New-York tribune., 1897-01-10

afternoon train. and II must have been late ~
supper. My mother. finding after the lapse OK SOM
time that she did not appear IN the dra"ing'roo0
circle went upstairs in search OF her. and tapping
at her door. found Miss Rossetti ready but walt.
ing, In some trepidation, too shy TO venture down
alone. or to be formally announced by the servant
into the expectant group in the drawingroom."
II IS Of this shy nature that the author writes
as follows: Most OF all used 10 wonder at and
admire the way In which she would take up aM
hold In the hollow OF her hand cold little from
and clammy toads or furry many-lcgged cater.
pillars"
Mr. George w Cable Is 10 occupy editorial
chair in this city. He has assumed the literary
mana cement OF Current Literature" abandoning
his own symposium and will devote all Of hi
time that is not given to original work 10 the New.
York periodical Besides editing the latter. he win
carry on a special department in 1t. The charactes
Of this department has not been announced.
Collectors OF posters take notice. There was "a
exhibition OF their favorite productions held h
Rheims little while ago. II was composed chiefly
Of examples lent by NJ. Henrot. who IL said to
own one of the finest collections In the worid he
has compiled catalogue OF the show, giving o.
scrptions Of nearly 100 Of the best posters In HE
own possession He adds photography OF poster
literature and the catalogue is adorned with por'
traits Of about fifty famous designers. The WORK
is presently be issued in Paris In limited edi'
ton. exqusitely printed
A letter printed the other day In THE Boston
Transcript sorrowfuy calls attention 10 the lib
erai doses OF profanity which many contemporary
writer's feel justified in embedding In their stories
and novels and protests that even the new Jour-
nalirm'' Is discreet in this matter fhan the
wcsxers in fiction. The point is well taken. Tine
WIS when the mildest bad language was invariably
represented by dashes. or. at worst, by aserlsks.
significant In their numbers of exactly the number
OF letters forming the original awful worda
But now this Is regarded as too squeamish Any
thing Will do so that IT is put in the mouth ofa
character" and authors like Mr.. Arthur Nor
rson or Mr. Stephen Crane apparently think II the
most harmless thing in the world TO dot thek
pages with phrases only mildly described as
lurid. One of the most remarkable illustrations
OF this callous taste was offered by Mrs BurnU
in her Lady OF Quality" She makes her lsdysI9
swear and curse like trooper. No doubt II Isl
profoundly essential touch in "a picture OF the
times" but the reader looks back wistfully 10 the
time when Mrs. Burnett could be interesting
other ways.
The subject Of the accompanying portrait seemed
destined TO go down posterty merely as tho
writer of some sood ha nd books OF travel. but hs
has changed all this He will be remembered nov,
somewhat after tho fashion of an Indian chief as
Man w no -Scalp lped- HisParenis. His recently pub
lished autobiography is full OF bitter things about
his family. and when an interviewer called upon
him at his country home the other day. he TOOK
up the same strain. Speaking OF his boyhood, h
said: II had no companions, and had very dull
life which would have been miserable II IL nad
not been for my dear old nurse. Mary Lea only