The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-01
IN THE LITERARY FIELD.
SOMETHING ABOUT RI0HMOND'S
LIBRARTEs And AUTHORS.
Books That Have Attracted Attention
Among Crifics--Readins People oil inns
City Have Fads and Crazes.

No doubt the literary event of the year
I'm Richmond was "Thc Descendant,
published anonymously. but well under
stood to be from the pen of a young lady
resident in the city. IL has been various
~ reviewed and criticised, and compared
to Amelie Riyess The Quick or the
Dead"
Without expressing an opinion one way
or the other, there is yet this TO be said
which all will assent 10: our grand
mothers either could not or would not
write such books. Which shows progress
as the world moves on-but hardly what
one would call Pilgrims Progress.
Two we'll known authors have appeared
before the Lyceum organized during the
year; Anthony Hope and Marion Craw-
ford The doctors also differ widely as
to the merits of these entertainments.
Who shall decide? One conclusion Is pal
pable: neither OF them created sensa-
ton. both passed out Of mind soon after
they passed out Of sight.
The interest in the various literary clubs
seems to be kept up to high water mark
and many OF their evenings have been
classified as charming. The men have
their clLbs. why not the women?
The lectures on Egypt at Richmond Col
lege aroused a very lively interest, and
many more wanted TO hear them than
there was room for
1t may be that Mr. Thomas Nelson Page
can no longer be claimed as Richmond
own. One of the Christmas books IS
pretty little volume by him entitled 80
cial Life IN Old Virginia before the War
dainty illustrated by the Misses Cowlcs.
One OF the illustrations is given as a CO.
lonial stove. being n picture Of the well
known Warming Machine" preserved as
a relic in the Capitol. II is modestly sug
gested that this work OF art is worthy the
dignity Of at least the definite article not
an or an an it is celebrated in the
Virginia Historical Register published
prior TO 1850 and Mordecai. in his rich
mond in By-gone Days makes elaborate
mention Of II. 20 say nothing of the blazon
with which its architect submitted IL 10
the gaze Of an astonished and admirng
public Truly it must have been The
Colonial Stove. the true original and
only, Age cannot wither nor custom stale
It's infinite capacity to be an object of ar
tistic taste and talent.
SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS.
Mr.. w. j. Sheppard has an article in the
Christmas Harper illustrated by himself
which has the true local flavor. The ty-
pical Nanny" is depicted both in de-
scription and illustration in touches true
TO lfe-the highest test Of genuine folk
lore literature. Fact Is always better
than fancy i'm This regard, and the high
est art still consists in holding the mirror
up 10 nature.
Marion Harland OIrs Terhune) has
published p new book which contains de-
scrpUOns OF some old Virginia mansions
with handsome Illustrations. but the own
ers Of these historic old places and their
knsfolk and nelghbors. will not greatly
enjoy being told that The damage done
these monuments Of the colonial era by
ylndals i'm tine uniform of the United
States. during The late war. was only n
well deserved punishment for their sin Of
rebellion
Obviously this is what person. who
was such an extreme partisan of the
North. must mean when She says-writing
OF how the Brandon house was wrecked
that it was very unfortunato. but chat the
real blame must De placed ON those whose
political ambition brought ON The war;
Now Mrs. Terhune was herself u Viz
ginian.
Rev Or. Carmichael has written an
other volume. entitled "Carstairs of Cas-
by Sampson, Low q Co.. London. and has
not yet reached tho public in Virginia
Miss Gillie Cary has ISSUED a. new edi-
ton of her pleasing little book. with eN-
cclent illustrations the handcrafr Of
home talent, Mrs CARRIER and Mrs Da-
shield.
Mrs. Nora G. Scott and Miss Annie
S,eeor Winston have each won the APP
probation of the magazine editors who
have accepted ana published several ar
uclcs from their pens
Father Tabb has published two dainty
volumes-oue OF Lyrics. tn other an
Octave 90 Mary
Both OF the historical gazines-"The
Virginia. edited by M. Bruce. and THE
William and Mary Quarterly" bv MI
TYLER. have not only maintained but adj
vanced their high standard Of excellence.
Would that more of our own people could
and would subscribe for and read themi
Genealogy is perhaps, not as famb0yaut
as heretofore. tine reason being that most
of the aspiring have either attained the
Herdlds college. or else been stopped i'm
the yesubuie.
lt is not everybody that can go in and
out al pleasure The Societies known
as the Revolutionary &c. are. however.
holding their own, and making some head
way
The revival Of the Cincinnati s curious.
when regarded from the standpoint of his
tory. though 10 may be conceded nov that
democratic republics have come 90 stay.
and the peril. once implied. 40 longer
imponds. The irreprcssihic conflict of to-
day IS between the arstocratc societies
on the one hard. ana the Universal
Brotherhood of Man ON the other. The
"eligibles" TO the latter are much the
more numerous.
The Rosemary Library has achieved q
distinct advance. being conveniently and
costly housed ON Franklin. and 70. high
favor with Us patrons and thc public
The College Library. too. is keeping
abreast of the times ass fully ass its zee
sources will admit and the general DE-
brary outlook i'm Ire city Is. in the whole,
quite hopeful and encouraging.
THE STATE LIBRARY.
FOR certain administrative reasons not
necessary 90 Doc stated. the outlay for
new books in the State Library has not
been as great as usual. yet most of the
standard works OF general interest have
been added as soon as published, and a
few rare old books have been purchased
from time 10 time. as opportunity Of
fcred. The book most sought after during
the year has been Nanscn's "Farthest
North but Richmond. Uke other places.
has its fashion" fra books. and everybody
wants the same book "a, the same time
"Trilby's" eclipse is as total as It's ne