The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-17
An important historical work is The

History Of Greece" 10y AdoIph Holm,
in four volumes. It is regarded with
much favor by competent historical
scholars who have examined II. In
fact, it is a work OF much careful re-
search and preparation, is so calm and
cautious in statement, is 50 direct and
simple in mode OF treatment, and Sd
unlike some other of the famous Ger
man historians in and enthusi-
asm as to give assurance Of great value
and interest. It VIII supersede the
hitherto very much praised great work
Of Curtius. In a brief review Of il in the
New York Evening Pos il is said that
Professor Holm a simply eliminated
rhetoric from his treatment Of Greek
history, and the resultant economy Of
space and Qualification OF Jul vision
show US how large a place it had occu-
pied. Where the evidence does not per
nit us to conclude, he is content 20 say
so, instead Of Juggling with ii in the en-
deavor 70 make possibility look like
probability and probability pass for
certainty. = The study of
Holm Will prove a wholesome
antidota to the mystic and pontifical
manner Of writing history" This i'm
portant contribution to history begins
with the beginning Of Greek history
and comes down to the close of the in
dependence of n Greek nation.
London Literature" though it had
done a big ting in securing Henry
James to write weekly Of American lit
erature. We have tackled three or four
Of his weekly screeds and they are
uninteresting and 'tasteless. He really
knows but little OF the literature of his
native country. For aquarter Of a GEN.
fury he has lived abroad, and with age
his style becomes more involved and
hazy. He does write con more of his
country's literature, and if writing Of
French or English literature he would
have more point and zest. The Phila-
delphia American 5 literary critic val
ues correctly James's contributions to
Literature" 1t says he writes with
out love or knowledge and adds
cleverly:
James IS truthful according to his
lights, but he certainly ought to make
a voyage Of discovery, as the literary
Columbus of his age, and when he has
learnt his American a, b, C, he will
want to make humble apologies to
Howells, ct. al, n the playwrights.
This comes of allowing himself to fig
ure as a man without a country"
The English novelist Rev. Mr. Bar
ing-Gould, who is a clergyman Of the
Established Church says he wrote his
popular hymn "Onward Christian Sol
diers' in a few minutes. He tells its
little history aus follows:
when I was a curate I had charge
of a mission at Horbury, one mile from
Wakefield, and one W~itsuntide my
vicar wanted me to bring all the Sum-
day school children UP to the mother
church for a great festival. Well I
thought, there's that mile to tramp,
What shall do with them on the way?'
All of a sudden it struck me, III write
them a hymn And 1 did. 1T was all
done in about ten minutes. I set it to one
Hayden's tunes, and the children sang
it on the w to church. I thought no
more about it and expected the hymn
would De no more n6drQ OF.
Another edition OF Jane Austen's
novels is to appear in England to be
sold at s1.25 a volume. It will be ex-
cellently printed.
Henry Lawson is the most distin-
guished literatus in Australasia. He is
both poet and prose author, and has
had much newspaper experience.
The critics regard Herman Sunder-
mann as Beyond doubt the foremost
living German author in the world of
fiction. He has a great reputation in
his own land and in England, and
doubtless other European countries. He
is read with great and increasing eager
ness at home. He has been recently
reviewed in the Paris Revue des Deux
Mondes, by E. Rod, and London Lit
erature' also has something very fav-
orab1e in his behalf. 1t says:
1.-THE author of several powerful
novels, two of which. Els War and
with the masterpieces of contem-
porary fiction, he has also writ
ten plays that not only hold the boards
from time to time in the leading Con-
mental towns, but run through an as
founding number Of editions within a
few months of publication"
1t adds that "a power OF communicat-
ing emotion seems to he the secret Of
his grip on the public" There is no
sickly sentimentality of the Goethe
'FWerthurism" in him, n none either
of "the neo-morbidity Of the deca-
dents" He has rare descriptive pow
ers.
The proud father is always anxious
to give his first haby a-ueiph