New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-16
LITERARY NOTES.

a few months, the volume being printed with llu,
trations. No intimation is given to whor n.
illustrator will be. but It would be amusing 10 kno,
the name Of the man audacious enough to tackls
Mrs. Sheley's narrative. Momentary consderator
OF this announcement will TO reawaken q
sense OF the latter's power I'm this one grevsorn.
tale. IT has never ranked high as literature bu,
there few literary masterpieces which yould
so the illustrators Imagination and art as this
essay in the horrible.
The sixticth anniversary OF the accession a,
Queen Victoria will be celebrated next June Pc
fore tho day arrives we may expect 70 hear many
times repeated the recital Of Englands progres,
IN letters during the Victorian era Already q
bulky literature exists the subject, and the his
torico-critical enthusiasm which It represents (,
itself typical OF the age. The Queen has done less
for literature than might have been expected OF
sovereign moro fortunate in her subjects-so far "a
men and women Of genius are concerned-than anv
since Elizabeth; but this has had effect upor
the students and historians of her reign. Thsy
have written copiously and they Will continue 70 h
copious. They will especially continue 70 produce
studies Of the minute and personal sort which
mean a positive love for the epoch in question
II is in connection with this ardor % latterfav
criticism with its interest IN the smallest byuays
of modern literature with It's willingness 10 ex.
plore q thousand documents for the sake Of ind
ing whether particular poet lived In Highgate or
at Brighton In his youth that We venture TO point
ont the need for Victorian history that would
take high place among IT'S fellows.
This book that would yield 10 In practical
value and In elements OF pronounced interest would
deal with those relations between Great Britain
and America which have been and to-day ot
strikine importance which have more than once
been made the subjects OF fragmentary memorial
but upon which writer has ever concentrated
himself with a view TO presenting them FOR their
own cake. forming a highly indivduaiizei
stratum in the history Of modern literature Has,l-
" considered 1t might seem as II the various
lated publications IN which this side or that Of
this great subject has been treated were all that
we needed. The student OF Emerson and Carlyle
in their famous friendship the reader Of the Auto
Gratis Hundred Days" or OF Mrs Irollope, may
we'll ask why, in these days or 100 many books.
we should have an army of commentators lot loose
unon familiar works II is not commentary, how
ever that is needed. but an original work Of HIS
torical and critical coordination. fresh and pict
uresque narrative
The writer OF this volume Of these volumes
for the material is vast, would have 70 get togeth1
all the data concerning all the occurrences IN our
literary relations with Great Britain when are al
nresent recorded in books dealing with other qles-
lions In the lives Of the writer's concerned lrngs
English experiences would have 10 DC careiuV
sifted Carlyle's dealings with America would have
TO be traversed not only with reference 20 Our as
covery OF "Sartor" and to his correspondence with
every scrap that might throw light on his inter-
coursa with other Americans. Hawthorne woui
have 70 be put in certain perspective. MS hhgsh
Mote Books" being boiled down with MS '''ers
and all that is known about his life In LiNerpoo.
The influence of Carlyle here and the vogue OK
Thoreau In England; the effect that IehhH son .
first volumes had upon American poets ana '''s
manner in which our methods Of short story WRIT
ing have been emuated by English authors-an
this and ever so much more than can ne lhulc"'u
in brief space awaits the historian VINO VIII se'
the Victorian years as a whole and VIII place theso
things in Just the relation TO one another whch WIZ
make his narratives concrete addition 10 the criti-
cien, and personalia Of a remarkable period The
amount OF anecdote available is tremendous. ana
much Of It that is already known In popular DOCKS
would take new light when marshhhed III
sequence OF chapters. Take Matthew Arho's
American travels; take Lowers embassy 10 Lon
don: take the contributions Of Motley and Curtis
and Professor Norton. and the late Tom Hughes
m the literature OF our theme; in eacn case We
already have much: but dispasslonate symmeu'
cal and yet thoroughly personal. thoroughly inti-
mate Encouragement OF the scattered documents
in one compendious book would prove that we reaiy
have more Who shall write IL?
II Mr. Howells had not long ago taken line OF
criticism which implies small confidence In VITAL
link between the British and American writer's oi
the Victorian era he would seem 10 be one or tho
heen outlined above might find its author. ApropoS
OF the appearance OF THE Landlord at Lions
Head" the Harpers. his publishers print rs
which covers almost all his works II hardy
needed this announcement apprise Mr.. Iiowells's
readers OF his range but a glance at the many
titles nevertheless serves 10 bring back ahe"
sense Of his literary elasticity The White Mr.
Longfellow" an essay to which allusion has al
ready been made in this place. intensines the con-
viction To read that chaptef Of semi-biosraphicai
"Reminiscences TO remember the Modern Italian
Poets" the best parts OF april Hopes. the recoI-
lection OF "Farces" "A Boys Town" and such
work as the Venetian and Florentne volumes,
omitted from the Harper list IS to think OF MT.
Uowells not the social theorst. not as inc
American pioneer of realism. but az the master OF
n pen which passes lightly, deftly with touch al
its own. over absorbing themes. He could write
the Victorian history that waits 70 be written with
perfect skill and above all, with the polite grace
IN personal matters that the work particularly de-
mands But he would never do H. The shade Oh
Thackeray would alright him. and he would re-
fuse to have anything 10 do with country tha'
could produce so romantic realist
A good-humored countryman compares Mr.. 10
Callienne 10 a tame rabbit. Happy figure But-a
tame" rabbit? Our reviewer surely forgeis the
fine frenzes of his subject, the deep draush's u
decadent excitement. the long ears now penduIous
with abysmal woe. now erect in decadent denahoo
Of all the conventionalties. Not a tame rabbit no.
never. Not while he knows himself. not while nc
can foregather with the lurd adjective the naughty
noun and scorn this foolish world from the top Va
a heap OF highfautn.
In Parts a committee has been formed lookhs !"
the erection Of monument TO Paul Nerlaihe Nv
,rrepressible Mr. Arthur symons has charge OF the
English wing OF the scheme Here is a great chance
for the decadents 10 show what their reverence for
the master worth. 1t is true many OF them p'"'
themselves on being "Bohemians" who never have
any funds but there wealthy aspirants IN ths
ranks OF Veraineateurs, and IL VIII DC lh'e'es"s
70 see how they respond TO this appeal. sent oH'
under the presidency OF VI. Stephane Mallarme
-s.o vou,s "Autobiography OF q SANDER is 10