The Washington times., 1894-07-15
EXCURSIONS AMONG THE BOOKS

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There has been Of late perfect flood oi
novels on the order OF Tolstoi and Tourgruen
pertaining to Russian life and intrigue
poured from the publishing houses. and 1t is
beginning to pail upon the thoughtful read
ers, who put up with "Anna Karonina, -
though it was q painful book, and who abso-
lutely refused to receive into their store
houses Of knowledge the unclean thoughts
OF the "Kreutzer Sonata" These other works
are all in the main Indifferent productions,
with no merit to commend them to the pub
lie. Exception might be made in the case OF
+. Dostoievsky, who has recently published a
very sensible work on Russian lie, entitled
Poor Folk" The story is told in the form
OF letters which pass between an o.d copying
clerk and his young relative, a poor seam
stress. 1t gives details of the routine duties
and life OF the poor in Russia, but has no dis
tinct claim to prominence.
Boston: Roberts Bros, 1894. Cloth. 81.
Rudyard KiplIng has in preparation four
new books-a second series of .'Barrack Room
Ballads" a second series of four of "Jungle
Stories" and two other volumes Of short
stories, most Of which have never appeared
in magazine form. All OF Kipling's works are
very much on the same order, but he never
line, and the bit Of dash that makes his short
stories just trifie racy adds color to what
would otherwise prove monotonous
Robert Louis Stevenson has not been idle
In his retreat in Samoa. where he has been
seeking health. He has in hand two new
novels, which, however, will not be published
for some time. They are intended for the
magazines. The first. ''St. Ives" is the story
OF the adventures Of a French naval officer
Ia .tttra. ftyf fch
Scotland. Here he undergoes all manner of
wonderful adventures. is imprisoned and
finally escapes. The other story, THE Lord
Justices Clerk" deals with the picturesque
life In Scotland during the latter half of the
last century.
Since the attempt made by certain acute
critics to identity the characters OF Mrs.
Humphrey Ward "Marcella" with her per-
sonal acquaintances various readers have
set themselves to work to discover in like
manner the originals OF Du Maurier's novel
"Prilby." In this connection the Critic r.
marks that the late Frederick Walker .is
said to be the original. SO far as there is any,
OF Du Mauriers Little Billee.'" According
to a recent sketch OF this artist, however, it
does not appear to be justified. He was of an
unlovable nature, extremely irritable, and of
u nervous temperament.
Apropos of Emile Zola's last story, 'Iour-
NS' WAASAA - cSihc PAiAtci OA tAr iEoldil-
ment plan, from week to week, it was ru-
mored that the novel had come under the
censorship of the church at Rome and would
be stopped. In an interview with member
of the congregation of the Index, by the cor
respondent OF the Paris Figaro, at Rome, the
rumor is completely dispelled. The story is
TO be formally published In book form about
July Is, and as yet no complaint has been
addressed to the church's censors. 1t is a
pure novel and the congregation rarely con-
Germs itself with anything but professedy
theological or doctrinal works.
The End-of-the-Ceniury novel is a great
trial 10 those whose digestion has not been
entirely ruined by a steady diet OF such food.
But We must all read them. The book-stalis
flare with notices and everybody reads. so we
forsooth, must shock our nerves and offend
our tastes and go through with them. Mrs.
Sherwood, in the New York Herald. quotes
herself as having remarked once to a critic
friend. Il am so ashamed that have not read
the last new novel, naming it. We'll" said
he, you will be more ashamed OF yourself
when you have read it !" ITO which agreed
says Mrs. Sherwood, latter reading The
Yellow Aster.'"
Concerning this last-named novel and
others of its kind, it now appears that those
stories which were reported from London to
be such phenomenal literary successes. are
not SO enormous as the interested London
publisher would have US believe. Among the
stories which have had wide sales in Amer
lea, chiefly on their foreign recommendation,
and which are said TO be held as insignificant
in England, are the Heavenly Twins. "a
Yellow Aster" '.Ships that Pass in the
Night" and "Dodo." There has been an ex-
aggerated degree Of attention given these
works, especially on this side the ocean, and |
with the exception of ''Ships that Pass in the |
Night" it is 10 be feared tnat American taste
has relied too completely on the London iudg-
Ment.
All who have read Stanley weyman's |
Under the Red Robe or those other tasci-
lating historical romances. "A Gentleman of
France" and 1.-The Story of Francis Cludde."
will undoubtedly read. too his last success.
The Man in Black" 1t is not so strong !
work as any of his other stories. but is inter- |
sting, and with a rapid allegro movement |
swings the reader into the course of events |
and holds him there. 1t is a very clever story, |
md if it can merit the praise given to FRAN |
lis Cludde' by Andrew Long. when he re-
marked that it kept him from his bed, it will |
lave wide popularity.
All students of old England and lovers of |
1haucer will be glad to know tina. the Cam |
,ridge Press is about to issue very hand |
ome edition of Chaucer's entire works. un-
for the library The work has /
,een under the care of that eminent Chau-
erian student ard anglo-Saxon scholar, Rev. |
edward Skeate, and promises to be the most
omplete yet published. The edition is 10 be
" subscription and the names of the original
ubscribers are to be enrolled at the back OF
he last volume. The work Is In seven vol
ines.
The name Of the Russian writer. Turgenea,
las been so variously misspelled that the gen.
leman himself must be in doubt as to
whether he really knows how to spell it.
ome have it Turgenief. and the latest SPELL
ng. in new English edition OF his works,
e is represented as rurgenay.
Mark Twain's article. "In Defense OF Har-
let Shelby" in the July North American, is
uite the most absurd thing he has written.
is rich in Mark Twainisms and is some
hing unique in the way of book criticism.
Julian Hawthorn has gone with his wife to
amaica. and now writes that he has con-
luded 10 pass the rest OF his life there. He
growing orange and citron trees. and rails
az coffee and incidentally writing something
as he always does.
The July number of the Century will con-
ain the beginning OF novelette,, by F. Mar
IN Crawford. entitled Love in Idleness,"
Ihich will run through the summer.
William Waldorf Astor has in hand a new
ovel which will give his theories Of social
Storm and the present social system. II is
lated that Mr.. Astor has some unexpected
pinions on these subjects, and the book will
cove interesting, at least to show what he
oes not know.
New Books Worth Reading.
Red Diamonds-By Justin Mccarthy. D.
ppleton & Co., 12mo. Paper, so cents;