New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-02
LITERARY NOTES.

by Borrow letters notebooks, etc, are In the hans
Of Professor Knapp Of Chicago, who has had },
mind for many years plan for biography Of thu
author Of "Lavengro." 1t Is a pity that 50 much
valuable material should not be used
Some Frenchmen have read Shakespeare 10 ,.oa
purpose and written about him worthily but I,
nevertheless seems the destiny OF France to do IN.
things that most reveal insensibility 10 the trus
character Of the dramatst. The famous "trans,a.
ton Of Macbeth" was French translation Ana
now comes news OF Voyage de Shakespeare"
written by NJ. Leon Daudet. and conceived as thu
record of journey taken into the North by the
poet on a search for the Elsnore OF his plav
Shakespeare has been employed as puppet often
enough by writer's OF fiction but 1t Is impossible Ia
recall any flight Of the novel writer more grotesqus
than this one which carries the scene far away
from any which might be made halfway pausb.s
The novelist attempting TO depict Shakespeare In
the life that flowed around the Globe Theatre might
produce a partially persuasive book. but NJ Daudets
audacity passes all bounds. He has never written
anything Moreover to show that he could treat such
a theme as this with power. lie is clever writer
but not much more than that
In the series OF American Men OF Letters" Duh.
lshed by Houghton Mlnlin Co.. there is soon to
appear a book Bayard Taylor. by Mr. A. H.
srnyth. 1t will be greeted everywhere Of the
most appropriate volumes In 'ne series, appro.
before Taylor first and las; a man Of letter.
He will always be interesting figure. too. as
Journalist, and as OF the first OF modern vaga.
bonds In his wanlerings through europe. he was
a sort Of scholar Grant less romantic than Hene,
more fastidous than Mr. Leland. but sharing In the
poetry of the first and the pure humor OF the
ond while he brought to his experiences the some.
what as,ringen, quality Of a man who never could
think Of literature without certain hlgh-bred re-
spect.
Taylor had Astounding drollery ard dearly loved
Joke But his taste was constant quantity in his
work: II made the latter always exquisitely
fined In perfect measure, always the work OF man
OF letters. His fame translator would alone b
great and lasting but there is nothing which Mr.
Smith can bring forward with more confidence than
just the literary fexibility and rectude OF his sub
ject There is no man Of letters In American his
tory more remarkable than Taylor for the width OF
literary sympathy and experience which alone quail.
fees an author to wear the title.
Many readers who have been watching the recent
bib;iographical fortunes Of Robert Louis Stevenson
have doubt ess wondered what the poor subscribers
10 the costly Edinburgh edition Of his works would
do when they saw book after book appear else
where. books made up OF materia! whicn tner
twenty volume did not comprehend. They knew
the Edinburgh edition not 10 be complete. but
they did not know there would be so much left out
At last their oes are TO be quenched. Seven vol.
umes are to be added the set, the edition being
thus made absolutely complete. and, OF course, no
true idolater OF Stevenson will mind the sordid OBJ
legation which this entails. He will gladly pay
anything to have his favorte writer in such noble
shape II Is a noble set of books this Edinburgh
edition OF Stevenson but II will be very interesting
to see where 1t stands twenty years hence, or even
a decade after It's publication.
An American author has lately been honored in .
III L-rov rn o1arG No
Janvler is one Of the Provencal "Febrge." having
been made an honorary member OF the great society
OF the MIL and Roumanille. the publisher OF the
band, has brought translation or Fray An
tonic OF the Gardens" a story which Is the most
poetic thing Mr. Janvier ever wrote. 1t was trans
lated for Roun anille by Nile. Marie Girard, and y
published with preface by Mistra
1t appears that the town Of Nuneaton. in which
George Eliot born. Is not possessed or library
A movement has been started to establish one there
IN memory OF the novelist 1t is proposed that II b.
called the George Eliot Memorial Library, and THAI
readers OF her books everywhere should subscribe
money and present books for the building. Persons
desiring 10 contribute. or who wish 70 kno" mon
about the plan may address A. +. Cross. Editor q
the "Observer.' at Nuneaton.
There have been so many silly adoptions here OF
literary fads and lunacies originating among the
youth OF IonGon that feels pleasantly VIM
dictive sensation on hearing OF MI stephen cranes
literary adventures in the Eng sh metropolis. He
has excited much admiration there. His style ~
liked. This makes pretty revenge upon the CITY
that has sent from time TO time. 10 be"itch tho
members of the "Chap-Book' school. poems and
prose works similar In cGbre 10 those Of MI Crane.
General Horace Porter staff officer OF
Grant and knew him we'll For some time ne mas
been working upon a series of papers embodyng MS
al and hose
tons to the persona. history OF the war time VIII %
printed In THE Century There will be many anec-
does and host OF new and interesting ilus'la'o"'
Mr.. Stead has been asking some OF the "foremos'
people of our time to tel; hm-for puDncaton-
what their preferences are in the matter OF hymns.
He has asked the Prince OF Wales 10 make this con'
rdence Miss Olive Schreiner Mr. William MOTIFS
aad many others. but what they may prefer can
be a matter of no earthly consequence 10 Inc "o''u'
II Is far more interesting TO note MI Lang reply.
ri had A favorite hymn" he writes. outside OF
Homer l would not on any account MAKE the iac'
public" This !s the way in which all such symposa
should be treated What hymns have helped your
is question which few persons OF deep rensous
feeling would 10 answer
Another piece OF literary injustice has to %
chroncl.d with protest from an injured author 70
which the indignant sympathy or every .e
minded rerson must be added. Mr.. Anthony Hops
writes TO The BoOkman' that an American HI" IDS
published IA volume or stories, o.! i>"'"'
Hone entitled Frivolous Cupid. MT. nope say
81 have never written any story or any volume OF
stor,es under the title OF Frivolous Cupid ana
an in no way responsible for this publication. me
stories arc very probably writer by me. nave NOT
seen the volume But since myself exercise
s,rc, censorship with regard to the repuphca''on oi
my earlier essays. do not desire t'a III |>e''A'
hoye received such kind and generous en-
/. o,raysn,ent I should be he'd responsible for what
r T., ,r, own Judgment. entirely unworthy OF
republication. 49,. a.,
The sort OF publishing enterprise TO when MI
Hone refers is only - be characterized DIS ou''
rageous and 1t cannot be TOO OFTEN uehouueeu'
T, Is said that lust before his death Paul Neraine
w,s engaged upon a collection OF poetry when ne
h,r,ssr desired to call "Iivre Posthume. as though
/ bic fa,e The volume Is the press