The Washington times., 1894-07-29
EXCURSIONS AMONG THE BOOKS


There is no place on earth so "clIquy" as
London, perhaps because there Is NO place
quite SO large. We hear Of Literary Lon
don" and the novel Of literary London, and
the interviewer, aided by our own active
imaginations, has taken us into a realm
where all the novelists-evsrybody but novel;
lists being strictly tabooed "a undressing
whose books we road, sit about and say clever
things to each other and the fortunate
listener
The haunt Of real Bohemia can be found at
the Douglas Sladens'. Sladen is secretary OF
the London Authors Club, and his apartment
is known rs Liberty Hall. Here everybody
goes who wants to see 'literary Bohemia. u
There are brandy and soda, cigar smoke, the
last ballet dancer, and the interviewer; but
| the real book writer's are never here. They
are serious folk, who wear respectable, we'll
made clothes II they can afford them, and
would no more think of velveteen breeches or
An embroidered tea gown than Of smoking at
an evening party.
Hamlin Garland gives American literary
standards a severe drubbing in his 'Crumb-
ling Idols" twelve essays on art, chiefly the
art OF writing. He laments the decsdence Of
individuality. both in writers and in their
| critics. the readers. and accuses the great
middle class throughout the country Of
trucking to the bias established for them by
the newspapers and magazines of the large
cities. He says the people neither judge for
| themselves nor write for themselves. The
novices in literary work, instead OF eelecting
| their material from the environments in
| which they grew warm with local coors and
hearts love, attempt exotic flights OF fancy in
which as a generality they must fail. The
| country is so broad, localism SO infinite, one
might almost say, and the magazines SO
| greedy for character sketchiDg, that he con-
| siders 1t opportunity thrown away for authors
| to neglect their surroundings, about which
| they possess the subtle knowledge derived
| from years of intimacy. Perhaps Mr.. Gar
| land would object to Easteruers receiving
their impressions Of the West from Richard
Harding Davis interpretations gathered from
car window rather than from the Westerner
born and bred. Although there is much to
| take exception to in the book, yet it is an
| honest, manly protest, and suggestive.
"How to Be Happy Though Married. is the
| title OF book by the author OF The Sunny
Days of Youth" The book offers very inter-
esting advice which can be needed sr ignored,
according to the readers taste but the read
ing of it will certainly De suggestive and en-
| tertainlng.
| Mrs. William Starr Dana has gathered to-
| gether the results of many rambles amid
woods and fields in delightfully."- untechnical
/ description of our wild flowers in the book,
According to Season. 1t is meant for all
who care to follow through the seasons the
blossoms as they appear in their time. each
one Of the eigh, months having chapter de-
/ voted to it.
Mr.. Austin Dobson wrote, for young
! poet. Twelve Rules of Familiar Verse;"
/. Never be vulgar.
2. Avoid slang and puns.
3 Avoid diversions.
4. Be sparing Of long words.
5. Be colloguial bu' not commonplace.
6. Choose the lightest and brightest OF
measures.
7. Let the rhymes be frequent, but not
forced.
s. Let them be vigorously exact to the ear
8. Be AS witty as you can.
10. BE serious by accident
IL. Be pathetic with the greatest discretion
II. Never ask if the writer of these rules
! has observed them himself.
Thomas Hardy has gathered various OF his
shor, tales that have been written within the
last five years into collection under the title
OF "Lifes Little 1ronies," issued by Harper Il
Bros. With the aptitude which Mr.. Hardy
always displays for selecting the one title
pregnant with the essence of his Stories he
has on this occasion hit upon one which is
curiously significant ot the sentiment running
thread-like through the tales of the first half
of the book. which are slightly uncanny
The last half. designated as "A Few Crusted
Characters. is in healthier strain, and Is
more interesting, inasmuch as we are re-
minded of those FalstafIlan personages of
some of Mr.. Hardv's earlier novels which
have been favorably compared TO Shakes
peare's master fool. The ..Crusted Charac-
ters' are mere sketches. bat they are good.
OF remarkable little book. 1.-The Wings of
Icarus." issued by Macmillan & Co. 1t con-
tains thiriy-fve letters and the journal of a
girl. She contides in these letters to her
friend, her dearly loved Constance her abhor-
renee of hypocrisy in religion and in society.
She Graves ardently to realize the beauty she
feels vibrates throughout the universe for
those who seek and follow truth. She meets
occasionally. while walking in the fields and
woods, young dreamer, Gabriel. n poet,
and like herself yearninS for the reality Of
things. A strong friendship springs up be-
tween them. II is ideal. lovely. the COM
munion OF spirits. She writes Constance
OF her great joy in her new friend,
wondering ut the unexpected fulfillment
of her desires in the perfect under
standing between herself and Gabriel Miss
Tadema puts it all so beautifully that it reads
like the story OF two grown children at per-
feet peace. Then comes sudden alarm in
Her neart- Sne mas loved uabrlel dearly. Dut
is not her love becoming that of the lesh
rather than of the spirit? She awakens. Ger
taInty follows the fear. Her spirit love has
become a passion. Peace has gone from her,
but at last returns fused with bliss when she
hears Gabriel's words. Il love you," spoken
with deeper meaning than that OF friend
ship. She writes Constance Of the undreamed-
of beauty contained in her new-found love.
Life is all sunshine unlocked by shadows Of
worldly things.
Late Books Worth Reading.
Fiction. "a Daughter of To-day" by Mrs.