New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-12
LITERARY. NOTES.

The late stephane Mallarme held the extraor-
binary conviction that In poetry there should De
nothing but allusion. THE contemplation OF
objects" he said. "the fugitive image Of revere,
evoked by them. are the song; the Parnassiahs
a. e.. the French poetic school OF that name
take hold OF the whole matter and show 1t TO
you; therein they lack mystery: they w'thho'o
from the mind the delicious Joy Of imagining
that II creates To name an object Is to sup
press three fourths Of the enjoyment OF 'he
poem. which consists in the happiness OF grad
ual guesswork: your ideal should be to Suggest.
II any one Of average intelligence and OF
insufficient literary preparation chances to open
n book 30 fashioned. and processes to enjoy IT,
there is some misunderstanding. and things
must be put back in their places. Thcre sho"'"
always be the enigmatc IN poetry. and 1t IL the
AIM the sole aim of literature 10 evoke oo)ects
How did the late DR.. Charles Meriva'e. dean
OF Ely and historian Of Rome. save India! mus
indirectly: The nomination 10 wrtershp h"'
been given 10 him when boy by an oio r's'
Indian director who was immensely surpriSeu
and disguised when his protege refused H. ne
had given II to me-" wrote Merivae. "out OF
favor to our cousin. Angel Heath. as before mem
TONED She was also connected With the Law
mother. Mrs. Admiral Heath. Mr.. Hudleston
had already given Cadetships. entirely, '~
lieve. on her account. to Henry. and think 10
George Lawrence both well-known names IN
later Indian history He said: Wen.
Thought had done enough for that set; but as
I have a writership thrown my hands ana
"A think there Is another OF them who. dare
say will not refuse 1t. will give 1t 10 nI'i'
And so he DID; and this other was John Law
renee. who went to India as writer oist'i-
guished himself by many eminent services '''i
at last he became the main instrument IN oe-
Tending the Empire at the time OF the Mn'iny'
and was rewarded with the Governor-Generai-
ship and the title II Lord Lawrence. And thus
II was that saved India"
Those people" says THE London 6lone
"whose appetite for information concerning the
Stevenson household was not satisfied by the
'vaili,na letters should turn to the current IL
Illustrated London News and read an article OF
MI Gee;, Burgess. Mr.. Burgess Is we are eel
torially instructed. staying at Dorking with Mrs
r. L. Stevenson and her family. and he has
taken advantage OF his position as guest 10 write
this kind OF thing. under the title Some Mad
Americans OF Dorking'
but though know not Dorking Dorxihs
knows US are the mad Americans WINE
we are not shocking the community by Mar
garet's appearance OIL Highest. wheeling her
own babys pera mbulato:. Dorking peeps at US
through our front door. 1t IL very exciting 10
Dorking; for though the knocks come otten'
the door is never o,ened by the same person.
We keep four servants. but usually the house
maid has toothache the ladys maid Is heip-
ing cook In the kitchen. and the nurse disdans
mental service. All her spare time Is spent IN
complaining of the butter. We sit in suspense
iii the third time OF knocking: then our curl
osity becomes intolerable. and one Of the family
rushes 10 the door. By this time. the windows
opposite are fun neighbors nod and giggle.
Fortunate Dorking!
And again
I'VE are but camping out a. best. and our
idiosyncrasies are exaggerated know. by the
tales the nonresident housemaid carries home.
She is willing. but she is not intelligent; she has
not learned the AmcricaP, pnanner Of joking
with a straight face. 1t,.Yes only yesterday
that the postman levied a toll OF threepence
upon a forwarded letter We were at breakfast.
and the eggs were disappointing. ASK the
postman II he won't take an eeg instead Of three
pence" said the head Of the table Because ne
did not grin from ear TO ear as he sroke the
housemaiG obeyed TO the letter. The postman
sent reply that he didn't care for eggs. and
wanted his threepence." and the story Of our
insanity went with him up Highest to the ut
termost parts OF the town
"Mr Burgess had a reputation for humor in
America"
A CORES pendent Of THE Pail, Mall Gazette"
rises in wrath to protest against repellent
sketch" OF the "Old PretenGer contained In MI.
Andrew Balfour's book ITO Arms For nearly
two years" writes this defender Of the Stuart.
Dvot nHaT'C
letters and the letters and journals Of his
friends and his enemies and can attest out OF
quite intimate knowledge and somewhat to my
own surprise. that no sketch of James that was
faithful could be repelent The widest most
careful and impartial research finds him from
first to lest of most upright. loyal and gracious
nature. Of perfectly stainless character; only
wanting in force. owing to extremely delicate
health and the wear and tear Of hope deferred
and incessant disappointment:
IA sweeter and lovelier gentleman
valiant mot .over-wise) and. no doubt,
right royal.
The spacious world cannot again afford
"Of him, as Of his grandfather. 1t may be writ
ten:
"'He nothing common did or mean.
Nor called the gods with vulgar spite.
To vindicate his helpless right
Mrs. Charles D. Sigsbee, the wife OF the cap
tain Of the Maine. has written an article about
the animals which act as "mascots' on battle
ships. Under the title Of Pets Ahoat' this
article is 10 appear In "St Nicholas"
REPORT on TIE WEST POINT ACADEMY.
Washington. Oct. 1.-THE annual report OF the
superintendent Of the military academy Is made
this year 10 the War Department by Lieutenant
Colonel O. L. Hem no commands the academy in