New-York tribune., 1896-11-15

nersonaltv Americans. and particularly Ameri-
can authors have good cause to held Mr.. Sharp i"
affectionate regard. 1t is safe to say that ho o.
English critic has persistently cahed 'ic a''e
ton OF his readers to American BOOKS NOT 80 .o'
scientiousy maintained place for reviews OF 'nem
in the overcrowded London journals. anu '''a'
often 70 his own immediate disadvantage
The other evening Mr.. Sharp was caught III ''ie
genial hour after dinner. and his champio"S"'p V
the American cause was mentioned.
.Oh but you know | have so many literary
friends on this side" he replied. "and most VI
them are doing such very good Things. ~ NC
sure while the kindliest feeling toward American
authors prevails in London. there Is certain III
ertia among English authors. The pressure oi ou'
own books the reviewing columns Oh t"e JUL
nails is enormous and must confess that d. 'i'"e'
II would seem as II rather scant courtesy was
shown to American writers. The attitude Oh Inc
Athenaum.' for example, is quite reprehensioie'
and has caused a great deal of Indignation among
us But we are all Interested in American work,
so much so that make it point to review the
books from the States, and especially 'hose VI
the younger men, every possible OCCASION so''e'
times even giving them precedence OF our own
men. .
I'VE all wish that American authors wouid coine
over TO visit us more than they DO ana stay
,onger when they are there. AT the meetings OF
the Vagabonds club OF writers, we are all hiehiy
pleased to get hold OF an American Wheh your
men do come over 1t Is so frequently for the hios'
feetng visit. They stay for few weeks MAKE
one or two quiet social calls and are of again De-
fore we have had time to realize that they nave
been among us. 1t is the duty Of all or us 10 90
everything possible to strengthen the friendly feel-
Ing between the two countries and to bring ABOUT
n real comradeship and understanding. NO" 'he
Pencils you know. are quite part Oh u.s. anu
the news that Mr.. and Mrs. Janvier are goins 10
tear themselves away from their beloved province
for mo delighted
In regard to international copyright. that suo]ecs
having been officially threshed out during Han
Gaines visit. Mr. Sharp had only one thing TO say:
1T is next to useless" he urged. for American
there should by a reprintins there II is con,
cession that must be made to the dllerence s,,h III
iasie. or prejudice il you will. si revots at one
II in traveller. at proeramme shorn Gl ITS i'nas ss
here. 1t is only matter of taste to be sure , ana
II may ~ small Il G sp as ns' we'll 10 guard
Speaking OF the growing interest in Celtic litera-
ture and folklore Mr. Sharp said;
Yes isn't 1t amazing how the enthusiasm mas
spread? And yet such ev'a sprtal mT quality in
the old Irish and Scottish literature-whlch Is reaty
the Oldest we have going PACK as b m yearnng .e of
a sorrow whose tears are IN me heart as Me. aT TN ~
the eyes that takes hold or the nnaeiha'iom:
return TO the Celtic poetry Is. in fact the aIcesua
call: II is an unconscious revival. and may pe sala
to be nostalgia for the past This appreciation, o.
tho Celtic spirit has been growing lmperceptipy
dnrna Snr rho Iast few years but surely and Mrs
Wingate Rlnders book, The Shadow OF Arvori "a a
settlnp forth of the essential elements or Celtic
genius has given 1t fresh impulse. In ireland the
revival takes the form OF OF s"Ps Yeas and George
Russell. more widely known by the pseudonyme' a.
E In Wales the feeling Is neitner S so ssr9nH nU
work there Miss Fiona Maceods delicate verse
and prose essentially Scottish s,o,o. oh
"And there is that term Celtic Kenascehce. On
don't for moment think that have ever made
of it claimed T. genuine itsn od sod
not a mere imposition from without. Deliberately
go about labelling things Is scarce1y shS way 20
the old Celtic romances lies in their spiritualzlng
effect Ideasm chvaT ara aod DSad deeds 81 are m
on the heroic scale. and appeal to whatever NOBLE
ness may be within us ..,,
revival may degenerate into fad and become
mere fashion of the day That would be Killing IIf
and scottish legendary tales know that it is their
form and distinction as well on as Ine mn unin
formed however. any vagueness. ncoherency ail na,
and accd are S az, to tSe be s se
chronicles are a vast treasure.hou from which
material for countless epcs ana romances les % may oe
model 1t is the spirit which must be quckening'
and not the mere verbal form 80, uo,,,aoa r. 81,
ITpon the criticism that he has included IN MS
81 lyrca Celtica" the work Of poets that are not
easily recognized as distnctively Celtic. Mr. Sharp
Sas IS id +. to soS be
Tor overstatement In first case.
As an outgrowth Of his Celtic research Mr.; Sharp
baa In nreparation an "Anthologca Celtica" which
will include a study Of the ancient teratures and
their contemporary development He is also en-
gagged upon a smaller work. a treasury Of Celtic
Verse each poem of which is to be the finest of Its
kind Mr.. Sharp's recent lectures In Edinburgh on
Celtic art and literature to be published under
the title, IAN Introduction to the Study OF Celtic
Literature"
The portrait here printed Is striking portrayal Of
q most vivid individuality. II Is from photograph
~ a crayon portrait done by Carl Ross Nor
Wegan painter, who lives in Rome. and Is friend
of Elihu Vedder.