New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-04
LITERARY NOTES.

| notable improvement. II was made upon iour'
| liths vote of the subscribers.
Arthur T. CUTLER Couch is the name of the author
| Of Tie Splendid F'pu2 - and other successful
| novels.
| In the lately published "reminiscences OF Colonel
Davidson there Is pleasant little glimpse OF dinner
| with Carlyle and TennysOn I'm the course Of con
versation they spoke about the difficulty of making
| speeches: when TcnnysOn said II allowed TO st ne
might manage II, but il severe upon the nerves
to stand mp when every else was sitting The
question discussed TO whether they would
accept titles II offered. Tcnnyson was disposed to de-
cline such honors for himself, and said no title could
excel the simple name Of Thomas Carlyle After
dinner long clay pipes were laid the table, and
smoking parliament began. When went upstairs,
II WAS most interesting to hear these two men talk.
and noticed that when Carlyle was at loss for a
poctlcal quotation Tennyson promptly supplied IT,
In Colonel Davidsons book appears a curious letter
written 10 him by Mrs Carlyle, and telling how Miss
Gcorgina CraI began her career a novelist. The
smallpox writes Mrs. Carly lc, made very pretty
girl into very plain one. and the consciousness OF
her spoiled looks drove tho girls exubcrant Young lfe
all inward, which has RACED and Grated under shy
sod sefconsciOus exterior. til finally, after
thirteen years ii has burst out In passionate all for
! love thrcc-volumc novelln To this unknd and I'M
charitable statement Mrs. Carlyle adds opinion
which, TO say the least, j. not enlightened: TO
have written successful novel is a fault as
| well a. a misfortune for young lady, think
Mr.. Arlo Bates tells in "Thc Book Buyer a
story decidedly worth quoting the story OF an Incl
| dent which told the othc- day by a lady who
] lives outside Of Boston Her hu.s'd is professional
| man in a pleasant little village. and both not
only Of literary tastes but OF ycd literary ability.
They wishei 10 do something for the intellectual de-
| vcopmcnt Of their fellow villagers and took sd-
vantage Of the fashion for Browning clubs b. get
| started in the town.
with genuine literary generosity they made the
! Invitation to Thu, general. and. somewhat to the
surprise Of those who were present couple Of
! nill hand. Young men Of especial education. but
! u good Intelligence. came 10 the first meeting. II
RAY have been with the idea that thce would
| feel AT home II they AT given an
active part. but. from whatever reason. 10 each Of
/ them was assigned poem which he was to read
/ aloud at the next meeting Of the club.
The event proved the wisdom OF the act. The
two workmcu ~ the study Of the poems in gpod
earnest They said Aft@rwArt that at first they could
not make mu out If them. bat that In the end they
took on coat and wai.tcoat. and for half the night
not but several times they studied the lines.
that when 1t came 20 the reading their rendering was
del ghtfuly INTEL gent They had entered the door 20
intellectual life.
The thought II those two honest fellows sitting by
| the midnight lght-n which probably burned tho
most prosaic Of kerosene oiI!-wordng in their shirt
| sleeves with patience and energy most
pathetic. and emnenty characteristic Of what IS best
In the progress Of the age
Mr.. Go,,c quotes this note written to him by
! Robert Browning: " -Four poems. II moderate
length. which represent their author fairly II knew
what moderation exactly meant the choice would
/ be easier. Let me say-at venture
Lyrical: saul 'Abt Voglcr
! "Nauntive: A rorgivcnes,.
| " Dramatic. 'Callban stetebos.'
! "Idyllic. nn the Greek sense): Give
(Which means that. being restricted to four afps
In the lucky bag. should not object to be Judged
hy these sampcsso Ear these go-for there is
! .omcw hat behind still.7
Mr.. Charlie, Dudley Warner has written for the
June Atlantic ~ article entitled tn. Novel and
the Common school,
saturday Review or. tired OF reading diatribes
against book criticism. rctorts I'm kind when any
member Of the non procs,ona public writes a book.
song sermon he and his relations begin 81 bestr
/ Themselves They worry the cousins and aunts OF
pcopl, they who have friends or relations con.
ncctcd with literature. They apply Thackcrays advice
/ that. II You wish 10 be asked b. party. YOU should
ak to be- asked. They desire to be reviewed favoraby
and then ask for that bcnevolcnce either In their own
Interests or those OF their friends They do not say
/ Here is book We believe 10 b. good read IT, and
II YOU agree with ~ In public They never
dream that the merit, 81 wor. have anything 70 do
with IT, favorable reception. They know the antlor
/ and they have met the critic they send the critic
the tome. and AK him To praise them. No
all Is ever given for this immoral action except the
accident Of Acquaintance. often there is not even an
acquaintance NJ second third hand and critics receive
letter, from absolute stranger, asking tor praise and
praise Is Ia b" given merely because II has been de
manded. The critic. the public thinks does even
need 10 bee bought he always ready to give himself
his opinions. vuth. learning and justice awav in
spirit OF charity. Nay be IS regarded a churish
boor II he does not favorably which, of course
he doc not
Mr.. o. u. Frothnghams book on Boston Unitarian
ism Is coming ont neXt month.
Henry NJ. stanley says in letter To Me.srs Fords
Howard a Hubert, praislng their publication "An
! Appeal 10 Pharaoh:
There Is space enough In section Of the Upper
of the United states. without disturbing single tribs
immense Upper Congo Forest Country $50 900 square
miles In extent which i three times larger than tho
than The entire German Empire. embracing .24 coo 600
acres Of umbragcou, forest land wherein every unit
ucarl, quarter square mile OF land. Five acres
Of ths, planted win bananas and pantains, would
tate would furnish linn with timber rubber rnns
dyc-tul, for sale. There $50 day, Of rain through
ont the year. There is clear stream every few hun
drrd yards; In M days Journey we have crossed a.
aud eqnablc, owing 10 the impervous forest which
protects the land from chilly wind, and draughs All
white Officers passed through the wide safely
! Eight navgahlc rivers course through it. Hills and
ridges diversity the scenery ana give magnificent pros
poets To those In the south accustomed TO
Arkan,a,, Mississippi and louisiana IL would be q
reminder of their own plantations. without the swamps
and the depressing Influence 81 cypress forests Any
thing and everything might be grown in Il. from the
oranges, guaNa, Suparranc and cotton Of sub tropical
land. to the wheat Of California and rice Of South
Carolina. II the emigration prudcntly conceived
and carried out the glowing accounts sent home by
the first settlers would soon disslpatc all fear and
reluctance the part Of the Others.
MIR. Robert T.. Francillon IS author half French.
half English who has written In the way OF fiction a
few uncomm0ny clever things and several poor things.
lie has lately appeared a The Editor OF The
Royal.i,r - magazine started to what seems per
fcctly nnncccs,nry and snpererOgatorY-to champion