New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-31

A correspondent OF Notes and Queries.
writing Of style" and manner says; sNle
consists in perfect inevitability OF expression
with harmonious collocation Of syllaoles and
balanced ordering Of phrases into sentences
the sentences themselves into paragraphs Ihis
&c equivalent To saving that no man has
nerfect stvla: but II may be generally said that
noets are more successful than prose writer's
cbskespeare and Milton in their poetry are
practically perfect in just harmonious expires
sion. Iyly and Shaftesbury are good examples
Of literary mannerists; that IS, whatsoever
matter they may be writing of, they do not faH
N introduce A certain trick OF phrasns or
literary gesture. Among the younger "I'ers
Of today one can reckon many such manner
lists Ruskin and Stevenson al one time VIII
give US passages in perfect style. and at an
other present them with an abundance or I'M
suitable gesticulation; this especially applies TO
the latter ! am inclined to think that OF Eng
Nsh prose writer's Lander approaches the near
est 10 perfection OF style De Quincy has
claims II one omts his more outrageous pieces
OF Journalism; SO have Berkeley and Swift
The late Sir Frank Lockwoods whimsical
side came out strongly m an elaborate joke
mon the friend who has become his biographer,
once invented for Party reasons. an imaginary
character called the Rev Tobias Bofiin, b. A.
n ondN and Lockwood was mischievously in
spired 10 give this hgment life. Mr. Brreil met
with Bofin al every turn. He says Of BONN:
His personality became obtrusive. Not only
cid he write letter complaining bitterly ot
my reference to him, but he thrust himself into
tho councils Of the party. attending confer
ence at Leeds on the thorny, and. indeed sun
unsolved, problem Of the House OF Lords.
On more than one occasion while sitting in the
House that card with which members are only
too familiar has been handed in to me, acquaint-
snE me that tho Rev Tobias Bofin b a
Uond). was in the lobby seeking an interview
with me on 'privats business l remained on
those occasions welded 10 debate Strangest
Of all, after the House rose. and at tho end of
August. l got letter from Cober Hill inclosins
q newspaper cutting. from which it appeared
that the reverend gentleman had interrupted a
meeting which Alfred Peese addressing in
the North Riding. The cutting recounted as
follows: 'Theroupon Mr.. Boffin. Is. A. Qond)
came TO the front and expressed in strong Ian
gusge his regret that Mr.. Alfred Peasc had
thought fit TO allude TO Mr. Birre NJ p as
his honorable friend and . good Liberal He
went on to say, amid considerable interruption.
that for his part he would be ashamed 10 num-
Der among his friends such man The chair
man asked Mr.. Bofiin to postpone his remarks
and 10 GLOW Mr.. Pease 10 continue Cheers
and sit down. Bofhn.'D Amid general disorder
Mr.. Bolfn quilted the platform.
Meanwhile funny r-and-ink drawings Of
Mr.. Boffin' inundated Mr.. Birrell-pictures OF
the irate gentleman "as disagreeable child
OF seven as bland and curly divine OF thirty
seven as a soured prematurely aged and angry
man with but one idea, and that TO see poor
me-, And at last tiny quarto made It's ap-
pearance in an edition OF twenty-five copies
entitled The Strange History OF Tobias BONN
B. A. LOnd)" coplously illustrated.
A complete edition in Ave volumes of Paul
yerlaines writings is In preparation in Paris
IL will contain prose as well as verse, some OF
the latter being as yet unpublished
The Municipal Council of Paris is publishing
an important series of documents relating TO the
history Of the city during the Revolution.
forthcoming volume contains much information
concerning the efforts made 10 abolish Christian
ity bety'een 1701 and 1893.
h new and complete edition OF the works OF
Edmund Burke is coming out in London 1t 10
I in twelve volumes. and its cost there will be