The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-25

wrote on 'tOId Lamps for New" in a
recent issue of Literature" He cred
its two sayings he quotes wrongly per-
haps. He says Sam Rogers said
when a new book comes out, / read
an old one" Is that by Rogers? 1t is
often credited in the north to Emer-
son. He says Emerson advised us
to read no book which is not a year
Old" Carlyle is often quoted as having
said-"Do not read a book until it is
two a old" We incline to the be-
lief that 1t is C~arlylean.
Mr.. Swinburne called FitzgeraId's
translation or rather version Of Omar
Khayyam as Sovereignty faultless."
Up in New England the effort TO dis
credit the very popular move of the
gifted Kentuckian, James Ian Allen,
has begun. A professor in Harvard
University writes to London 'Litera-
ture" tina Choir Invincible,' with its
popularity, fares by no so surely
among the reviewers, some Of whom
think it's luck exceeds its merit, while
some of them profess to be scandalized
by it's success" 1t has outsold any
northern novel for the last -four or five
months. and is only next to Quo
Vadis" IN popularity. We have seen
very cordial, discriminating, finely
written notices of the novel, but have
not read it ourselves.
The other week we saw a critic in
a northern publication saying that
Meredith a not been initiated. But
the initiators in England are reported
numerous, and many novels have been
inspired by disciples of the very able
| novelist and genuine poet. Many years
ago we VITO a column or more on
Richard Feverel." 1t is a novel of
I rich gifts and no little mastership. He
has a half dozen novels that how posi-
tive genius and of serious purpose, as
well as elaborate execution. There are
chapters in his books of high inspira-
ton.
Lieutenant Peary will soon publish
an account of his seven expeditions in
the frozen regions. What has been &C
complished by Them?
Mrs. Amelia E.. Barr~is English, but
lives in New York state. She is 80 con-
scientious and admirable a writer, n
always pure, that we like to commend
her books. Her latest two books are en-
titled: Remember the Alamo" and
'FThe Squire of Sandleside." We sup
pose the former, from it's title, is a
Texas story.
Rev. DR.. Hepworth's book, to be called
"On Horseback Through Armenia" is
to be published this year.
IA permanent memorial in honor Of
the great poet, Tennyson, is to be rails
ed in England. 1t should he very rich
n costly if it is to he fitting. ~
The general portrait or the cruel Nero
in "Quo Vadis'' is correct. Suetonius
speaks of his being a singer and harp
est, etc.
We notice in New York Times's
Saturday Review" the Russian novel
lists name is spelled both Tolstoi and
Tolstoy. The latter is the only correct
way, according to New York Book
man" and 'Literature."
You cannot tell from the laudations
of newspapers how good and great
novels are. There is a book out called
'HFree to Leave, A Tale of Colonial
New York" that newspapers pronounce
better than Hugh Wynne,'' or every
way as good, and as fascinating, pure
in ton and ~cleverly real and so on.
It is by E. Rayner, and is in it's fifth
thousand, price $3.50.
"A really superior volume of American
essays IS recently issued. It is by a
northernor, John Jay Chapman. The
samples we nave read are piquant,
original and scholarly