The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-12-14
Literary Notes.

Gerard Hamilton, member OF the Eng
fish House OF Commons many years ago,
one night made speech Of wOnderlui
bower His colleagues were astOnlsDed.
Although lie often spoke afterwards, ne
never again rose above medl0crity. lie
was given the nickname OF ">ingle-speecn
Hamilton" There are many Single-speech
HamiltOns in literature-writers VINO once
IN their lives nearly grasped the gown OF
immortality. Then, as before. they paddleu
around in the shoals OF the unlmportant'
am Inc med TO think Mrs. Ward VIII DC
known simply as the author OF "RoOert
EIsmere.v Amelia Ryes as the author OF
"The Quick or the Dead" Edward Bel
amy as the authorOf Looking Backward"
Blancne Willis Howard as the author OF
Guenn.r BgckmOre as the author Of"Lorna
Doone.v and Prof. Hardy as the autlOr oil
But Yet Woman" And, after all, 1t Is
A great thing to be a Sngle-speech Hamll-
ton.
Three members of New York's flour hun
bred" are now more or less prominent IN
iterature-Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Cruger,
William Waldorf Aston and Ward McAllis-
Ter. Mrs. Cruger's novel, "The Diary OF q
Diplomat" has been very successful ana Is
| worthy of its popularity. 1t is brilliantly
written. in the French style, and gives EVIL
dence of striking literary ability on tue pdri
of the author. Mr.. AstOr's two historical
novels, ~ alentinO" and "Sforze," display
remarkable talents, and have added new
laurels TO a famous name. Mrs. Cruger and
Mr.. Astor have proved their right 10 front
seats in the temple OF letters. Ward Nc.
Allister's book has placed him among the
| freaks that add variety to the great dilnt
| museum Of literature.
An interesting story is going the rounds
| 10 the effect that Rudyard hipling. he pre-
cOciOus Young man from nowhere, had
| romantic experience IN India. lie lell III
| love with an American woman, the wlle o.
an Englishman holding an official position
| in Calcutta. She returned his affection, and
| Kipling left India for chiyalric motives
| The husband is now dead, and letter iron
| the widow is on its way TO the young ali
| thor. Stevenson married an American. WI
Kipling follow suit?
IL is interesting TO note that booksellers
assert that robert Elsmere" Is as dead a.
| A book we'll can be-fOr what once gels lnt1
| print can never become wholly deiuhct
| Mrs. Humphrey Ward became famous at ;
bound. Perhaps her success was too sudden
| Az all events she has done nothing since
ROBERT Elsmere" worthy of her reputation
| and her chef d'auvre has lost It's grip.
| Captajn Kings latest novel, IAN Army
| Portia." published in the current number
Of Lippincott's, is his best achievement IL
dc:ion. Captain King, having the monop
DIV of the field hitherto neglected by writers
American army life, has steadily improved
| i'm his style and methods. To use thread
bare expression, his works ill long-fel
want.
Look out for a deluge Of biographies
when William +. Gladstone dies. Their
are now in England over one hundred man
uscript biographies of the grand old maj
ready for the press as soon as MS career i
AT an end. The penalties of greatness arr
neither few nor Insignificant.
1t is said that George Ellops books arr
selling better now than at any time since
thew were first published George Elio
was not mere rattle.