New-York tribune., 1899-03-25
LITERARY NOTES.

LIIEhAh1 NOI EC.
Occasional use Of few Of the stuart MSS.
preserved in Windsor Castle. has been permitted
20 historical writer's but systematic examina-
tion Of the large and valuable collection has
never been mads. Now however, the Royal
Historical Manuscripts Commission is preparing
n compile full calendar Of these papers the
Queen having lately given her consent
Mr. Andrew Lang continues 10 mete out Jus
tce TO the people he calls copy cadgers
those who make up articles out of remarks
begged from Woodworking celebrities Here Is
gentleman" he says in "Longmans s. who
tells me that ne is 10 lecture on Thinkers. VIII
oblige him by a list of books about Thinkers!
In the name Of reason why does he undertake
IN lecture on a topic If ne knows nothing about
II? Even If he must lecture, and knows moth
ing about anything can ne not consult an ency-
clopfedia and make his lecture UP out Of that
and out of the authorities cited? An Ameri-
can author tells me that she receives many such
letters one was from a lady who had to
give a lecture on modern literature. She knew
nothing about IT, and was much too busy TO
study It, but she asked my friend for inforna-
tion adding that she meant 10 harry the au-
thors Of the Old and New Worlds till she got
what she wanted What extraordinary ard
ineXplicable condition of mind is here revealed
Why are those ignorant inquirine souls under
a necessity to lecture? Who wants their lect-
ures, and why? Is there literally nothing that
they do know about that they may instruct
their neighbors without worrying strangers?
These things are among the mysteries Of the
modern Intellectual condition. Education seems
~ be responsible. usual. These people have
heard Of lectures an engine Of culture They
want lectures cheap and homemade, and We
have seen their idea Of manufacturing the article
on the premises.
Miss Mary Wilkins is said n he writing
play-which is 2 piece Of information calculated
10 make the tudicious grieve. Miss Wiknss
literary gift is more than admirable. but II is
not IN its essence strongly dramatic. as a for
rner essay has shown
There has Just been sold in Paris an autograph
OF Napoleon scratched across a list Of things
which the Empress Josephne's Mistress Of the
Robes proposed to order. What foolish waste
scribbled the imperial husband 'Forty-six
peces OF white point lace and twenty-five Of
Chantilly. thirteen grand Court dresses fifty
dresses nine walking costumes, ten shaWls, 24O
pairs Of pink silk stockings. l cannot tolerate
such waste" But like many another man, since
| Fashion began. the great Emperor had to to!e-
rate the foolish waste" few months after
ward Josephine wanted a new wardrobe. and
wrote AZ the foot OF the offending list; Mime
! Hamelin can do as she pleases with the above
articles Of cothng.-Josephine."
new edition OF G. II. Lew-ss Life of
Robespierre' is coming out in London. NJ
/
"Robesperre' is supposed 10 he the occasion Of
the reprint
Mr. George Santayanas "Lucifer Theologi-
cal Tragedy" is coming from the press Of II. &
Stone & Co. The prelude to this play in
| cluded in the authors volume Of poems pub
lished some years ago.
These lines credited with sarcastic intent m
| "A Lady Novelist" ara too amusing to he left
unquoted N the clever pages of "Longmans
| Magazine.
ESSAY on CRITICISM
Is there no real critic on these shores
| Yet TO be found? O tempora Q mores'
How shall they Judge, who measure all by rule
| While Genius for them. might dwell in Thule
| 'Tis quality not quantity decides
| The merit Of such work as mine-Quid rides
| When will they learn the truth that each great
| writer
| OF prose or poetry-non ft-nascitur?
| When cease to sneer with condescendng smile
! At Woman-varium ct mutabile?
| Yet why should the critics heed? Whateer
! They say, It's mine-Rquam mentem servare.
| Ny place among the 1mmortals is secure
| 'Tis mine divino ac humane jure
| ] feel within my breast the sacred fire.
| And II know it-non Omnis mortar
| Already on Parnassus sacred slope
| dwell with Mepomene and CalliOpe.
! no marble tomb crave, no trophies pous
| My monument is-ere perennius.
! Hamlet" is to be played in its entirety during
the Shakespeare commemorative performances
at Strattord next month-one-h half al a matinee
! the remainder in the evening. To give the play
| without cutting takes five hours, and It is be-
| lieved that It has not been performed in this
shape since Elizabethan times. A recent num-
! Der o: The Birmingham Post" has an interest
| ing note this tragedy:
Looking through old book the other dav
J in the Shakespeare Memorial Library at STRAIT
ford-on-Avon, the librarian Oir W Salt Bras
sington. r. 5. A. came across a very curious
passage respecting the play OF Hamlet" The
book in question was printed in London 1898
'y9 and is entitled The Lives and Characters
Of the English Dramatic Poets: First begun by
Mr Langbain. improved and continued down
10 this time by a Careful Hand" The care
fUl hand" appears from q manuscript note
inside the work is G. GdOn. n writer Of the
period who speaking Of Shakespeare says:
He was born and was buried at Stratford-
on-Avon. in Warwick5hre | have been told
that he wit the scene of the ghost in Hamlet
al his house which bordered the charnel-
house and churchyard He was both player and
poet, bu, the greatest poet that ever trod the
stage. He died the Z3d April, 1915. and is
buried with his wife ana children in Stratford
Church" Now although this passage has been
noted by Or. 1ngleby in his "Centurie Of Prayse'
1850 and the tradition is likewise referred 10
in slightly different form in THE New