New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-03
LITERARY NOTES.

James JEFFREY Roche the Editor Of "The Boston
Pitot,s has written volume to be included in the
Madmfllans valuable and interesting adventure
Series" He has taken his subject "The Flibusters
Of the Spanish MAN,"
The Rev. Haskell Smith, who was disciple of
Laurence Ophant and who Is the present director of
ELEPHANTS community at Haifa, has written a book
about his master and his teachings Ii Is in the shape
Of novel the is laid in Palestine and the title
is "For God and Humanity Romance Of Mount Car
MEL
The mention of Laurence Oliphant reminds TO in
quire il the publishers Of Mrs Oliphant's uncommOnly
attractive biography Of that eccentric genius intend to
Issue a cheaper edition. The present price of the two
volumes-seven dollars-s prohibve for many would
be readers. less expensive edition would no doubt
be welcomed by many people.
The American edition Of "The Review Of Reviews"
has many claims to entertain and be entertained by
The general reader 1t is really an admirably condensed
record Of a months hstory-onc very convenient for
reference and its Illustrations, mainly portraits, give
II interest beyond that Of many similar publications
Mr.. Douglas Sladen's collection Of verses entitled
"Younger American Poets" does not please usually
hind and complimentary friend, "The London spec
ator." It's critic declares that the collection has
hardly sanza or line 10 which tits possible accord
anything approaching genuine admiration the only ex
reptions being few dialect poems, including Mr..
Bret Hartes Heather Chinee7 and Truthful James"
and Colonel Hays Little Breeches' and Jim Bludso
OF these the critic says that he sincerely believes that
they likely to last ANYTHING produced by the
poets Of the present generation He Is reluctantly
forced to admit" however. that "the ordinary work
Of the Younger American Poets ; is utterly without
life. There is no nature, and there is no art All
is emptiness and wind. When we say there is no art
as well nature so advisedly. We are
perfectly willing allow that in one sense there IS
plenty OF art That is, the language is harmonious
liauf fha unpfP ole
Again defects Of taste seldom If ever apparent
Not solecism not a vulGariSm not barbarism Is TO
be discovered 1t is all faulty faultess, cily rcgu
lar, splendidly NIL That is, Of art in the higher
sense there is at all The art which renders MI
swinbune's verse always interesting, which redcems
even Mr. Frederick Myers's literary afectctions which
saves Mr. Lang Mr.. Austin DObson and Mr.. Gosse and
keeps Mr. William Morris's epics from the waves OF
Lethe, is apparent II the minor American poets
had more faults it woud be possible to find them more
Interesting If they INDUCED in the wild limitations OF
pther poets which are to be found for example in the
verse Of Lindsay Gordon. it would be sort OF rehei
AS 1t is their verse is simply depressing. We feel
as If the poets somehow or other speaking win
their mouths full Of sawdust.'
We leave the "younger American poets' to make
their own comments upon this speaking-perhaps
they may consider the collection in fault land con
tnue to quote our English writer, now IN more
coming-on disposition:
-
exception have named so LITTLE vitality, Is o. no
iftIo Interest IL literature whole did not flourish
in America we might say that the soil was not ready
but this is VIGOROUSLY not the case me prose oil te
England Indeed, inclined 10 believe that IL Is
better. In our experience the prose now beng Wrlt
len on the other side of the Atlantic Is OFTEN more
SCHOLARLY and has greater sense OF dlstncuOh ana OF
force and ceames, than this The chances are that
an ordinary American work Of fiction or criticism or
book dealing with politics. law, science or hlst0rN VIII
he less open to objection the score OF style tan one
dealing With similar subjects published in England
certain slovenlness and inelegance often noticeable IN
The work of English writers is seldom 10 be tound
among onr kinsmen Their serious prose Wlthont
being Stlted pompOuS, has the carl restra'ned ar
we note I'm the literature OF the eighteenth century
is certainly, then not any want o. the IuerdIS sel
which INJURIES American Nor again. Is II any
lack Of appreciation Of poetry. Take 1t an IN all the
American public apppcia1ve in regard 70 gCod
poetry than the English. 1t is commonplace that
Mr.. Matthew Arnold and Mr.. browning ana even Lore
fTcnnvSon have had ten admirers in the United states
Tor one in ENGLAND. What then, is the reason we
confess to being utterly unable even to suggest an an
sweE.
That this is the age Of everythingmade-easy' is
certain and one illustration is to be found in recently
published book intended for dull takers. 1t Is a
volume Of Conversational Openings and findings"
from which one may learn divers quips turns and
sparkles.
Herbert spencer's work, "Justice,' is on the
point of publication. considers this the most i'm
portant division of his Principles of Ethics" and has
therefore executed it out of its turn
The success Of last year in British fiction was Mr.
Hall Gaines BOndmdn." Fifteen thousand copies
were sold in less than twelve months.