New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-07
LITERARY NOTES.

Mr.. George E. woodberry's "Forum' paper, dealing
chiefly with the commercial motive in literature seems
IA ms unduiy pessimistc and in truth, somewhat III
considered While we concede that the money -geouns
worsh ipping spirit may possibly have some de
torioratng effect minor literature we 40 hoe ooe
that IL viii either extngush or influence actua' seu,
The sting Of sordid poverty, the misery OF oir's "
.cnoble surroundings are not absolutely necessary W
the birth of lofty thought and the thought Is no es
Loft, n after Il Is recorded the thinker descends from
his mood of inspiration to await another In peace anu
comfort The householders ease In which Shakespeare
died would seem to show that the greatest OF poe's "
not without thrifty regard for properly ye' VIC .a
not see that the commercial motive WORKED any in''
10 his genius II we were inclined TO agree WIN M
u,ans an his theory that genius is hard worked, we
might also agree with Mr. Woodbury. In ms apparent
fear as to the effect of commercal ciVihzaon V''
Hterature. AS 1t is, do not In the ies'
that this civilization will either hurt OF re,au ""
literature II Mr., woodberry were 10 remember "''.
In many directions we stl In the trammeis Vi
coonialIsm IT, above ALL he were to read our htera'
bisorv in the HIGHT of that fact he would, we tn'
be willing to admit that the growth OF our htera'uis
has been eminently healthy natural ana "soi"u'' "
that IT SHOWS a magnificent promise
He does much less than justice to onr magazines us
The nurseries of authorsso mucn less as 10 sussos ~
suspicion that he rarely READS shelh'
The two volumes for 1890 of the Hakluyt society
hav inst aen
~ Francois Legnat to Rodriguez, Mauritlus, e'c'
a,,od NV Cansan Oliver. The Society has in prepa-
rat,on editions OF the "Travels of Leo Airlcanus oi
the voyages of Foxe and James to HUI pms bay ;
~ Raleieh,s aDiscoverie of the Empire OF Guiana
and Of pampier's voyages
rbere Is a good deal Of tnsel in Mrs. Amee Rivess
storv in ~The Cosmopolitan" it is much to be reared
that the young baby has not greatly impro'eu nef
literary theories and performances.
II NAV without cxaggeration he said that Ma'the"
Arnold detested Brownings verse. As to me greater
poets opinion Of the others poetry, MIS- UT leoe'
biography gives satisfaction; but IN ietler W
The Athenaeum" she is more explicit. "bro"hns
loved Mr. Arnolds POEMS" she says, ana mace a'
Least ope other person love them. think Inc "Spsy
Scholar was that which most appealed TO MN ana IL
IN the ono instance recall OF MS petrayis sym
pathy with a dramatic lyric sadness WHICH heiu s
reflection upon life. 1 first knew the poem through
the lines in which Ii characterzes our mooerh eAseoo
as strange disease tale Of sick hurry ana dViuea
aims: and they have lived in my memory through
these many years In the sound OF the 10" paVhou'
voice in which he repeated them something VI Ills
feenv may be gathered from passage in une ict'er
10 Miss Blagden which have partly gwen ~ p -o'
of the life But he fully appreciated Empedocies, as
indeed its author knew; and in their order OF merit
oil the other POEMS / think there can be no unklnd-
moo IN saving that Mr. Arnold was less just toward
him"
1n,.s Claretie ouotes the most fashionable book
seller in Paris as declaring that the French puDnc Is
now engaged in reading history; that the novelsts
ore Losing eroupdn and that historical literature and
Arguments viii henceforth have the upper hand OF
IMAGINATIVE literature In the line of these state
mens is this interesting paragraph which we find in
sThe Pail Mall Gazette:
Paris is experiencing just a curious crisis IN
me hook trade These arise from time to time, for the
mnblshng trade Is no free from overproductlon
~ q rnts than any other branch of commerce. There
are sbout a dozen authors who command the french
market and some four five whose popularity seems
counted not by dozens, but by hundreds And SUI
the publishers 20 on issuing. A few days ago tie
publisher Of of these popular authors haa 4oVVo
Comics of his venture returned % him. Ihey We're
fhe Volumes that had been sent to the different rail-
yav st,tiOns There had been scarcely any SALE tiey
ali came back And vet this author was very popular
The EXPLANATION is the prevalent plan of sending works
first through the press feuilletons The mover pd
lost its freshness II discounted before IL was Is
s1,ed This system is found TO tei on the more ex
nensiye volumes Lately art publication, an edluon
De luxe, magnifoently brought out lHustraeo VIII
original engravings literally announced ana gener-
Ousy criticised, back to the publisher win oly
one COPY sold: second venture published at guinea
ortained sale of six examples and then the edlton
was sold out fol and o hall francs copy. A.
nresent Is understood there 100000 volumes OF
novels on the hands OF Paris publishers which cannot
be got rid of. Aud this number grows from gay 70
yoinmes should be distributed at country fairs as
urges for children, instead of gingerbread or sweets
but that the Project of Police interred and stopped
fhe prartiCe.