The Indianapolis journal., 1898-07-10
LITERARY NOTES.

Miss Rose Kingsley, the daughter of
Charles Kingsley. Is preparing for publica-
ton a handbook on French art.
Mark Twain's forthcoming novel is said
to be partly political in character. The
scene Is laid in Austria, and parliamentary
struggles appear IN It,
General Wallaces last work, the Oriental
roem, 1.-The Wooing of Malkatoon," is
shortly to be reprinted in Braille charac-
terS for the use of the blind.
Marion Crawford has two works in hand:
one on italian history, containing many in
teresting stories and legends from the an
cient to the present time; the other Is a
romance Of the second crusade, of which the
scenes are laid in England, Italy and Pales-
tine.
James Lane Allen, the American novelist,
is to be paid an honor seldom accorded a
writer of English. Two of his books, "a
Kentucky Cardinal" and Aftermath" are
being translated into Japanese. 1t is
thought that his feeling for nature and his
delicate character drawing will make a
strong appeal to Japanese readers.
Very high praise is given by that falEble
critic, the publishers reader, to forth
coming novel by Robert w. Chambers, en-
titled ''Ashes of Empire" 1t is tale of
two American newspaper men who were
within the walls of Paris during the entire
siege by the Prussians. A love story is
mingled with this narration of many start
ling incidents, and the result Is a work
which the literary adviser of a leading mag
azine declared to be 1.-The best of it's kind
since Victor Hugo" The veracious anec-
dote proceeds to state that this report set
all the members of the editorial staff to
reading the story.
Mr.. Charles Dana Gibson's illustrations in
Anthony Hopes Rupert of Hentzau' are
calling forth some uncomplhnentary re-
marks One critic sees resemblances between
them and "Butterick patterns" speak
ing of which comment the New York Trib-
une unkindiy says: 1--WE suspect that
Butterck pattern. if prepared for one of
the per5onages in Rupert of HentZau,
would fit him better than Mr. Gibson's ex-
traordinary designs. The latter are made
quate enough in themselves. Compared
with the brilliant Illustrations made for the
same story by Mr.. Cowell and published in
the Pail Mall Magazine" they are positively
saddening.
Mrs. Humphry Wards new book, "Hel-
beck of Bannisdale," has for its theme the
conflict between agnosticism and religion
w. l.. Alden, in his London letter in the
New York Times, says the author makes
the mistake of assuming that because an
agnostic sometimes leaps from agnosticism
to Romanism there is no half way between
the two. Mr.. Alden adds: 1T is a curious
fact that most men and women who write
novels dealing with Christianity, and aim
ing to show it's alleged weaknesses, know
very little Of the subject. Why should Mrs.
Ward imagine, as she evidently does, that
there is nothing between agnosticism and
Romanism that is worthy of attention? Her
acquaintance with the Anglican Church
must be of the very smallest
In the introduction to VANITY Fair" Mrs
Ritchie said: my father never wished for
any biography Of himself to be written, and
for that reason I have never attempted to
write one" But intimate friends say that
she has come to believe in the more rea-
sonable Interpretation of her fathers words
that is generally accepted. Anthony Troll
lope tells us that Thackeray contemptuous-
ly referred TO some fulsome biography he
End MaS or dfe a earS 1l tnf no
to a biography in general but to par
ticular and most Objectionable kind of biog-
raphy. At all events, the several intro
ductory chapters written by Mrs. Ritchie
for the new edition of her fathers works
will. as whole, form fairly complete BIZ
ography.
That something more than cheapness is
to be considered in book buying is pointed
out by London correspondent of a New
York paper, who says: '"rhere has lately
been an issue cf cheap editions of we'll
known books. These are printed in diamond
or nonpareil type and sold for sixpence.
Each successive volume is hailed with de-
light by the opticians and oculists. and if
the scheme of inducing the British public
TO ruin their eyes at sixpence per pair is
successful an Englshman without spec-
tacleS viii soon be as rare a German
without similar adornment 1 have often
wondered why those excellent people who
insist that other people shall be forbidden
by law to drink wine or beer do not under
take an agitation against small print. If
the law has a right TO step in and forbid a
man to ruin his stomach with alcohol, sure
ly 1t has a right to forbid him to ruin his
ayes with small print. Probably some euch
agitation will be BEGUN before LONG by men