear here as we'll in England.
A reader Of Mrs Mary II. Foote'S new Century,
Soriato Mrs. Foote Don't-don't use again such an
ouuandsh BIT Of foreign dialect fash; and DONE
oh, d0nt-say again that anybody or anything is
growthy.'' good English style Is an excellent
thing in writer.
How many men 10 whom omUos and "Typoeo
woio delights In their younger days realize that
Herman Melville Is stu In tho land Of the living.
though he writes no morci lie dwells in NewYork
near the University Club, and Is a handsome and
vigorous, If elderly, man.
Tho Rev. J. q. Wood, whose death Is reported from
England will DO missed by all lovers OF natural his
tory Mr.. Woods books about animals arc among
the most entertaining OF their kind conveying not
only great deal OF valuable and delightful instruc
ton, but also many quiet little lessons in ethics
Mr. Wood, who was sixty-twO years old, was the son
OF surgeon who was at one time chemical lecturer
at the MIddlesex Hospital in London
"Les Employees Is to be the next BalEac transla
ton by Miss wormeoy
Miss Frances E. willard says that she has ,.,
down with absolute fidelity tho reoolections OF her
self which will appear In her forthcoming book
"Gllmpses OF Fifty Years. One Of the illustrations
is to DO Miss Wizards first compositions written at
the age OF ten aud . half
Ada Ellen Bayly, otherwise Edna Lyalls made
up her mind at the venerable ago of ton 10 bs a
novelist Her first story she wrote while still IN
her teens. Whom asked not long ago about the way
hor books were written, Miss Bayy said TIE oon-
cepon OF my central character comes before nv Mot
then plan the circumstances In which his indlyidu-
aty can DO brought out and the minor characters by
which he Is TO be surrounded think every novel
should have purpose, provided II is not too prom.
inently thrust forward. write for two or three
hours In tho morning, but the time take over my
work varies.S
Ihorc are very winning things told concerning tho
late Dr. Gudbrand Vigfusson the distinguished Oxford
scholar This man, of immeas4 learning, was as
simple In his religious faith q ohld and he had an
almost childish love Of flowers. Nothing pleased him
bottcr than an afternoon rsmble in wood.
A correspondent Of "Notes aud ouersess cites the
example Of Pope, Byron, Keats and Moore In proof
of the statement that vase rhymes to aces
and grace" Then he goes to ask: The question
Is, Was such pronunciation Of vase the pure well Of
English uudened or was 70 only poetic license or
caprice, fashion. customi OF course, many words
alter their pronunciation from sge 10 age and vase'
may be ono Of them rs a. present. think the word IS
gcucraly pronounced though II rhymed with stars
Nutta In the preface TO his Dictionary says, Tho
standard Of pronunciation Is not the authority Of any
dictionary or Of any orthospst but Il tho present
usage Of literary and weilbred society II this BE- go