The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-13
LITERARY GOSSIP.

All men (and incidentally women) de-
sire fame In the world Of letters. Even
the Kaiser Is not free from such ambi-
ton. and the Berlin papers announce
that he will write a book describing his
trip through the Holy Land.
The home in Edinburg. where Steven
son was born is advertised for sale. BY
the way. Scribner's Magazine promises
for next year a collection of letters by
this author. and edited by Mr. Sidney
Colvin.
The centenary celebration In honor OF
Tom Hood has just taken place in Eng
land. The London papers describe him
rs the great humanitarian poet"
Dove Cottage Wordsworth's home at
Gracmore is now In possession of the
British nation. and il will be preserved
as literary landmark
In answer TO the question, "Who are
the four most famous living authors?"
leading magazine replies. Are they not
Mark Twain. Tolstoi. lola and Ruskn2'
Mark Twain will publish a serial story
next year. which has some Incidental re-
ference TO fhe Dreyfus case In this.
connection. comes the statement from
competent critics that the first install
mcnt of Major Esterhazy's Dreyfus rev
Citations has been a disappointment, both
20 the general public and to the pub
fishers IL is reported that the Ameyi-
can rights Of the book were offered 70
Mcssrs. Appleton, but they declined 10
publish Il az any price
There IS romantic little bit Of gossip
going the rounds about Rudyard kipliDg's
name. The story goes that his peculiar
name was given him because it was on
nf. Il fnl u
shire that his parents met for the first
-lmc His father was a designer Of deco
rati0ns for pottery. and it is an inter-
esting fact that the outward Bound
edition of the sons works IS illustrated
by the father a writer i'm The Critic
for this month says Mr. Kipling is chat
anomalous being. Hing classic
In this day OF wars and rumors or
wars" of peace commissions and peace
congresses the following lines Of Long
fei'ow come as a benedicti0n from the
past:
Were half the power that fills the world
with terror
Were half the wealth bestowed on
camps and courts,
Given TO redeem the human mind from
error
There were no need Of arsenals or forts.
The warriors name would be a name alb
horred,
And every nation. that should lift again
Its hand against a brother on its fore
Would wear forevermore the curse Of
Cain,
Down the dark future. through long gen
erations
The echolng sounds grow fainter and
then cease:
And like a bell with solemn, sweet vi
hrations,
hear once more the voice Of Christ
say, Peace
Scribner's Magazine for this month is
especially attractive. The cover, the
Christmas Angel. is beautifully designed
and wen executed in colors. "Wagner's.
Ring Of the Niblung." by p. J. Steven
son. Is perhaps the chief feature Of the
number from an artistic standpoint
There is paper on that many-sided
genius. Ruskin. This sketch views him
as an artist and is profusely illustrated
Richard Harding Davis has an interest
ing article describing the taking OF San
Juan and Santiago. as seen by one In the
rife-pits There Is no lack Of poems and
short stories including a story by Sarah
One JeWett.
The Cosmopolitan contains short stories
by Grant Allen, Merriman. stephen Crane
and Conan Doyle "The Eclipse EXpe-
dition TO India" by Sir Norman Lockyer
will interest the scientists. Charles
Henry Meter has an article entitled
"The College OF Cardinals I'm History"
We find also the second instalment of
"A Dangerous Mission to Spain" and
the seventh part Of the autobiography
of Napoleon BOnapart."
The Metropolitan is noted for IS Illus
trations. and the Christmas issue will
certainly please beauty-loving eyes II
has twenty-five full-page pictures. and
in difference 20 the season. several OF
them are from photographs Of celebrated |
Alldonncs. As for literary features
there g. am extensive article on German
by Alfred Henry Lewis and another con- |
eerning State politics in New York by |
Charles b.. Smith. In the "NOtables Of |
the Month IS a notice Of General Vince |
'ers forthcoming book. "Thc SANTIAGO
Campaign" and a good picture Of "Oid |
Joe"