The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-03-14
ID T[5[RA[RY
NOTES.
BY Harry Jerome stockard.

to revise manuscript and advise novices
as TO it's disposal, are an imposition, and at
is high time they were arralgned. Ihey
have preyed quite long enough upon the
gulible would-be author.
The Chap Book, by the way, has en-
lareed it's pages and otherwise has arisen
from among the host of cheap periodicals
that have come to light, modelled after its
form.
Charles Dudley Warner has n mann
moth undertaking in hand. Ii Is a work
emitted a Library of the Worlds Best
Literature" and il TO embrace thirty vol
uma;. As ITS name implies, it is to com
pr,hnna the best of all that has beea writ
ten. IN every age and country since writ
ing L. gan Many able editors and con-
tributors are enlisted, and we may look
for IA valuable compilation.
St,ribners Magazine for March is an
excellent number of that periodical.
London as Seen by c. u. Gibson" is
series Of papers, illustrated by the artist
author. which is of surprising interest.
1t is a notable piece of work. The fiction
-Scr6bner's department of special excel
lence always-is represented by THE
Story of Play" by w u. Howels,
Soldiers of Fortune" by Il. II. Davis,
and a dramatic short story by w. l..
Beard 'Iiver's Responsibility" a tale
al the far Southwest.
Another point of superiority with this
magazine is the practical, educating pa
pers on the life of to-day, that are to he
found i'm almost every issue, The bust
ness Of Factory" is the third of a series
describing the conduct of great business
rs. Scribner's is one Of our best maga
zines,
The Mcssrs. Scribners have collected
Mr. Thomas Nelson Pages most famous
stores. Mars Chan" "Nunc Edinburg,
''Meh Lady, etc, into one exquisite vol
ume. The illustrations are by Smedley,
Clinot!nlsi. Reinhardt. Frost, Pyle, and
Castaign&-the very foremost artists of
our time. Taken all together, it is a book
to be treasured.
For this day of magazines by the thou
sand, and writers ESPECIALLY poets) by the
tens Of thousands. one is too apt to pass
unnoticed what is really nleritorious
and allow it to pass into forgetfulness
It seems 10 me the following lines, by Will
III. Thompson, a Southerner, taken from
the February Century, deserves a second
reading:
THE DEATH DREAM OF ARMENIA
A cry from pagan dungeons deep
To Albion old and brave;
A wall that startles from her sleep
The mistress of the wave
We feel the thrill through England's soul
OF nobleSt passions birth;
We hear her drum alarum roll
The circle of the earth
1H
When mothers kiss with pallid bps
The wounds of murdered sons,
We see the sailors ON her ships
Leap TO their shotted guns
We hear her martial triumphs blow
The challenge of the free;
Her lean steel war wolves bowling go
Through gateways of the sea.
The talons Of her eagles tear
The yulture from his feast
The lion mangles in his lair
The tiger Of the East.
All. what Il cher from Asia breaks
And roars along the dawn,
As rescue's battle-thunder shakes
The walls of Babylon.
The March number OF this same maya
zine is called an Inauguration Number
and it contains articles appropriate to the
occasion. Our Fellow Citizens of the
White House" by one Of the editors,
Mr.. G. G. Buell., is an instructive paper,
well illustrated. A. r. Spofford, Libra
rian at Washington, contributes a paper
on THE Nations Library" The number,
an average in verse, is rich in fiction.
-
Mr.. Thomas Bailey Aldrich touches
with infinite grace whatever he lays his
hands to. His poem, judith and Holo-
fernes" published by Messrs. Houghton.
Mitfiin q Co, Boston,, is no exception TO
the rule. 1T is a poem Of sustained inter
est and literary skill, and is a distinct
addition to our rather meagre poetic lit
erature
Another book from this same publishing
house has justly received wide and favor
able criticism. "A Quiet Road bv Miss
Lizette Woodwork Reese, is collection
of poems in the true meaning of that
'mucn abused word. Miss Reese is a pop
ular writer. Her name is to mentioned
now along with that of Miss Edith M.
Thomas.
1t is a pleasure to read her poems ny
one Of which will well bear quotation. y
Current Thought is the name of a peri
odioal just started by the Continental
Company of New York-the company
itself is a new organization, also
The Bookman has received sharp
criticism since its editors have published
that, under no consideration, will they
return rejected manuscripts. An irate cor
respondent gets after the editors unmis-
takably in the following:
1.-THE point is this: If stamps sufficient
TO cover the cost of returning manuscript
are sent yOu, and you refuse to return
property that does not belong to you
yon are q thief!
Don't fall back on others, or write
of presidents, but be man enough to
shoulder your own responsibilities"
III the writer Of the above could see
the March number O. this magazine he
would understand why his offerings were