Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-28
GOSSIP FROM B0OKLAND.

VI JoHeS Dy hauen CaTfuIn,IOr they arc verify yarns told by the yard. It isn't everyone can relish such monumental bits of imagination. Most of the read ing public is too serious to enjoy such absurd and unrestrained romancing. Apparently Jones has it all his own way; no one seems able to cope with him in his recital of thrilling adventures, and his two or three willing admirers simply lend picturesqueness to the background, while Jones amuses and delights the reader. Many extraordinary things have been written of cyclones, and yet Jones says;
 When I lived in Kansas in the '70's l had quantity of poultry, but it was all blown away in the first cyclone of the season, except one black Spanish rooster. He clung to a grass root with his bill and allowed his tail to crack and whip in the wind like a yacht pen nant. He rode out the gale, though most of his feathers were blown off Subse- quently l found some of them embedded over half an inch in my grindstone"
 "Trilby, the Fairy of Argyle" by Charles Nodier, a celebrated French lit erateur, has just been translated by Miss Minna C. Smith, young woman of Bos! ton. It seems there were two contest
 
 ton of 'Trilby, the Fairy of Argyle" be- fore the public. To Miss Smith belongs the honor of having discovered the story, which Nodier had written after his jour ney from France to the islands of Scot land about 1920 It seems after she had begun the translation another most en- terprising publisher approached an ex pert translator with a proposition to beat Miss Smith, the discoverer of the book. It is interesting to know that the book appeared simultaneously upon the same day from rival publishers.
 This older Trilby from which DuMau- rier admits to have borrowed the name, is delightful creation.
 Under the spell of the fascination which the land of Scott ond Burns exercised over him, Nodier wrote this story and professed to hay received the special inn pulse from son note in one of Scotts romances. In ny of the Waverly nov els may be found references to goblinS and household sprites.
 There are several quotations given from Rob Roy" in the preface and the following plays an important role in the conception of the work:
 "There is popular belief respecting evil spirits that they cannot enter an in- habited house unless invited, nay, dragged over the threshold"
 
 Victor Hugo was so delighted with the story that he addressed to the author two of the daintest stanzas. In literal prose is: "Wander not at haphazard, for ill-will is felt against Trilbys. Fear the misfortunes and the torture which my sweet sylph has undergone. If they catch you, what glory! They will soil your silken cloak, your aigret of ru- bes, alas" etc. Thousands who have emulated the three painters and fallen in love with the hypnotized Trilby-the sweet singing, but tuneleSS Trilby--will be glad to make the acquaintance of Nodier's Scotch sylph.
 In a charming preface the author says: When I lodged the goblin of Argyle in the hearthstones and made him hold con- verse with a sleeping spinner I had long been familiar with beautiful poem by M. de Latouche, in which this charming tradition was told in fascinating verse and, as this poet is, in my opinion, for French literature, the Hesod of spirits and fairies, fastened myself to his in- vention with all the respect which a young author owes to the classics of his school"
 This little work is considered master piece of F'rench--perfect in its concep- tion, in it's fleeting, crystal like beauty and dainty coloring. Tt stands by it. self the prototype of Du Maurier's Tril- by, and yet as different as womans nature is different from mans, as spirit is different from spirit, as one star diff fers from another in glory"
 Of the facile style and wonderful beauty of this little story there is a sen- tence describing this fairy Trilbys at tendance upon his beloved Jeannie, which ends thus-"or he would rest on her bosom, murmuring in a voice sweeter than a breath of air scarcely moving, when it dies on trembling leaf," this M Sainte Beuve considered as one of the most perfect in all literature.
 Frank Frankfort Moore-do not con- found him with George Moore. the au- thor of Esther Waters work that yearns after realism" and strength" about which noted reviewer said: "I grant you the realism, the book is full of it, but what has such realism to do with literature ?"-has written novel, 'They Call It Love" These two En- glish novelists are not related in style or blood, for "They Call It Love- is healthy and clever work. Americans may discover an impossible woman in the American, Miss Imogene Q. Lark spur, though they will admit and en- joy her sprightliness, vivacity and the element of fun" she brings to the work. This work may be considered reactionary from the novels we have had descriptive of the new woman, with her ambitious designs and ideals" her intentions and aspirations, for the original and bright young heroine, Lily Cosway, is success ful winner Of scholarships whose name appeared in the list as equal to third wrangler," but listen what she says after her splendid education had been finished.
 "'Yes, I've come to the conclusion that the higher education is accountable for the decay of marriage. We have been educated out of our need for husbands. just as papa has been educated out of the need for Gibbon, or you for French dic- tionary. We are made to prepare our selves for spinsterhood instead of mother