The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-03

more Tanned t1an praised
We are not surprised that H~opkinson
Smiths Caleb West sells rapidly.
having passed its 10th thousand. We
praised 1t as it appeared serially. That
bright. charming. witty book" Psne-
lope's Progress" that We read with
exceeding pleasure. is receiving due ao-
plause from discriminating readers.
Mr.. Mabee says 1t " came 20 cheer, re-
fresh, and captfvate."
in England Macmillan is 20 issue
each month a standard novel-sone
perhaps only so-called-at 1ects each.
Among the series will be ROBBERY Un-
der Arms" TO be followed on July / by
Mr.. IA. E. w. Mason's well-known
novel, .Morrice Buckler." Up TO No
vember viii h appear each month,
respectively. Mr.. F. Marion Crawford's
Mr.. Isaacs," Mrs. ELEPHANTS "Kir-
steen," Miss Charlotte Yonge's Dove
In the Eagles Nest, and Mr.. Marion
Crawford's "A Roman Singer"
Messrs. Blackie, well-known English
publishers, will soon issue as a part Of
their NiCtoTIdu IEd ScT1rS lldL "l4
interest. Among those named
are: "1Tennyson, A Critical Study"
by Mr.. Stephen Gwyn; Ind ireland
during the Victorian Era" by Mr. J..
A. r. Marriott. Fellow Of Worcester
College.
We have not read a line by that pop
uIar English writer, Marie Corelli. We
have read some exceedingly severe crit
ic;sms of her productions. We are glad
We have not sought her literary ac-
| q~uaintance. It Is announced that her
! new book is 10 be called-horror of hor-
rors.-"The Sins Of Christ" and she
| asks $50, 900 for it.
london Literature" says tina Wal
ter SCOTS pictures and characters are
| much less fanciful than some readers
fact. Literature" illustrates in this
wise:
"Thus, for example, one of the most
powerful scenes in "Waverly," that in
| which Evan Dhu Maccombich offers the
lives of six clansmen, including his
own, in place Of that of Vich Ian Vohr,
is paralleled by an incident which oc-
CURED in connection with the rising Of
1715. Two brothers, Alexander and
Donald Robertson, the former the
| elder and heir presumptive to the chief
ship of the Clan D~onnachaidh or Rob
e~rtson, were taken prisoners at the sur
render of Preston, and Alexander, as
the more important, was condemned to
| death. Donald, however, who was pas
| ~sionately attached to him, and also
| q o10o1S n ic said FOR tho Sl1nanQainn
| actually contrived to ~personate his
| brother on the day Of the execution
| and suffered death in his stead.
| Struam, the head of the Clan DON
nachaidh, vas he prototype of the
| Baron of BraGwardine, in "Waverly."
! He was :'out'' both in 1715 and in 1745,
| and, although verging on eighty years
of g ives present as a spectator at
the battle of P~restonpans. An accom-
| pliShed scholar, he was the author OF
| a. volume of poems in English and
! Latin"
The great Thackeray lived too soon,
| if not for fame at least for big prices
fer his splendid literary wares. He
| said he never received so much as
| s25, 900 for one of his novels. He only got
| SIS, 900 for Henry Esmond," one OF the
most consummately artistic ard charm
ing novels ever penned, n Of the
| chiefest glories of English literature.
He never surpassed it except possibly
in "Varity Fair" he regarded as his
| most successful effort. Common hack
| writers now get more for their evanes-
| cent trash tina one of the greatest of
| masters in the fictive world ever receiv-
ed for his masterpiece. Milton receiv-
| ed s5O-was it? or was it s25?-for par
| adise Lost" the sublimest poem in any
| language and in the highest blank
| verse ever reached by mortal.
wilkie Collins received $26, 900 for
"Armadale," which he thought to be