New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-18
LITERARY NOTES.


regions of the French short story No one will assert
OF course that the object Of this enthusiasm Is not
thing OF art and beauty; but ii must be ahnitteu
that great deal of the worship Is affected and I'M
thinking In truth there have been short stories pro-
duced in this country which take rank with the best
work of F1ance-p perfectly finished sketches OF HE
and character which it I, the sliest provinciaism
to depreciate in favor of foreign model the
race genius of the Anglo saxon differs from that
OF the Ganl-but each In its kind Is
good. We take leave to say that Hawthorne and
Bret IIarte-and Miss wilkins and Miss Jewctt, Tor
the matter Of that-have written short stories when
sparkle in coors vivid and deathess those to be
found in VI. de MaupasSant's gems. There is FAR 100
much twadde current about the literary art" and the
exquisite styen Of the French. Granted that all
that is said OF that art and that style is true they
arc still the art and style Of another race and the
best imitation is but pnchbeck. and thing Of SNORT
life.
There is little sketch by Esther Carpenter in "The
Century" which, in It's pathetic simplicity and truth
to l6man nature and rustic character need ask no
odds of any corresponding French study. Mrs. Car
penters talent has been noted before In volume oi
rural sketches; and it is TO be hoped that she VIII
continue the which promises to place her beside
those students of homely life and character Miss
Jewett Miss wilkins, Mrs. Rose Terry Cooke and MISS
Maria Louise Pool.
Another winsome and artistic bit of fiction of the
month is Mr.. Janver's Harper story, NJ inc
Casa Napoleon" II may be little artificial in spots
but its sunny humOr makes amends for any such
defect and cOmmcnds IL to than the appreciation
Of the readcr-to his affection. Mr.. Janver has not
vet eaualed his beautiful san Antonio of tho
Gardens"-aS Mr. Clarence King has not again touched
his high mark of Mambrno's Helmet" but from both
we expect even better things in the future.
Eugene Field will publish next spring new volume
Of verse. The edition private oneJ will be limited
to 100 copies, numbered. will have portrait Of the
author and will be printed in two colors. on japanese
paper. Mr.. Fields Little Book OF Western Verse;
and his Little Book of Profit able Tales published by
the Scribners, In their fifth ctiitlons-a fact
which shows that Americans know good books when
they them.
Mary IIartwcll CatherwOOd, the author OF "The
Romance Dollard" and several books for children
which show even original talent than that re
vcalcd in the more ambitious works. Western
woman, living Chicago. She is described as
young hazclcycd, and the happy posse'sor Of great
deal Of good sense. Concerning the West she says
get inpatient sometimes with the question, Does 10
pay applied everything, but. after all. IT Is per
fcctly natural They had the country to conquer. the
prairics tame. and il necessary to make every
stroke pay 1t i, the key note of the life. but when
you understand it, you do not so much mind"
Never did written words more exactly express the
man than DO Francis Wilson's merry "reminiscences In
"Lippincott7 Who wonld have uessed that that
airy comedian the Of stad members Of the
society Of Friends. who looked with much diSfavor
upon everything theatrical who would have dreamed
that the Merry Monarch" and the irresistible Caddy
had ever cherished resolution TO enter the realm OF
high tragedy We have not a few poor ira
gedians there can be for the NewYork Of today but
one Cadcaux.
General Beauregard's "Battc of Manassas" a reply
to General Joseph f. Johnston Is in the press Of e. p
Puinam's Sons.
Edward Marston IS ono Of the English publishers
who is not TO be scared by any copyright bill. Il
will venture he says the modern suggestion that
English publisher, are the best friends of English
authors they may 60 further and fare worse. do
not much believe in the necessity for English manu-
facturcr, to rush to America to raise competitive
Establishments there. / do not tremble Mt the idea
Of American publishers rushing over here To buy up all
the English authors and smash up poor English pub
fishers my feeling would rather be one akin 10 pity for
them In attempting to smash Us it is just possible
that their knucldeS may suffer-
Professor Max Muller says concerning our pending
Copyright bill
anticipate nothing but good from this bill. \
larger market Will make it possible to reduce the
price ol books both In England and in America.
That Will be the greatest gain. the extra expense
~ double composition both in England and America
i, "a very small matter compared with the securing
Of the American and. indirectly the colonial markets.
doubt whether even the English printer will suffer.
Very English authors viii Ike the worry ana risk
of printing their manuscripts IN America to say
nothing IT the expense Of Importing the hook, into
England Beside, there are many things 20 be con
sdercd IN the printing. the binding the advertising and
selling of book, that doubt whether at present any
ribl,ner or author accurately gang fle effects
Which the American Copyright bill viii produce. one
ctcct. however. quite certain. Like maritime
piracy which an honorable occupation IN the age
siirrrd honorable. viii die ont, and very the
few surviving deNpciadocs Will hnd 1t an unproht-
able profession
Before Us II" two piles Of magazines of The month
tre English and the American: and turn nom the
foreigners 10 the natives with swelling pride in orr
authors and artists. There Is English periodical
in the same field that even approach this royal
number Of Harper: Tho Century" I'm value OF text
and beauty Of Illustration Is far from the scope OF
British achievement. The Atlantic" does bow
to Macmillan" in vigorous and lofty literary spirit;
Scribncr" has no CORE pOndlng English rival. And
a, regard the lore OF wood, and waters. what foreign
hand offers anything a good a. our own breezy
Outingr, Wen not 20 with the li,t-lt's too long.
II Is a curious fact that. while the American periodicals
90 on from one Improvement TO another there IS little
change from year 10 year their ncichborS OF
sea- except now and then, IN The direction Of de
terioratiOn.
Colonel Dodge'> second volume. IN his series on the
great soldiers of history. viii deal with Hannibal.
The book IS coming from the press.
An anccdoie Of Leigh Hunt. once related BY "Orion"
Horne. lately appeared IN print for the first time.
Horne. a bitterly cold day in winter. went To SEQ
Hunt. and found him In large room with wide. old
fashioned fireplace lie had dragged his piano on 10
the hearth close TO a large fire. leaving only room for
himself and his chair. and WAS PLAYING with the
greatest enjoyment. My dear fellow cried Horne.
are you avian, that YOU running your plano for
ever and ever i'm that heat 80 lmOw--l know
murmured Hunt, but It i, delicious
Among the hitherto unpublished letters OF Charles
Lamb which Mr.. W. G.. Iazltt has given 10 tho
forthcoming "Alantic7 VIII appear queer note of
coincidence written to Thomas Hood. The death OF