New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-11
LITERARY NOTES.


Mahan contributes to THE Atlantic Is a fascihat-
ing study OF character as well brilliant bit OF
history. He recalls saying OF the osthgu'sheu
Admiral Sir Edward Hawke which must cause
a sigh Of regretful desire 10 many a toupieu su-
nerior" The appointment OF the young Howe to
very responsible duty being criticised on the grouo
that he was the junior admiral in the fleet Hawke
answered 81 have tried Lord Howe on most I'M
portant occasions. He never asked me how ne was
TO execute any entrusted 20 his charge bu'
always went straight forward and dld H.
Mrs Deland's story Philip and HIS "ile,
heetns In the current number OF the magazine. 1t
PROMISES to be a stronger work than any previous
production Of this writer.
Concerning the productions Of Mr. Henry James
Mr. H. w Mabe has made in THE Forum an ad-
mission which many OF the novests admirers
can bring themselves to put on paper MT. James
ne has said, is writer for writer's rather than
for readers and must content himself with the
audience which finds its chief interest in the manner
in which thing is done rather than IN the thihg
itself" So might write Of an artist who paints
70 perfection empty tomato-can
The original MS of Walter SCOTS review OF
Maturn's novel, Women" sold In London
lately for ss5
An English critic says OF the late Francis Park
man that he student TO the core, and mad
the dislike OF parade which is notable among the
best New Englanders Men such as he represent
Indian with whom he made friends and the buffalo
which he hunted. 1t is usually exaggeraton to
speak Of a mans loss as irreparable, yet when we
mourn the death of Parkman we do so the more
sincerely because he has not left behind him. and
may never have. an equal among his countrymen.
Treasure Island" heads the list OF Mr.. Steven
sons popular successes. 1t is in its forty-eghth
thousand. His lates: book "Catriona IS IN It's
fifteenth thousand.
In his paper Napoleon in the January number
OF THE Pail Mall Magazine" Lord Woseley declares
that the great blunder which the Corsican made in
the disastrous Russian campaign was his miscon-
ception OF the Cars character. This Is curious
fact" he adds for Napoleon knew him well and
had numerous opportunities for gauging his ability
temperament aims and what the strongest
forces that worked within him 10 influence his ac-
tions. But although believe Napoleon to have been
by far the greatest of all great men. he has always
struck me having been bad judge or character
Like many other rulers and generals. he did not
care TO surround himself with very clever brill
liant assistants and he often made serious mistakes
in the selection OF men TO do his bidding. In this
respect he was, think. inferior to Marlborough,
who seems have understood, not only the thoughts
of those he personally dealt with but have known
by intuition even the manner in which they would
give effect TO his or 10 their own projects"
The cleverest original work in this number of the
magazine is undoubtedly the instament of George
Meredith's novel, Again It invites his readers 10
OF character. the ntrcacies of motive and feeling:
and again. alas. IL forces them TO deplore the ram
bling. uncertain and out-at-elbows style which 50
Knocks and hampers his great powers Would that
Mr.. James might lend his brother author little
OF his polished precision!
In the lately published memoirs of Count Molten.
the financial adviser of Napoleon. may be found
these comments made by the Emperor the execu-
ton Of Marie Antoinette. crime which prepared
his way empire: THE life OF kings" he said TO
Molten, 'is the mercy of tout lie monde; it is
only themselves who cannot dispose Of it, murder,
a conspiracy, a shot may be their lot
Caesar and Henri " have been assassinated. Alex
ander the Great would have been II he had lived
longer; but a woman who had but honors without
power foreign princess, the most sacred OF host
ages. to drag her from the throne 10 the scaffold
amidst ell kinds of outrages. That is something
worse than regicde"
Mr.. Aldrich's delightful book IAN Old Town By
the Sea- recalls pleasant memories Of many another
American town of the same type. Portsmouth is
not alone In possessing the Quantness which Mr..
Adrch comes nearest TO putting into the pages Of
book. Salem is in respects very like II, and
TO lover Of literature 1t has peculiarly fascina
ing flavor Hawthorne is ever-present influence.
In the garnet Of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES such
old building as Mr. Aldrich lovcs-onc may turn
over the self-same heap Of tneworn documents
in which Hawthorne used rummage in hopes Of
a lucky find. His desk, his official stencil, are still
preserved. and the wharves one plunges at
into that exquisite ideness which he described
once. and which Mr. Aldrich. in his book on Ports
mouth, has revived again. In Herbert-st the
house in which the novelist born is still stand
ing. II IS now satternly tenement. Everywhere
in Salem the past follows you. There is a grave
yard in the heart of the town-a wondrous place
with crumbling headstones Of the last century.
'IIttels Living Age" has completed its first
k,1f boc had
ing those fifty years the most important writings
from foreign periodical literature; and age appears
only to Increase its vigor. carefulness and
prise. In the list Of selections promised for the
year is the translation from the French of
Paul Perret of novel entitled "Manette Andry."
1t deals with life in France during the Reign Of Ter
AT the conclusion of this serial will be brought
out a translation Of Able Prevosts Dean Of Kile-
raine" This book, which published in In. has
never appeared in English. and it is rarely that a
copy Is to be found.
The Hon Robert c. Winthrop's article on Web
ster In the current "Scrbner is full Of interesting
"reminiscences Of the Massachusetts, statesman. His
recollections OF Webster's habits a speaker are
OF special value. That the orator in his later years
began 10 appreciate keenly the business-like
methods OF Journalism is shown in what he said
his young friend in 1910: winthrop, IL were as
young as you are. and just beginning my Con
gressonal career. l would adopt different course
from that which all pursuing in regard
TO speeches / have lost my faith in long, labored
efforts. be printed week after their delivery.
and to be scattered over the country in pamphlets
which nobody ever reads | would speak short
and often. ! would take some part in every i'm
portant discussion. and l would prepare every word
which proposed to say and write it out before
hand. give a copy to the reporters the
moment l sat down. In this way the next morn
ing's paper would let my constituents and the
country and read precisely what / had said"
Mr. George w. Cables novel begun this
month in "Scribner" should be successful II 1t
maintains the standard in the opening chapters.
They are wel-constructed. and the style is vivid
and assured.
What are the two chief difficulties OF modern
humorists? They arc. in the opinion Of THE Lon
don Spectator that they have very inferior sub