New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-01
NOTES ON LITERATURE.

LAUREATESHIP-THE CURIOUS
CANDIDATES FOR 1T AND
THE COMPLAINTS OF
THE MINOR POETS.
Mr. Gladstone in answer to some appeal from
.r,y dsar Nme Novikoh," says he can hardly
evor wr,te ANYTHING upon suggestion The sug-
osst;on ar ,nspiration must apparently come from
himeo,, This is obviously limited to mere writ
;rs In nubIic life ne has shown no reluctance
90 acc.nt suggestions from others. nor is there
INV, raoson why he should. Then comes another
autohorraphical bit: What is more is that |
bavo before me now continuous operations. long
20 MANNED and must refrain from those that are
<..ono,tarv" This again Is contrary to his Gus
49,, :, nolItics wherein he declared that he was
90, u.ont TO look beyond the morrow. but found
,o dav by day difficulties Of craftsmanship sufii-
Gent to tax even his almost ineXhaustible re-
sources.
Mos, interesting Of all, perhaps. to Americans,
&c Mr. Gadstones statement that he has been
drawn into writing preface to pictorial edi-
lion Of the Bible. (which will probably have
very wide circulation in America" do not quite
make out what he means when he adds that 1t
will be confined to English speakers"-perhaps
Z, English readers to readers Of English. since
Mime Novkoff apparently wished him to write
something for French readers Her letter is pun
rsbes IN the Revue Internationae." MY pref
oce continues the retired statesman. will have
No reference to that edition but to the authority
ord vslue Of the Scriptures; and he adds. GU
,ious,v ~ think there will be nothing to which
Won or Old Catholics would object"
Less and less. you remark. does the retired
statesman retire from religious life or religious
activity. or from theological life or controversy
One can imagine with what avidty a new edi-
lion Of the Scriptures with a Preface by Mr. Glad
stone will be bought. and perhaps read, in Ameri-
ca II there seems something a little odd in the
conception Of Preface to the Bible by an emf
nent politician. we need not press that. l have
been told by experts that Mr.. Gladstone's knowl-
edge OF the more recent Biblical criticism is not
large Professor Huxley, If mistake not points
out that Mr. Gladstone in dealing with crucial
points Of text and history In the New Testament
shows himself unaware Of the results OF modern
research and perhaps even OF the existence OF
the most renowned and learned German writer's
on such matters II is one of the subjects upon
which his mind is not open. That is no matter
for marvel What is matter for marvel is that
there are so many subjects upon which the mind
OF an octogenarlan should remain open
All the same. he will write an interesting Pref
ace. and probably much the same sort OF Preface
that he would have written thirty or fifty years
ago. He is never disposed to admit that the
world has. since those earlier dates. moved on
little in theology and In criticism with reference
to theology. What he says Of the Old Cathoilcs
shows that: Just as his frequent controversies
with Professor Huxley showed it, though in a
different way He still hopes. as Dr. Dollinger
"a some
kind of solid relations with the Eastern Church
Most people have probably relnqrished that hope.
IL they ever entertained il. Should the ola Cath
olcs themselves cherish 1t. they might do worse
than invite Mr. Gladstone TO reconcile their dii-
ferences with the Eastern Church. II would NOT
be harder than explaining away Gladstone
wife: of which Lord Palmerston declared him
capable.
Nine Novikoff 10 whom Mr. Gladstone writes
not now for the first time by any means-is iaoy
long known In London. and known best, perhaps
in literature as o. K. She Is Russian. and has
ALWAYS been supposed have mission. Most
Russians living out of their own country are sup
nosed TO have missions. OF an unofficial and I'M
acknowledged kind. This lady has intelligence
enough for anything. She early captivated MI
Gladstone / the word captiVated IN RIA
tonic and political sense. she really ala gam
.o,as. IN his mind and some Of his Russian pro-
cliyItes used to be attributed to her influence.
At one time she held kind of salon in London
an afternoon or evening reunion where not only
Mr.. Gladstone but other persons OF real dist1nc-
ton in politics and literature and other things
were to be met
Her residence in London was OF the huul kinn-
She appeared and disappeared and reappeared.
She was in London this autumn. II would De
rash TO say where she may b. now but II Is pretty
certain TO be some place where the waters are
troubled 1t Is in such waters that diplomatsts
prefer to fish. and Nine Novikoff is dlplomatist
OF very remarkable gifts. The social side OF diplo-
macy will no, die out 50 long she is alive.
nor, probably long society lasts The
Russians make more use Of social means than
almost any other nation: and their Foreign ONCE
than any other Foreign Office They nave also
more unavowed agents than others. l will not
say more Nine Novikofs. because. although
clever and accomplished and expert women are
many there is but one Mime. Novikoff. Nor does
anybody seem TO know who will be her successor.
Possibly when Mr.. Gladstone is gone at some re-
mote date the chief usefulness of Mime. Novikof
will be gone also 1t might be said to be gone
now since Mr.. Gladstone is "out Of politics" only
you never know when he will return.
There springs up every now and then all at
once and without any apparent proXimatc cause.
a correspondence about the vacant Laurcateship
There has been lately. set on foot by know
not which OF Mr.. Trails Sixty Minor Poets. !
assume that of them was the author Of the
curious letter in The Times which began the
present discussion. The subject has an interest
OF It's own yet there is no sign that II agitat"s
the public mind Ii is the private mind, the
minds OF possible candidates for this honorable
post. or OF those who think themselves possible
candidates. which are agitated The writer who
started the topic afresh signs himself VI. A. He
may be a Master Of Arts. or those may be only
his individual initials.
Tnere are poets who are also NJ. As or there
have been. Browning WAS one. AN honorary NJ a.