The herald., 1894-10-28

wickedness, even in novel writing. and
all with scarcely no loss OF capital in
vested. or risk of any sort. We cannot
better close this reference to the subject
than by subjoining the following from
the pen of Mrs. Van Rensselaer,:
"There was time-not long ago
when English fiction was proudly saic
by many to be q chief bulwark of Eng
lish morality. despairingly said by 9th
ers to be stunted. fettered art. emas-
culated in the interests of English
prudery. French writers isered at q
land where the artist was obliged to
cramp his work to meet the standard sci
for the moral tuition of maidens. and
more than one great English writer
envied the foreigners chance, and the
chance OF his own eighteenth century
predecessors. to apeak frankly and fully
ae the men and women of the world. But
this time has passed. Full liberty is
nov claimed by the writer in choice OF
subject and in manner of treatment too.
And, although there ia come protesting,
year oy year the barriers of conven-
tionality are being broken down, and
Enlish homes give wider and wider well
come to books OF kind which genera
within their DOORS"
#~#
The Critic thus tries to tell us about
the newest New York entertainments
TT is difficult, indeed. to classify Mr..
Alexander Blacks entertaining novelty,
Miss Jerry, which was produced for the
first time on Tuesday night. The
author describes it as picture play
it might with equal justice be called an
illustrated short story-but whether it
be q play or story, there can be bat
one opinion as to the result, which was
excellent. Mr.. Black has illustrated the
story he tells with series of photo
graphs. for which have posed number
of ladies and gentlemen enumerated On
the programme; and no has chosen for
the back grounds, not only interiors OF
private residences, editorial Offices and
the like, but street scenes and bits OF
our public parks, the Brooklyn bridge,
view vol d'oiseau from the Equitable
building, and other picturesque views of
this city, which are etrongly recon-
mended to those who csim that pic
turesquenesa ia not TO De found 10 New
York. The picturss are thrown upon Il
screen before the audiepce. changing at
every moment and following every do
tail OF the story as it ia developed.
They are OF uniform excellence, but the
young lady who impersonated the
heroine deserves special word of
thanks for the artistic nsturalness OF her
poses. 1t is difficult to give more than
an imperfect description OF Mr. Blacks
happy thought. but whoever sess it will
recognize at once the wide field OF enter
hvh 10 -
the picture play"
Thomas Hardy's new story with she
singular title OF The Simpletons will be
begun in the December number of Har-
psr's, and be continued until Noyem-
Der. 1895. In The Simpletons Mr.. Hardy
will keep to his old field-thet which is
far from the msdding crowd; and
while the frankness which has charec-
terized his later art must be expected
there will be nothing, it is said in the
treatment OF the theme to offend the
sensibiltes OF the reader. The story
will be fully illustrated by W. Hsther-
well.
Here ia curious bit OF information OF
interest:
THE lines OF no two human hands are
exactly alike. When a traveller in China
desires a passport the palm OF his hand
is covered with fine oil paint and an
impression is taken on thin damp paper.
This paper, officially signed, is his psss-
port"
x*x
An eastern book reviewer thus boils
down four volumes on whist:
Know the leads and when to make them,
X aow the tricks and when to take them
Know the rules and when to break the m,
Know the laws and neer forsake them.