New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-22
LITERARY NOTES.

Tho author of The Prisoner OF Zehnh nov
,,,r,v.two years old. There Is an almost boyish
,ook we are told in the long. oval. ciean-shaven
race: but in the gray eyes which gaze at one 90 In
..,,iv there IA deep earnestness OF purpose and
m.rked resolution. His alertness OF movement re-
minds the observer that Mr. Hawkins Hope) won
no small reputation at oxford as an athlete. Foot
ball ne chiefly delighted IN.
N, Hawkins In enthusiastic in his commentator
~ the work done by Mr.. Rose in dramatizing his
novei He likes particularly the prologue. which
q. entirely the work OF Mr. Rose The author says
no hos no fixed intention Of coming to this country.
though he has received many invitations to take q
,ecturing tour. Some day. he adds. he may come.
hut there Is plenty Of time for that
James F. Rhodes. who has just issued the third
voun,e OF his history OF the United States designed
N cover the period between 1850 and 1885, has him
self an Interesting history Mr.. Rhodes. now a
OF about forty-fve. belongs 10 wealthy family Of
Ohio and his home until recently was In Cleve-
land He has always been deeply interested In his
torlcal studies and for dozen years before his
retirement from business. 1--WE or six years ago. he
had been giving all his spare time to the accumu-
Iation OF materials for the history that he is now
making his Network. When he decided TO retire
from business he had a large interest in extreme.
,v nrontable manufacturing concern that had al
ready made some OF the family rich and that PROM
i,ed in time to make him several times million
alre He sold his interest 10 a brother-in-aw. and
a considerable cdptal IN sale fasnlon, 20
that II need not longer rive It's possessor any
Germ Mr. Rhodes Is now regarded as tho poor
Of the family though his income is still hand
some
Ever since his retirement he has persistenty re-
fused 70 take any part in what the census calls
..sainful occupations" His whole working time
has been devoted his historical studies Upon
these he spares neither time money. They are
his only preoccupaton He is in:statgabe In his
nura,it of any detail that him essential
70 the accuracy OF the work he has undertaken He
will spend weeks at Washington with clerks. ste
nographers and typewrters IN search Of single
historical document buried perhaps in thousands OF
useless pages. His researches have extended TO the
European libraries and archives and he has become
a member OF the Boston Athenaeum FOR the sake o!
having access to Its valuable documents He has
himself considerable library OF Americana His
work Is likely 10 extend 10 at least dozen volumes
Mr. Rhodes educated partly in Europe. and 10
familiar with Latin, Greek, French and German
The bulk OF his reading has been upon historical
subjects but he has made peculiarly his Shake
speare and the King James version OF the Script
vres. While he devotes mos, Of his time TO the
work in hand, he lives comfortably. traves good
deal and entertaIns his friends handsomely. His
home IL now at Cambridge. Mass. whittier he went
partly to be his while the latter is at Har-
vard and partly for the sake OF the literary atmos
phere OF the place. For the last year and half
he has been travelling In Europe and Egypt. and he
is likely to spend the coming winter in the latter
country.
Mr. Rhodes Is In excellent health. and he hopes
that he will be able 10 complete his work on the
broad scheme he originally laid on, for IT, He ex-
hibts the only recent instance OF a who has
deliberately given up the pursuit OF wealth. with
every promise OF success in order 10 devote him
self exclusively to literary work
Is it possible that letters and papers in the hand.
/ Shakespeare
lessness. ignorance and stupidity have been shown
In dealing with old papers that II is not unreason.
able to conjecture the existence OF such treasures
| The late Colonel John c. c. Gardner. OF Noting
hamshire q descendant OF Shakespeares grandson.
in-law. Sir John Barnard Ore told acquaintance
that his father had Informed him that In the mum.
ment chest at Thurgarton (his family estate) there
family papers OF the Barnaris among which
were some of Shakespeares letters. He had several
times endeavored find these letters but owing to
the very confused manner In which papers OF all
kinds were mixed together" he had not succeeded
| The acquaintance offered 10 help in the nvestga
ton; but before this new search could be made
Colonel Gardiner died. and his ancient family seat
The Shakespearian' says. passed into the hands
Of a stranger under circumstances which suggest
that the old papers might have been given up to
those who took possession OF the ancient priory
| Iysons. a writer local histories the brother
In-law of Colonel Gardiner who was himself
grandson Of Gilbert Cooper. the poet, who knew
! Shakespeare's godson Sir William Davenant Payne
Collier called the attention OF the Shakespeare 60
ciety these facts. but none OF its members were
IT seems sufficiently interested to take the matter
! up and give II prompt investigation.
Mr.. Owen Wister has finished what is said to b
longer and ambitious work than he has
before attempted This is story OF politics and
highway robbery In Arisona-a story In which there
is more truth than fiction. and which he calls "A
Nffahad In
November Harper" The number OF the
magazine is to contain Mr. W. d. Howelss recol-
lectons Of the literary Boston OF thirty years ago
That Tennyson hadn't good manners Is the cen
ttntion OF Mr.. Sherrard and this young man IN
support OF his statement tells the story OF VISIT
paid by his mother in her youth TO the Laureates
wife. Tennyson came into the room looked very
gloomy and in fact snubbed the assembled company
If one may believe Mr.. Sherrard.
Commenting on this tale THE New Budget says:
The absurdty OF attempting to trick out Tennyson
as drawing-room hero is palpable TO all who kne"
him. 1t is. moreover. species Of fawning upon MIN
which he would have been the first 10 resent. ms
manner to men and women frankly boorisn
He did not mean unkindness; but so II was that ne
protected merely amused himself one may
devoutly hope that in the biography which his son
! is preparing with infinite industry, and which |"
now nearing completion, announcement WIZ oe
given to the falseness and funkeyism when a'''o-
TO the poet social qualities which he never pos
sessed and which probably II better for his SrI
and therefore really better for society that ne was
without"
Mr.. Alfred Parsons has prepared some fresh Illus
trations be added to the OF delicatey love-
ly studies which have adorned his "fIarper" papers
on Japan. These charming articles are inciudeo !"
a volume Notes Japan the press
81 FaIla
quaint description Of Dr. johnson sitting IN lneo'
parlor and absorbing the moudy Jelly bestowed U"
the young matron by her titled kinswoman! Thele
can be nothing piquant and characterisue :"
the forthcoming book In which the lexcosrapoe'
! Is described, as In real life squire OF DANES. :