New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-17
LITERARY NOTES.

HThe greatest and deepest Of all human eontro.
VERSES says Mr. Gladstone, apropos Of Mss Mar
garct Lees novel, us the marriage controversy.
It appears to DO surgng up on all sides around
and every book which helps definitely to map out
is lines has that aceout both interest and value'
committee of the American Oriental Society
have issued a circular inviting the cooperation OF
experts librarians and scholars generally in obtain
ing information concerning whatever Oriental Mss.
may bo owned In this country. Tho society asks for
this information with view 10 tho ultimate publ
cation Of comprehensive catalogue OF tho Mss. In
a worthy manner, and calculated 10 serve all tho
useful purposes Of the Oriental catalogues OF the
great libraries OF Europe The manuscripts which
arc the subject OF inquiry include all the ancient
and modern languages and dialects Of Asia, with
those Of Egypt and Ethiopia whatever be the subject
matter OF the manuscript whatever DO the character
Of tho writing for elegance or negligence, whatever
DO tho material upon which It IS written, whstevo
be its state Of preservation, whatever DO It's
length or size.
There IS mournful, majestic and sullen music in
the extracts which Frederic Harrison has lately given
from the privately printed poems OF Margaret L.
Woods. They mako tho reader greatly desire e
nearer acquaintance with her verse, pessimstlc as
II IS. Mrs. Woods is tho wife OF the president OF
Trinity College, Oxford, and tho author OF re-
markable story, "A Village Tragedy
Mr. Harrison calls one OF Mrs. woodss poems the
very Dead March OF pessimsm'
saw this monstrous grave the earth
Shake with spasm as though Of birth.
And shudder with sulen sound,
AS though tho dead stirred I'm the ground
And that great angel grit with fame
Cried TIL tho heavens rent around
"Come forth, 70 dead p-Yct no man came.
Then there was silence overhead:
But far below the ancient dead
Mutterod as II in mockery
And there was darkness In tho sky,
And rolling through the realm OF death,
Laughter and some obscure reply,
With tongues that interpretoth.
"The dreamer OF this nightmare vision of human nfc
hears the laughter Of the undecided dead. They
have drained tho cup of life to the bitter dregs /;
they whore tho weary are at rest; there they
choose to rest still"
Lie still, ye dead, lie stu and sleep.
The windy moors OF Nantucket arc to appear IN
n novel which is in the press Of Houghton, Mifiin
a Co. Tho author Is Mary G. Lee, and tho title
Of her book is "A Quaker Girl OF Nantucket Ono
who should vvidly and justly set forth the charms
Of Nantucket could not but mako winsome story
collection Of schopenhauer's letters IA 10 bo
published in Germany-a collection which NAV be
notable contribution to literature, though not
TO the philosophy which brghtens life and inspres
progress.
In the epIlogue dated last September, with which
Mr. Rusldn concludes the final and complete edition
Of Modern Painters Just issued, tho author sums
up the vital purpose" of the work as follows =
:" The claim OF the personal relation OF God TO man
as the source OF all human, as distinguished from
brutal, virtue and art.p "The religious falths ho
continues, ~ on which my own art teaching Is based
| has been further defined; nor have wished
to define II further, than in the sentence beginning
| tho theoretical part of Modern Painters: Mans
use and purpose Is to be tho witness Of the glory
Of God, and to advance that glory by HIS reasonable
obedience and resultant happiness Nothing Is here
| said Of any tradition OF Fal, Of any scheme OF
Redemptlon nothing Of Eternal Punishment, nothing
| Of immortal Life It Is assumed only that man
can love and obey living Spirit; and can be happy
IN the presence and guidance OF Personal Deity,
| otherwise than mollusk, beetle, or baboon."
| IN conclusion, Mr.. Ruskn says And now, In writ
| ing beneath the oloudless peace Of tho SHOWS Of
| chamouni, what must DO tho really final words OF
| the book which their beauty inspired, and their