New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-12
LITERARY NOTES.

IN
Browning societies do to Mr. Lewis Morrisf us theTe
any reasonable person. asks this rash man, "who
does not think that the present LaureateS inc powers
are greater than could fairly DO devoted with adVah-
tage to the somewhat provincial Arthuran legends
or that the wayward genius which brought Itself down
10 an obscure italian criminal process might not nave
been better Employed And then poor Master MOTIFS
adds remember the dctum OF orion' Horne on TINS
matter we'll SIR he said, Il should like to shut up
Mfr. A. and Mr. b. manning two eminent writers OF
verse; in tower deprived Of all means TO WRITE until
they had fixed upon satisfactory subject, when they
should be let out and set to work. There be those
who have felt in years past that they would Ike to
shut up Mr. Morris and Mr.. Horne in tower until
they had promised TO write any more verse at ALL
A writer who has given us nothing for a long
while has taken up her pen again. Blanche Willis
Howard's new novel Is coming out under tie title
of " A Battle and Boy"
1t is said of the late Sir Richard Burton that I'M
like many clever men, he was pleasant ut home,
always occupied and marvellously sweettempered
about trihes His sister says that the only time
she ever saw him really angry during the years they
spent together at Boulogne was when he found one
Of his nleces straying near the edge of the quay,
which, in common with most places Of the kind
abroad lacked a railing Then he was so brave when
III. Like Sir Walter Scott, favorite hero OF his, nc
allowed amount of pain to interfere VITA his work
Even as a mere boy only next day was 1t known tha'
he had suffered from tOothacheby the swelling OF his
face. In fact he was too brave; for those around
him. accustomed TO less stOcal invallds, were some
times deceived by such extraordinary fortitude.
Mumps raging neuragia and an internal inflammation
severaly attacked him at BoulOgne. During the last
he did incautously remark one day, II this doesn't
yet better before night 1 shall be all angel and at
once inexpressble CONSERVATION regned around
A woman's book has just been crowned by the
French Academy; aud has, moreover. received the
Prlx Montyon of 5000 This is Nile. Blaze dc Bury'S
history Of Anne BOleyn.
French C0pyright Office" has been established In
this city, under the auspices Of Count T. de Keratry,
md Is prepared to furnish Information to those who.
under the new law, wish TO reprint ranslate,-re-
produce dramatize adapt French books. The once
is said to represent the Soclee des Gems de Lettres
the socicte des Auteurs EdeuIs ct Compositeurs de
Muslque" and others.
Why reason about the decline Of pOetry7 Great
poetry never declines it is the poetry which Is good
enough good art" "clever," Of which we have
had surfeit Mr.. Brandcr Matthews holds that ora
torca eoqucnce is drying up because with increasing
wisdom the appeal to the emotions is less and less
likely to succeed, and he adds Sometimes of late l
have found myself wondering whether poetry is now
moving forward to the fate Of oratory. The circum-
stances arc different no doubt and the conditions which
produced the decline of eloquencc have not as yet
revealed themselves in the realm Of poesy." No, nor
ever will while human imagination and emotion exist
at all But it is quite within the bounds Of possibility
that the merely "good enough poetry with which
we are delighted at present will In the future find
neither publishers readers. There are many
signs that people are getting tired of those who "by
long practice can pack exactly two plattudes and
quarter into the compass Of a sonnet" or compress
an inane giggle into the lines Of a triolet.
Professor c. C. Everett, Of Harvard, has written
volume of Ethics for Young People, which is to be
used as a textbook TO aid in the formation OF char
acter and teach duty to ones self and ones negoor
1t Is noted that Ouida's works are translated into
French as fast as they written, which is perhaps
not saving much for either Ouda or for her trans
latOrs and readers.
The writings of the late Count Iielmuh Won MOltkt
will be published as soon possible The official
title of the publication is TO be Tie Collected Writings
and Memoirs of the Field Marshal Cont Helmuth Won
Moltke" The first volume Is already in the hands
of the printer. Many of Moltke's most important
works are in the possession OF the General staff and
will not be made public.