Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-29
literary News.

In spite of the attention that has
been given the historical Cyrano de
Bcrgcrdc, ii Is SomeWh hat difficult on ac-
count of the llfel!kcness of NJ Ros-
lands famous hero, TO realize that he
was real parsonage. Cyrano's own
masterpiece is "A Voyage to the Moon"
Ola which i;ostand drew largely for the
third act OF his play. 1t is II very poet
ical. fanciful and imaginative narrative
@; a. trip to the moon, descT. blnE the in
habIiants OF that planet and their
strange customs. such rs sleeping on
beds Of flowers, paying their score at
the taverns with original poetry, and
eating by inhaling doors through the
pores of the body. Lord Orrery. in his
Life of Swift" credits this work with
"dissecting the plan" of "Gullver's
Travels" This is the first substantial
~ complete translation ever published;
the main idea of the original work-lo-
eating the Garden OF Eden in the moon
having been suppressed as heretical.
probably by Cyrano's own friends; and
Curtis Hidden Page, of Columbia Uni
vcrsity, has supplied notes and an in
PRODUCTION, while the book is illustrated
with some quaint seventeenth century
cngravings.
Miss wilkins new novelette, Is called
The Jamesons," tho deals with the
~ ciII VI IL NcW w oman, Mrs. ii.
Boardman Jameson, into n quiet New
England town. This worthy lady starts
in to impro"c the minds and widen the
spheres of the inhabitants of Linn
VIE introducing them to Browning.
Ibsen and Mae;erlinck, to aesthetics
and rational attire.
Mr.. w. II. Sncad. editor of the English
Review of Reviews. has lately returned
n Ia -.
rope where he has talked with the i'm
portant men of each country. from the
Car OF Russia down. He has written
q book with the "cathy" title OF THE
United states Of Europe" in which he
sums UP the present political situation
IN the light OF the Cars Peace Re-
ceipt and forecasts the Immediate fu-
ture. He contrasts with great force
ms remarkable step on the part of
Russia with Americas change OF poll
cy and her acquisition OF colonial pos
sessions and military responsibilities
Inc Views OF the great statesmen of thc
Old World upon this subjec, are
str.kingiy interesting. and the book is
unusual in furnishing Il complete and
authoFitaiive review OF current inter-
national affairs, treating OF America :
TASK IN the West Indies and Philippines.
the Chinese Puzzle" South African
problems. the Fashoda muddle the
Concert Of Europe and its work in
crete and Gambia. ana many other sim.
liar pertinen, matters.
The Doubleday & Mcclure COMPANY
VIII publish in March Il translation Of
Memoirs of Sergeant Bourgogne, 1872
1873 which has run through many edi
TONS In Paris and which is COMPLIED
from the diary OF n sergeant in Napo-
Icons Old Guard-practically unpiib-
Ished until Its appearance in n French
historical magazine in 1895. II describes.
from the standpoint of those unenualcd
private soldiers who grumbled but fol-
lowed always" the terrible Russian
campaign. the burning of Moscow and
the memorable retreat-an with entire
~ straightforward simplicity that
leaves an indelible impression on the
mind. a list of fifteen or twenty wit
nesses. prominent men living at the
time the Memoirs" were written. for
mally substan,iates the authors accu-
racy. The volume is to be illus ted
with reproductions of sketches made by
an officer Of the French army during
the retreat from Moscow.