The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-31
LITERARY NOTES.

George Meredith is a keen critic of con-
temporary literature On being asked his
opinion Of it lately he is quoted as answer
ing, THE leaves are falling, especially the
fg leaves.
The Italian novelist Gabrielle d'Annunzio
has been elected deputy. In one of his
campaign speeches, which created a great
sensation, he declared that there was only
one way for Italy to get out of the present
political morass, and that was by returning
TO the cultus of the beautiful to which the
country owed Its former greatness.
The death of Justin Winsor. librarian of
Harvard removes one of the leading ex-
perts in the world on early American his
tory. He was not only q skillful librarian,
but writer OF many books and an editor
Of editions of pamphlets and other works
bearing on the discovery and early settle
ment Of the New England coast. His latest
work was an elaborate history of Column
bus's discovery of America, with repro
duction of many rare maps and prints.
Prof. r. G. Moulton. of the University of
Chicago. has returned from England. where.
in connection with other work, he lectured
at the Oxford summer meeting of univer-
sity extension students. Professor Mouiton
first came to America a lecturer for the
American Society for the Extension of Uni
verSity Teaching, and out of courses of lee
lures he gave for that society were devel-
oped his work upon THE Literary Study of
the Bible, and the introduction and notes
" Ills WCl-hIOWn MOuCIIi IcduSIS DlOLO.
The death of Prof Francis Turner Pal
grave, who had for over a decade occupied
the chair of poetry at Oxford University,
poesy the world over. They owe him a large
debt for his Golden Treasury of English
Songs" one of the finest anthologies of its
1is sa edition i has just STU been announced
Professor Palgrave revealed his critical
scholarship not in wordy essays on the
poets, but in the far more delightful serv
ice 10 them and to the public of an appreci-
alive selection Of their classical gems.
Crossing the Bar" Tennyson's biog-
rapher says, was written in the poets
eighty-first year. ION a day in October when
we came from Aldworth to Farringford
Before reaching Farringford he had the
Moaning of the Bar in his mind, and after
dinner he showed me this poem written out
l said, That is the crown of your life's
work. He answered, IT came in a mo mo
Divine and Unseen Who is always guiding
us A few days before his death he said to
me: Mind you put Crossing the Bar at
the end of all editions of my poems.
A Chinaman named Wo Chang is about to
publish a volume of his impressions of
England. An English writer says: "Wo
Chang, / understand, is not altogether in
favor OF our English institutions. He con-
siders that England is honeycombed with
Reorganization, that our laws are bad, and
our matrimonial customs abominabe, that
our doctors are hopeleSSly incompetent, and
that our lawyers are q danger to society.
He condemns our lack of reverence for our
ancestors and our lack Of wisdom in domeS-
tic management. He thinks we are a ma
ton of liars, and he solemnly regards the
London Stock Exchange as the biggest
gambling hell In the world
A London paper says: THE most original
piece of fiction of the week is Benjamin
Swift's new novel, The Tormentor,
10 a1rf1n Of
fectively eccentric story, Nancy Noon
Benjamin Swift is the nom de guerre OF
Mr.. William Romaine Peterson, son of the
late DR.. Robert Paterson, of Glasgow. This
clever young novelist, who is only twenty
six years of age, is an NJ. A of Glasgow
University, where no took firSt-class hon.
ors in philosophy; The Tormsntor, Is aptlyy
it torments the reader as much As Jacob
Bristol tormcnts his fellow-characters in
the lncteoric pages of the story"
Mr.. James Whitcomb Riley's 'Rubaiyat Of
Doc Sifers," the first installment of which
will appear in the November Century, will
be published in book form by the Century
Company a little later. The word
''rubaiyat' is said to mean simply "quat-
rains" though it is commonly defined as
philosophy or creed" Mr.. Rileys title
will, Of course suggest the famous
"Rubaiyat of Omar khayyam." but in the
actual reading the suggestion comes in the
form of subtle contrast, not in likeness of
LneIle OF form EXPRESSION Inc pagan poet
sang Of the selfish and sensual joys of
life. The nineteenth century singer records
the doings of q supplemented toling, self
sacrificing lover of nankind-a man of the
people, neighbor TO all within his reach.
The Tribune notes that this is a season
of epistolary literature. The Tennyson cor
respondence has already been discussed In
this place. Mrs. Browning's letters are on
the eve of publication and the correspond
ence of Wilberforce, which has just seen
the light in England. has provoked much
comment The letters of the Foster family
are also to be printed. What these letters
are like may be judged from the fact that
they are by Gibbon, Sheridan, Fox, Lord
and Lady Byron, the Prince Regent, the
Earl Of Aberdeen, the Duke of Wellington
the Emperor Alexander /, Canova, Thor
waldsen, General Moreau, Cieorgiana
Duchess of Gainsborough. and her success
sor, Lady Elizabeth Foster. The correspond
ence, which dates from 1777 to 1859, has been
edited by Mr. We're Foster.