Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-06
Literary Notes.


tales 10 said TO have passed already through
its second edition.
Camp Fires of o Naturalist" Is the
title OF volume announced by ID. Apple
ton a Co. Ii tells of out-of-door life in the
West and of the habits OF the animal
shere. Clarence f. Edwards is the author.
A volume dealing with the various
phases of character and thought in Puri-
tan New England Is being prepared by
Professor Barrett Wendell, of Harvard
University.
Oscar wilde's dramatic works are being
edited by Elkin Mathews and John Lane
The hit that Oscar has made in this kind
of writing shows that those persons who
took him for fool were themselves badly
fooled.
Professor Knight, of st. Andrews Uni
versity. is editing volume for the Scott
Library, which will include all OF Words
worth's important prose writings.
A new story by Alphonso Daudet Is an
nounced. 1t is called - Soutien de Fsmille.'
and will first be published in EI2ustrd'ion.
George Meredith, 1t appears, is entitled
TO the honor of having discovered !"
Thomas Hardy. he was the first TO ap-
preciate Hardy's first successful novel,
''Under the Greenwood Tree" which was
published by Chapman Il Hall on his re-
commentator, after it had met with q
number of refusals by other houses.
Harper Il Brothers have published
"Otber Essays from the Easy Chair" o
second volume of Mr.. George William
Curtis's contributions TO the H1gGzine.
A 80 al ha fha Dntnnuliz
Van Twiller edition of Irving's Knicker-
bocker's History" with 225 drawings by
Mr.. II. w. Kemble. A special edition of
100 copies will be printed. with proofs OF
the tull-page illustrations on Japan paper.
The August Hdrpers will contain w. ID.
Howellss latest one-scene play, Bride
Roses" The action takes place in q florists
shop. and there is an element OF tragedy
in the play.
The August Century has an article of spe-
cial interest to literary folk. IL Is MIR.
Stillmsn's Philosophers Camp" the
philosophers being Emerson. Agasslz,
Lowell. himself, and Others.
In the way OF monthly magazine in
tended TO beguile odd moments OF leisure
or euro hypochondrIac We know of no.
thing brighter or better than The ldler. OF
London. which is republlshed IN this
country oy 5. s. Mcclure, Tribune build
inS, n. Y. Its editors are Jerome x. Je-
rome and Robert Barr, and among its
regular contributors are Mark Twain and
Bret Harte and scores OF English writer's
who have great reputation. The Ider IS
20 be found on book-stalls throughout
Europe and Is beginning to acquire reputa-
ton IN this country also. In 1t noted au-
thOrs cheerfulv unbosom themselves to
tho public and tell Of their first books and
early struggles. II Is a magazine remark
able for Its unconventional stories and IS
particularly fascinating to literary work
ers.
Arthur Ley. Napoleon Inferno. Paris !:
Librarie Plon. h. PLoS. NoURHrT EFT
CIY., Imprimeurs- Editeurs, Rue Garan-
ciere, 10. 1898.
This notable addition to the memoirs Of
the Napoleonic era shows evidences of
wide study and pelnstaking and thor
ough research. M. Levy seeks 10 show,
in opposition TO 1aine's recent dark estl-
mate of him. that Napoleon was neither a
God nor a monster, but mon with every
natural human quality, generosity, warm
family affection, gratitude. cordially be-
ing his essential characteristics.
This conclusion is reached after care
fully weighing information from every
source, the published works of contom-
porary writer's. papers IN private collec-
tons. and official documents in the ma
tioual archives.
The book is not history OF the military
and political career Of the great Napoleon,
50 much,as memoir of the man in his
private life. The chapters Are entitled
respectively, His Early Life, The Hus-
band and Father" The Family" " His
Habits and Opinions end so on. The
account of his early life. his struggles with
dire poverty. his courageous assumption
of the care OF the family" when no was
but 16. on the death OF his father, are pc
culiarly interesting.
On being appointed second lieutenant in
the army he took entire charge of his bro
ther Louis. then about IS, and supported
him on bus meagre pay--a little over S1S a
month He prepared with his own hands
their frugal repasts. Fancy the hero OF
Austerlitz, the great Emperor, making the
| poi.du- 6cu with which they were conn.,
PEELED to content themselves! His leisure
was devoted 10 teaching Louis. even hear
| iGg him repeat his Catechism whom he
was being prepared for his first COM
| muniOn.
All the private letters of Napoleon show
| how entirely his solicitude for Ia JanWs
| filed his heart. IN 1855 he wrote 10 Jo-
seph: " II you go away and you thin K 1t
may be for any length of time send me
your portrait. We have lived so many
years together SO closely united that ou-
| hearts are as one"
In 1896 he writes to Joseph: You need
| feel no uneasiness about the family. They
arc abundantly provided with everything.
have sent them oil they can need"
His respect. affection, aud consideration
| for his mother were unceasing. and Ma
dame Mere could not always have been a
credit TO him, as, according 10 Luclen Bo-
| napArte, she did not speak either French
or Italian correctly (! 1t is probable that
we may look for translation of Nj. Levy 3
| very interesting book at an early day.
We see by the Paris papers that there is
| fresh craze for all relics of the Napoleonic
period. Old shakos, plumes. uniform but
tons sword-belts, and all. other sourenirs
OF 10 Grande Armee bring immense
prices. Little shops have sprung up all
over Paris. where ore sold in addition to
these relics small statuettes, busts, and
portraits of the great Emperor.
The recent publication Of many books
Of memoirs, mostly by Napoleons officers,
may partly account for this Baron de
Marbops stirring memoirs have had great
effect. There is new Life of Marshall
Ney by Welchinger. which IS important.
Also Henri Houssaye Eighteen FIJI
teen.n