New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-03
LITERARY NOTES.

ships That Pass in the Night" is a common
place title in comparison with that which MISS
Beatrice Harraden has selected for her next
story It is long and not easy to remember
TOO have Passed through Wntry Terrors
One Of its characters is said to be modelled upon
that OF her dead father. who was particularly
proud OF his literary daughter
At the recent meeting OF the Bronte Society
Sir Wemyss Reid told story OF very distin-
guished man who being engaged IN readlng
Jane Eyre when the dinner bell rang TOOK IL
down with him and surreptitiously read 1t dur
ing the meal although he had been invited 70
that dinner party to meet two young ladies' VINO
had heard a great deal OF his conversational
powers! Sir Wemyss Reid also made the inter
esting statement that barely month ago ne
met in London "a gentleman still taking an ac-
tive interest in life. who was not only the or'gi-
nal Of one Of Charlotte Bronte's most famous
characters. but whose name had been coupie'
with hers as the man she was likely to marry
Rolf Boldrewood Is just bringing out what ne
calls "A Bush Idyll." under tho formal title OF
plain Living
The Kelmscott Press editions or Morriss
"sigurd the Volsung" and THE Suhder'ng
Flood" are coming out this month. Love Is
Enough" with two illustrations by Sir Edward
Burne -Jones) will be issued in March.
Maarten Martens. who haI not published
anything important for some time. has just
finished a novel which will soon appear In
serial form 1t is 10 bear the not very definite
title of Her Memory.
Mrs. Lynn Linton-who was. by the way. the
the pngraVer,
though they separate long ago-is now between
seventy and eighty years Of age. She still
works as hard with her pen. however, as In the
DAYS when she made a worldwide reputation
with her Saturday Review articles on The
Shrieking Sisterhood" The Girl Of the Period"
and Mature Sirens" 1t is limited that she
may write a book of "reminiscences. and very
entertaining Il ought TO he. for she has known
many interesting and notable people
Her novel Of Joshua Davidson" has become
classic and, as masterpiece, has been
brought out in England In a penny edition
As 10 modern fiction, Mrs. Linton believes that
too great a consideration for the young person
has been bao for 1t. Mature men and women"
she says Ought not 10 sacrifice truth and COM
nonsense in literature for the sake OF the
Young person. The smell Of bread and butter
spells felton,
NJ Oh Bastide laments In The Fortnghtly
Review "the terrible disadvantages" that liter
ary culture has involved for the French Nation.
Literature" ne declares is like a strong medi-
cine"
Taken in small doses it is most beneficial;
but when immoderately used IL has the effect
OF a most powerful alcohol Let England. with
her wonderful idealist poetry and her CONNER
cial prosperity paid for by the lack Of artistic
taste among the people. illustrate the truth OF
this proposition France. on the contrary. distils
in enormous quantities the potent drug ouans
1t with relish. and then offers IT 10 ali nations
as an evident token that she deems II indis-
pensable TO their happiness. 1t would be
mistake 70 suppose that the providers or TINS
poison are those writer's of naturalistic romances
and authors Of erouc pictures who are con-
stantly violating the ordinary canons OF deco
rous morality the drug that they offer Is al
most inoffensive in France. since II partakes very
little OF that artistic quality that makes a work
dangerous 10 Frenchmen Moreover, there Is
no necessary opposition between the political
greatness of nation and literature devoid OF
a minimum cleanliness Of thought
Pascal will help us to specify the general liter
ary intoxication TO which the governing classes
are addicted. In his Pensees he draws dis
tincton between what he rather Enthusiastically
terms esprit de fnesse and esprit geometrique.
There is similar distinction between q literary
and a scientific mind: while the latter has regard
but for well authenticated facts and always
reasons clear principles, the former loves TO
trace the remote consequences Of principle,
or discover and appreciate the slight difference
between facts The seems more analytic.
the other more intuitve. II two such minds are
supposed in the world OF action, while the one
clearly divnes the one road that leads him to the
end that he has In view. the other thinks he
discerns at the same time many a bypath and
turning. and. losing precious time before choos-
ing his way or even allowing nimsen 20 De
detail may ultimately decline TO come to de-
cision
IN France that prevents her from carrying out
IN the manner they would wish the programme
Of the reformers. II is not before Notre Dame
CT, Cav tAtvn da parlc a
the enlightened Frenchnan bends his knee, II is
not red bonneted Liberte that he venerates. nor
is IT even in spite OF too recent and exasgeraed
ne worshps. The cherished omnipotent idol
to-day sixty years ago. is literature
Mr. Gladstone has invented excellent thing
half screen. half bookcase 1t is described as
holding "the maximum OF books in the mini
mum Of space" 1t is made Of light wood enam-
elled white has shelves in front for holding four
hundred books. and the back is covered with
tapestry like an ordinary screen. IT is easily !
movable II is exceedingly useful in limited |
quarters.
Mrs L. T. Meade. who is one Of the popular
novelists Of England to-day. says she likes col |
Alteration in the composition of fiction. She |
finds it stimulating the mind. But" she |
adds. collaboration should always be OF the |
opposite sexes The union OF man and a |
woman is a perfect union in the writing OF hc- |
ton in other things. Contact with the mas
culine mind s invigorating. but collaboration !
with another woman would produce the essence |
OF weakness. and besides. a and woman !
are much likely to be civil to one |
another than two OF the would be II |
working together"
There be writer's concerning whose works men
may hold various opinions without causing the
bystander to wonder. but when Mr.. Kplng is
IN question and The Edinburgh" deals with
him thus. the aforesaid bystander may ex-
cused for feeling some establishment
II he wishes for future fame for a perma-