The record-union., 1897-12-25

thought worthy OF acceptance py the
judges. 1t has been resolved to open
another competition, on the chance Of
better luck next time.
Secondhand booksellers in Paris who
for more than a century have displayed
their wares along the quayS on the
south side of the Seine are in danger of
forced removal A projected extension
of a railway threatens them and they
are in a state of mild insurrection. They
have unanimously signed a petition TO
the Municipal Council asking to be al
lowed to settle themselves further up
the river ON the same side, each retain
ing position relatively the same as his
present one, and each receiving from
the railroad company a slight indem-
nifty A proposal that they settle on
the other side of the river they do not
like. Not only do they cling to the as
sociations of the south side, but prefer
to be near the student quarter There
is extant a last century print showing
the arrangement of the book boxes of
these dealers to have been at that time
much the@same that it is to-day.
A laborious piece of translation has
English version of the great Sanskrit
epic, the ''Mahabharata," which was
undertaken by learned babu of Ben
gal, Pratapa Chandra Roy, many years
ago, and published in parts, OF which
the Tooth and last appeared early in
the year. The history of the work of
translation is the history of life's de-
votion to single idea. The babu in
question was a poor man and with no
influential friends; but he set about the
task with the most self-sacrificing de-
votion and enthusiasm, and included in
his plan the gratuitous distribution of
the work 10 scholars in all countries
who applied for copies. His efforts Sc
cured in the end a good deal OF reCog-
milton; the Government of India gave
him q grant of II 900 rupees, and many
private individuals contributed Mr.
Roy died before the translation was in
ished, and it was carried on through
other scholars whom the jealous inter-
est Of Mr. Roy's widow, Sundari Bala
Roy, secured for the task.
The house of Franz Hanfstaengi Of
Munich London, and New York, is
bringing out twelve-part work con-
tanning reproductions Of some Of the
best pictures in the National Gallery OF
London. A prospectus of this work
states: From the National Gallery
catalogue, of which almost every can
vas is a masterpiece, one hundred Of
the choicest subjects for photogravure
and eighty for text pictures, have been
culled for presentation in this work
The pictures will appear grouped under
their respective schools, in proper
chronological succession: the critical,
historical, and descriptive text, which,
besides the history of the gallery, gives
a CONNECTED account Of the various art
epochs. forms a most valuable manual
for the use Of art students, and con-
noisseurs who hitherto have been
obliged TO fill out their handbooks Of art
with albums Of heterogeneous pnoto-
graphs that seldom convey either the
charm or the intention Of the originals.
The number of copies OF this work Sc
cured for the American market IS nee
essarily limited by the delicacy of the
plates from which the photographers
are printed"
New York Times: Another bronze
statue heroic in size has been cast for
the Library Of Congress by the Henry
Bonnard Bronze Company. 1t has gone
to Washington TO take its place on the
gallery of the rotunda with the Shakes
peare, Wellington, Herodotus, and other
effigies of men famous in literature
science. statecraft and war. II is the
Columbus, by Paul Wayland Bartlett.
Many sculptors Of many minds have
had their say about Columbus, among
them Italians, who by right Of the dis
coverer's birthplace feel themselves en-
titled TO a decisive opinion. There IS,
for example. at Genoa, a young Column
bus on an elaborate pedestal, who is
sweet insipidity itself, and at Chicago
there is another. who has all the in
sipidity without the sweetness Of the
Genoese statue There are some
scuIptors to whom Columbus is mere
figure of speech, a man In buckran,
a character-laclNEg parsonage, who
stands on the prov Of galley and
shades his eyes III the approved style
of melodrama as he surveys the shores
of Guanahani. Fortunately. there are
others who have enough imagination
TO realize that Christopher Colon must
have been very actual when he trod
the decks of his little ships, no paste
board figure of a man. no dancing
master CiaQ III TIE t~NuASACsSS So~eNAA'~
of a page at court.
Bartlett has struck the note Of the
passionate side Of Columbus nature,
which we find most clearly indicated
at the period of his disgrace, when the
cupidity and jealousy of Spaniards had
poisoned the minds Of the two rulers
Of Spain. and had fallen on evil days.
The cabal had decided that the glory
Of having discovered the West Indies
was enough for the Italian; the fruits
OF the discovery were to be reaped by
natives. Bartlett shows Columbus. not
pointing to the new land, not Offering
up thanks TO heaven for the mercy ex-
tended to him, not transfgured by joy,
but fierce and wrathful, looking up for
justice above, since justice was de-
MED him on earth. indignant in the
spirit Of Prometheus, who was chastised
for bringing down from heaven the
boon Of fire, chastised for the act that
made him famous and benefited the
world. This Columbus is not of the
stuff Of which the meek and lowly are
made; he knows'his deserts and resents
the ingratitude OF those who ventured
nothing. but demanded that the venture
some one, his boast Of finding a new
land having been made good, should
step aside and let them take the gains.
Trusting TO his imagination. the
sculptor has modelled a lean passionate
man. of Portuguese type of face. with
well-marked features. both nose ana
chin vehement and strong. These char
artpristicS viii make the statua tell