New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-21
LITERARY NOTES.

In that engaging Illustration or literary strabismus.
CurIousy II is not upon the intrinsic character Of his
observation" that most attention is centred but
upon the truth falsy OF specific episodes in his
book The central defect In Bourgeois survey OF
American life is phenomenon which Is rarely taken
into account. Ii IL not merely that he reports corr
recty incorrectly in this detail or that. II Is
that he fails 10 bring to the coasIdera-
ton Of America and American ideas
a shadow of that intelligence which he
has exercised, for example, in his studies Of
Italy. The popularity is visible in nearly
every foreigner who has visited our shores. The ex
ccp;lons have been Ike De Tocquevlle and
Bryce writers who set themselves TO the study o.
political institutions and have kept close to quos-
tons of government. The students Of our daily he
and manners the students Of culture IN America.
have shown a remarkable iEcapacty for putting
their own prepossessions aside they would in Wis
iting any country but this one. America perhaps.
because it is 50 remote from them, mysteriously
new SO big to confuse them. to put them all
at sea- and not even Matthew Arnold. by all odds
the hes; critic have ever had, had the fexibllty
to apprehend he did the French, or as he
could have apprehended any European nation. Why
is IL? We ourselves have difficulty In apprehend
ing Europe and It occurs TO cultivated Amori-
can travellers to draw hasty conclusions abroad, 20
attach vast Importance the trivia,ites OF Euro
pcan life.
This is not a question Of spread-eageism II Is
bald TACT You will meet Americans all over Europe
who suffer many inconvenience ana observe many
deficiencies in the native life about them; yet II
you discuss the country with them, whether 1t be
England France, Spain. or unfortunate Rus
sa they will offer sercIs impressions. they VIII
show some insight into the character OF the people
abou; them. There thousands OF Americans or
course, who pass across Europe ard never see more
than they behed from the vantage ground OF their
native Four Corners But those are not the Ameri-
cans who write books about Europe or whose talk
IL listened to in serious places. Thcy seem 70
typlfy pretty we'll, however. the lIterau Of Europe
who the States 20 make a book ABOUT their
experiences This say rot in spirit OF aniFlal-
version but with wonGer.ne1t that the remark
should be jusfabe.
Another book Of Napoleonic memoirs is announced
by the Appletons. II vii ernbody the recolecuons
OF an alde-de-camp OF Napoleon. the General Count
de Segur who saw much service under the e.
plre and IS said TO have put great deal OF inter-
esting anecdoto into his narrative Tne same pco-
fishers are bring out Mr.. Dana's book on "The
Art Of Newspaper Making" The editor Of Tho
Sun" in his address Journalism. has sned bril-
liant light upon his craft, and this volume giving
his IDEAS at length will be valuable work on iis
subject.
Since Mr. Charles q. d. Roberts has abandoned
his professorship in Nova Scotan college anu re-
solved t. leave Canada. IL is goOt to kno" tna' 70
vii live In the United states An influence IKE ms
is invaluable among the literary workers OF tne
East sincerity is impressed upon every line o. his
work He has the genuinely poetic ring which pH's
the tnklings OF affectat!on 70 shame.
The Harper' serial dealing with Joan OF
Are seems TO awaken most interes; through
It's anonymity. This question Of authorship is a
small matter however in comparison with the main
significance Of the work. 1t IL Joan ana not the
pseudo chronicer OF her career that is OF mporaAcs
AT this time. Her reappearance In popular AteFa-
ture the revival Of her name upon the lips Of reac-
crs other than special students. synchTonzes WIN
the swelling OF the Napoeon!c tide. The latter rep
| resents one current. the maid its antitsess. Ma
poeon speaks Tor the purely sophisticated Size OF 'e
French genius Joan is the type OF her nations saw
| ing grace and tn mystical envelope IN when sfe
| survives Is Identified with the healthier impulses or
the French spirit II IS true that the mysticism %
I France II capable OF grotesque Developments i
WAS one OF the decaden;s OF Paris who In converse
ton not long ago revealed the possibility OF dvd2j
his time between a lie Of cynica! immortality aEi
the preparation 81 n sequence of poems on Joans
| spiritual life But the Maid is national ideal o.
! France and upon her canonzat!on. which is eX-
| pected within a short time she VIII be rai!hed o.
,hcchurch place she has long held In the near'sot
| her countrymen. The contemporary Napoleon mama
| slgnc nothing in the growth Of France On the
| contrai . It is a mania and nothing more. super
fetal frenzy over a character which speaks for the
! material history OF France Joan OF Arc Will be-
come something more the heroine Of cult. for
she was inspired by a spiritual feryor and it is
| spiritual Inspiration which lives in her name
The forthcoming subscription edition OF Rchard
Realrs verses will contain one hundred and Sky
poems A biographical sketch and three portraits o.
| Real will be included in the volume.
| Among al the novels which VI. Victor Cher5u',c;
| has written Meta Hodenis" is his favorite. \
far as sales can prove his readers DO not agree va
him FOR that book is In is sixth edition only wnlo
o.har volumes from his have reached tNN.Isl
edition
| That silly boy named Aubrey Beards!ey {, Illus
| trating A modern novel. There several authors
| OF the lay ii must be admitted who deserve sucl
ulustration-of which, by the way, an adnirer har
been heard say "Oh. yes, wrerehed. isn't H.
but then rs new.
Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins is himself dramatic
! INK his novel The Prisoner OF Zenda."
Among literary and artistic lecturers who are
coming from abroad for instruction is VI. Fran
coils coppse K is a not unpleasant prospect. though
! the necessity OF the event is hard 10 comprehend
! NJ Copee Is an accomplished poet ana playwright,
and he could OF course, be very amusing on elmer
poetry prose the drama: hut his il not one OF the
high creative minds OF this epoch. and with al due
| respect we nnd him one OF those small Try whose
missionary Efforts could well be spared. When
! man OF some account comes TO America We can well
| come him Bat Paris which might have sen; rs
Reran Is fain 10 deliver Catulle Mendes or Francois
| Coppee upon cur shores and England which gave
| us Matthew Arnold. and nigh, have given ~ Jow
| EFT has lately sent us who? Mr.. Richard lie Cal
llenne.
| IL IS said In "rhe Rookman" that Mr. Kplins has
| devised new and admirable scheme Tor the edit
| cation Of those persons who crave his autograph.
! Recently they pressed him - hard that he was in
spjrcI 10 sit down and compose short circular 20
autograph seekers This Circular he has had printed.
! an. more than that he has had the type-matter
/ elec.rotyped and is prepared T. issue many new
editions OF the circular n finds need Tor. what
| he says to the autograph hunter in the circular is
| that he will send the desired signature soon rs