The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-12
he Literary World Has Been a
Desert for the Past
Month.
wo Stage Queens, Aged Eighty
or More, Meet and Shake
Hands.
vemyss Reid's Life Of Lord Houghton-
Who Will Succeed Tennyson ~
"Poet Laureate ?"

LONDON, OCG. 1.-cOT Gu0 1aeC mOut0 Tue
terary world has been desert. Even the
lvertisement columns of the literary week
es have confined themselves to announce
! ents of educational works, and manuals
u the seaside. But now an autumn wind
! blowing, the bracken is turning brown,
,e heather is dying, the last poppy has
sshed among the wheat, the trains return
townwards are full, plans are being
ade for the winter and we talk much over
10 books that are coming. Among the
,oks that will be most read are Fanny
smble's two volumes of "Last Records" !"
hich are to be published Immediately.
ney are sure to be vigorous and full of an
dotes, as were the preceding ones. All
q writes is interesting, just as all she says
worth hearing. She must be eighty and
ore; woman of many friendships and
any experiences, and of strong individ-
.lity. She is celebrated for her bluntness,
y wit and generosity. There is rhyme
out her which I cannot quote correctly
om memory, but it gives clue to her
aracter, which is amusing. It runs some
ing like this:
n There was an old lady called Kemble.
Who never would stoop to dissemble,
Her mildest reply
Was, well, it's q lie.''
That vivid old party called Kemble.
A curious meeting took place last winter
dramatic entertainment given for the
nefit of an excellent charity known as
little Johnny's Nursery" The charity is
most entirely supported, as it is entirely
anaped, by Mrs. Rogerson, a large-heart-
woman known to many in the literary
,rld. 1t drew together all sorts and con-
tions of celebrities. Among them, es-
rted by Henry James, who is her attached
end, of many years. standing, was Mrs.
,mble. A little way off sat Mrs. Kelley,
10 was taken there by Mrs. Brookdeld
10 original Of Thackeray's Amelie, and
, mother of Charles Brookfeld, the
cory Never in all the forty years in
.ich one has been queen of tragedy as
other of comedy had the two women
,ken to each other. It was ridiculous, it
pathetic, and uncomfortable enough to
lookers-on; it was like the two men in
lbert's Bah Ballad who had ''never been
reduced" A mutual friend made them
own to each other at last. and there at
> end of their lives they stood and clasped
nds and spoke-they who had known the
ne hopes and strivings and ambitions at
, beginning.
Another book that is certain of being
lely read is Wemyss Reid's Life, Let
9 and Friendships of Richard Monckton
Ines, First Lord Houghton." The long
le perhaps explains why the book has
zen SO long to produce for Mr.. Reid has
On years about it, though to be sure he
, also been busy bringing out that dull
paper in London, "The Speaker" Lord
ughton's life is not expected to be par
i'd writer or indeed much better than a
okmaker when he thinks proper to pro-
ce q volume; all his brightness and keen
|lgment seem to have been left behind at
5verpool with the journal he left in order
come to London. Still, it cannot be
ler than interesting whether it be we'll OF
done, for Lord Houghton was man who
,rything. His breakfast parties were Gel
.ated-to 90 to them was distinction
d at them was always to be found the
ming genius and the most inaccessible of
MS. 1t was this last characteristic Of his
|iertalnments that gave rise to the we'll
own story of two people talking, II
nder what would happen if Christ came
earth again?" said the first. HE would
to breakfast with Lord Houghton," an
|sred the second.
t was Lord Houghton, too, who defined
ne as hearing parody of one of his own
igs sung by negro on the banks of the
10. His correspondence must have given
biographer some trouble for he is said
have kept every note he ever received,
ich may be an unpleasant reflection to
ne of his friends, unless Mr.. Reid has
n singularly discreet.
he death of Lord Rosslyn has removed |
of the possible successors of Tennyson.
9 queen. it was said, had determined |
t he should succeed to the laureateship.
ose who know SWinburne we'll saw that If |
were offered to him he would, having |
n the error of his earlier and more re-
|,lican days, accept it and even write the |
ulation odes with fervor and thanksgiv- |
Seeing that William Morris is impos-
i, Swinburne is far away the biggest of |
poets. after Yennyson. and ought to
offered the post of honor. Failing him
re is a growing feeling in favor of Lord |
ton, who long ago achieved a certain |
cunt of fame as poet under the nom de
me of Owen Meredith. He is
great poet but we have only
inbulne. and Tennyson. There are two
ts who are supposed to be lying in wait,
b with political standpoint of his own
Iich may or may not some day be of use
IniM. They may only be minor poets as
le declare, or poets of higher degree, but
|tainly none among us would venture to
either of them great. And If we can
have great poet again after Tennyson
|7ould be better, seeing that the laureate
| court official, to have courtier like
| d Lytton, who is also a man of letters
distinction, and who has written some
lag that may well be called poetry. He
aid at least hold the laureateship in
|hion that would not at some future day
Ter greater than himself from accepting
Moreover. it is said on excellent author /
that Tennvson declared that, failing
nburne. Lord Lytton would be the best
Icessor he could find.
cheap edition of Marie Bashkirtseff's |
rnal is announced, and, If what the
kseilers say is true, is likely to sell in
usands. Four large editions of the ex-
L-ve edition were sold in as many
rths. but the story goes that for the
'1slatlon, which NO one else in England
Id have done equally well. and for her
st excellent introduction. Miss Blind has
not only because / hope, seeing that
publishers may have made q small for
e by the book, that the story is untrue,
also because it will be seen that ACCUSE
ps are sometimes hurled at English as
as at American publishers.
t the same time id spite of her excellent
nner of Translation, it is pity Miss
|hd does not confine herself to original
IL. She u . woman not only of talent
edssatiea. bat e spaias. Why does