The Washington times., 1894-08-19
BOOKS AND BOOK WRITERS.

Stanley Weymnn is writing an historical
novel Of the time Of Charles I for early publi-
| cation.
The London Times pronOunces Capt. Ma
han, the author OF recent volumes on sea
power. "the greatest living writer on naval
history"
Paul Bourget, who was recently elected to
seat in the French Academy, dedicated one
OF his earlier books to Henry James, the
American novelist.
Philip Gilbert Hamerton will contribute to
the second number OF The Yellow Book a
criticism OF the drawings OF the letter-press
published in the fist number.
Marion Crawford writes on "a Modern
View OF Mysticism in the June number OF
Book Reviews and makes clear many points
tnat nave been misty and confused.
Lewis Morris recently said he thought we
were ION the verge of larger poetical out
look than we have ever been before. The
future OF poetry is vast, immense"
Mr.. Beresford Hope has sold the London
Saturday Review, which has been almost forty
years in the Hope family. The purchaser OF
the Saturday Review is L. H. Edmunds.
Mrs. Bishop (diss Isabella Blrd), though
more than sixty years of age, is off again in
search OF new materials for another book OF
travels. She has left Liverpool for Korea.
In the April Century appeared paper on
''The Gods Of India, by Marion Crawford.
The article was accepted about twelve years
ago. Even the gods must wait their turn in
magazine publication.
A japanese novelist has produced story
called The Romance OF Dog" which is to
appear in 10S volumes, issued at short inter-
walls at a popular price. This is the longest
tale of dog on record.
The Linnaan Society OF London awards
every ten years gold medal for special serv-
ices to biological science. Prof. Ernest
Haeckel, the famous German scientist, was
selected for the honor this year.
The death is announced in Paris Of Jules
Lemonnyer, n publisher well-known to Amer
ican book-collectors for his sumptuous re-
prints Of the works illustrated by the vignet-
lists of the eighteenth century in France.
The question OF what is the best railway
novel, saws the British Weekly, would open
an interesting discussion. For a long Jour
ney. we should say "The Moonstone:" for a
short one, 1.-The Sign OF the Four" by Conan
Doyle.
Rolf Boldrewood's latest novel, "a Modern
Buccaneer." is not up to the standard OF
Robbery Under Arms" The London Liter
ary World sums il up very neatly when it de-
scribes it as merely "a ships diary without
the briny flavor"
key to the Green Bay Tree has recently
been circulated purporting to unlock the
identity OF forty-two of the characters. One
of the authors of the book Indignantly repu-
dates this key. Perhaps the novel is q stem
winder and requires no key.
Emile Zola made his debut on the lecture
platform in Paris recently and entertained a
large and representative audience by reading
selections from "Loudres, his latest work. The
audience listened with profound interest and
in the deepest silence to the end, when there
ensued perfect storm of applause and cheer
ing.
Readers of the "Hoosier Schoolmaster'' will
remember Phillips, the champion speller of
the Indiana school described therein Phil
lips still lives in Vevay, Ind. DIR. Eggleston' s
old home. and will soon be seventy-three
years old. The fame he got from the book has
lasted, and curious visitors TO Vevay hunt
him up.
Prof. Falckenburg was so pleased with
the American edition of his History of Phil
os sophy'' that he has signifed his intention Of
m akinS use OF 1t when a new edition is pub
lished in Germany. The translation is by
Prof. Armstrong of Wesleyan University
The work has already been adopted rs a text
book by Columbia, Princeton, and other COL
leges.
George Meredith looks his part, SAYS the
London Literary World. Genius and distinc-
tion are written on his beautiful. intellectual
head. in his almost inspired expression. A
man OF medium height he has n thin. deli
cate figure; large, noble head, crowned with
luXuriant white hair; short. crisp. we'll
shaped white beard. peaking out like Lord
Spencer 5; soft, blue-gray eyes, and slightly
retrousse nose.
The original of Little Billie, in Mr.. Du
Maurier's delightful ''Trilby" published by
the Harper's). is said to be the late Frederick
Walker. of whom an appreciative tribute has
just appeared in the Portfolio for June. TIE
article is illustrated and the stilI-life mush-
rooms and fungi is not forgotten OF this
picture Ruskin said: 1T entirely beats my
dear old William Hunt"
Faurice Francis Egan saws that if if be
true. as sometimes said. that the essay has
almost ceased to be written. it is not true OF
Catholic writers. among whom he mentions
four who excel in this art: Agnes Reppiier.
Augustine Birrell. author of Essays About
Men, Women and Books" ''Obiter Dicta
and Res Judicate'; Alice Meynell, author of
Rhythm of Life" and Coventry Patmore.
author of principles of Art and Religio
Poeta."
Francisque Sarcey. in a recent feuileton.
tells this story: Blumenthal. the great theater
manager of Berlin. was talking with Tolstoi
about Ibsen, and said: Il have put a good
many of his plays on the stage, but 1 can't say
that quite understand them. Do you un-
derstand them?'' Tolstoi replied: ..Ibsen
doesn't understand them himself He Just
writes them, and then sits down and waits.
After awhile his expounders and explainers
come and tell him what he meant.
There certainly was something very char
acteristic in this reply by Oscar Wilde TO an
invitation to become a member of a club
formed to attack superstitions: But love
superstitions," be said. "They are the color
element of thought and Imagination. They
are the opponents Of common sense. Com
mon sense is the enemy Of romance. The
aim Of your society seems to be dreadful.
Leave US some reality-some shred of the
poetic. Don't let US be too Extensively sane
"Brick" Pomeroy says that he was the dis
coverer of "Peck's Bad Boy now Gov
George W. Peck, of Wisconsin. He SAYS: Il
was publishing my Democrat at La Crosse.
Wis, before the war, when / noticed in an
obscure country newspaper some extremely
clever paragraphs. l Learned that Peck wrote
them, and wrote to him, offering him s25 a
week to come down to La Crosse and work
for me. The next day got this telegram:
Mark NJ. Pomeroy, La Crosse-I accept your
offer quicker than instantly. For Heaven 5
sake don't Withdraw it,"