New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-05
LITERARY NOTES.

Mr. Rider Haggsrd Is devoting himself to the paint
ing IN words Of royal ladies. Having given to tho
world a portrait Of Cleopatra which certainly seems
to wear the color Of truth, he is now contemplating
a story with Queen Esther for heroine. His
proposed journey In Asia Minor aud Persia Will furnish
the local atmosphere.
Professor Henry DrimmOnd author OF Natural
Law in the Spiritual World and OF Tropical Africa
has written for the juno scrbncr- paper on "sIav.
cry in Africa Professor Drummond believes that the
closing Of this century will witness the rise OF
a great international movement for the abolition OF
this wrong.
II IS related concerning Mr. HOwes that he once
appeared In ordinary evening dress at a costume
bail where every expected to attend a,
one OF Walter Scotts characters. He cevery juStt-
fed this irresuarity By explaining that he rrpre-
senting one the bcst-known characters In SCOTS
novels, the oftrecurrng gentle readers
Tho American Library Association will meet At St.
Louis next week. The programmes include annual
reports cataOglng charging systems elias, flea
ton, fires. library architecture. the rradng OF the
young and sunday opening. Papers promsei by
Mr.. ". l. Fletcher, Library Suprrs titions7; by
Mr.. ". Z. Foster. The Use OF Subject Catalogues
by Mr.. G.. W. Harris. on German Publishing Meth.
ods' by Mr. n. d. Patten on Library Architecture
by Mr.. 7. II. Wallace, on 81 State Libraries AMI by
Mr.. J. c. Whitney "Accents'
Gail Hamilton has written three papers what she
has entitled - The Murder Of Philip Spcnccr"-thc
tragic execution at the yardarm for mut!ny of
the Of Secretary spencer These papers will sp-
pear In The Cosmopolitan"
There said to be in the Library OF the Vatican
% $50 Mss, a large proportion OF which Greek
and Oriental. The famous Ms. OF the Greek Bible,
the Codcx vsrfcsnus.- has hitherto been jealousy
guarded that professod scholars have not been
allowed really TO examine It II Is now, however
more accessible. Looked at merely a. a piece Of
writing, the Ms. is Singulsrly nne the letters arc
clear distinct, and well formed, and there is plenty
OF space between the lines, that the reading OF It
becomes with a little practice, by no means difficult
Another treasure also be found I'm the Is
the pslimpsest copy, discovered by Cardinal Mai, Of
Cicero De Republica." The most interesting feature
in this interesting fragment Is the complete success
with which the ancient underlying writing has oeeu
recovered 1t is harily possible believe that the
clear wedenned letters before you have been covered
up by other writing for perhaps a thousand years.
Another treasury of valuable MSS is that on MOUNT
AthOs. The total number OF Mss. in the twenty
Libraries on this mountain Is 5,57o Professor TambroS
Is cataogunc them, and OK poets to find among them
many things OF unique interest to the biblical
student.
Life in Montana" IS the ti'lc OF a forthcoming
work by y p Langfort 1t viii De issued by Cup
pie, lIum In two volumes, and Is described as picur
csque
Tho late Louis Ulbach was the means Of intro,
ducnr to the world the pretty but far from important
book OF the Queen Of Runania, the Pcnsocs dune
Renc7 when travelling in Rumauia, he vas pre-
sented the Queen, and enthusiastically regretted
that he couldn't read any Of her works In German.
Thcrcupon attendant COurticrS Informed him that
that precious privilege might be his in French. 50
Of thn W.