New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-18
LITERARY NOTES.

The Putnams are rendering a valuable service TO
The novel-readinr public In importing the re-
prints of classic fiction published In London py the
firm of Service & Patton There have already been
some nrst-rate selections brought out III the SERIES
"Esmond" and other precious wcrks ana now we
have received 'Tvanhoe." illustrated by Mr.. c. f.
Brock and Lytton's Last OF tho Barons, with
pictures by Mr.. Fred. Pegram These volumes are
all In the anne handy octave form. printed in clear
tyne on paper thin enough TO make the volumes
light in the hand. and yet opaque enough 10 sno"
off the type to advantage. The illustrators VINO
have been chosen with care. have done their WORK
alphabetically and we'll The binding. finally is In
excellent taste Classical ronances never wear
out new editions of them welcome as the
seasons with which they are constantly arriving
and this particular series is in every way artisuc
and convenient.
IN discussing Mr.. William watsons Year OF
Shame in this place the other day. 1t was sus-
gested that the dainty form given TO that volume
with its preface by the Bishop OF Hertford ana us
frontispiece by Mr.. Watts. In the nature OF an
adventitious aid to the writer's limited powers
We have received since then long letter OF dis
sent from Mr.. A. p Vartooguian, an Armenian
gentleman who has himself published writings con-
nected with the recent terrible outrages innic'eo
upon his nation. Mr.. Nartooguan suggests that
because Mr.. Watsons book was published IN sueh
a decorative way we inferred that 1t had no merit
We hasten TO assure our correspondent that we
drew no such inference. He calls Mr.. Watson
that illustrlous poet" We venture TO disagree
with him. From the time when this clever young
Engiishman published his first verses we have con-
sidered him a very minor poet indeed and the
praise which has been showered upon him from
time 10 time has seemed to us uDwarranted, TO say
the least Mr.. Vartooguian believes that Mr. Wat
son will be better appreciated and honored In the
future" than he is now We respect his opinion.
and we hope that Mr.. Watson Will justify IL as
tine goes on. producing work that VIII command
the admiration Of all men. But In the mean time
we must adhere to our conviction that the author
Of .syyor6sworth's Grave has good qualities with
out being great poet. that he Is. in fact vers-
fer whose vogue has been out Of all proportion to
his merits.
Tho reputation Of lyrical classic by-the-way.
that OF Robert Burns has recently been modified 10
some extent by the researches Of his latest edi-
tors Mr.. w E. Henley and Mr. F. +. Henderson
The third volume OF their Centenary Edition OF
the poet has just appeared in London and the
notes contain some remarkable disclosures Com
wanting upon them THE Saturday Review makes
the following remarks:
Scotch critics have more and more inseniously
of iSurnss debt his predecessors forgetting that
in the long run nothing can be more injurious TO
P1t MHssrs. Henley and Henderson have made
discovery which necessitates the full reconsidera-
''V Very ~ siTangeiy they are the earliest editors 10
attention the existence IN tne bTltSl
Museum OF a manuscript collection Of songs bal
lads and scraps made by the aniqiary DAVID lier1'
hood II seems probable that this exceedingly full
and curious COLLECTION was paSid IN HenT and
henderson have been able 10 prove by its COLLATION.
with the Musical an mo the Sro.S Of
over. twenty songs. The illustrative value Of this
gives us for the first time opportunity of really
gauging the nature Of Burns's work as a yrist and
lines a single instance will suffice 10 give an idea
Of the Importance Of the discovery. Hitherto If
sfsn anoth ns is WHISTLE and I'll Come to YOU
Ny Lad; But the Herd manuseript shows that
Doric bard of an earlier generation:
Whistle and III cum to ye. my LAD lad
Gin father and miiher and a should gaee mad
Whistle and III cum TO We, my lad'
majority Burns has so manipulated and vivihed
the cid dull matter that wholly admit his right
Instances aas Wbich # would be cowaTy TO hrk
where the Burns element is found to be 50 exsu9us
that II would easily pass through the eye OF a
needle. The agony of conventional Burnses in
dsf}Tessins The genesis Of this famous poem IS
ptil=ssly forth by Messrs. Henley and Hender-
the first % Sqap o rGm s Gs Ss
chap-book preserved by Motherwel and Burns
is mot te scrap Of "A Red. Red Rose which was
not suggested to Burns by something already in
the old verses and the new: IL is only the toughest
criticism which could fail to the value of
Burns's handiwork Each syllable has really
passed through the Crucible of his brain. For IN
stance, the black-etter says:
"Her cheeks like the Roses
That blossom fresh in June.
o. she's like new-srung instrument
That's newly put In tune"
Very pretty this and of an invention highly TO
the credit OF the nameless itinerant crowder yet
the splendor Of the song as now possess 1T CON
ssts precisely in those touches which Burns added
"a red. red rose" that's newly sprung" 1.-THE
melodie."
In spite Of all our philosophy. however
fess that Il is a blow to be informed that in
ballad Of 'Mally Stewart" printed about 174s
there occur the following lines:
The trooper turn'd himself about
All the Irish shore
He has given the bridle-rens a shake.
Saying. Adieu for evermore.
Adieu for evermore.
At this we are inclined 10 throw up our hands
and exclam. in classic language, "Whaurs Robbie
Burns moor
Students Of epistolary literature who remember
with pleasure the letters OF General Sherman which
were published in The Century some time ago.
will be glad 10 hear that some further fragments
from his pen TO be brought out in the April
number OF "McClure's Magazine" They are certain
letters which the General wrote 20 young lady
whose romantic relations to officer in the army
had been broken off. Sherman undertook 10
establish them, and the correspondence ought 10
show his character in a way not only new to him,
but uncommon among letter-writers of any time
The Century Company announces the publica-
ton In book form of Mrs. Bars serial, ~Irisoners
of Conscience" noting that the story has been