The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-01

beth Stuart Phelps. Parkman. Gable,
Aldrich and Joel Chandler Harris.
'Belfse Readers Shakespeare: The
Historical Plays is an arrangement
and annexation of certain of the works
of the great dramatist,. for those peo-
pie who care for some other direction
than is furnished by the author himself
A notable book and important as a
contribution to the history of Victorian
literature is Annals of a Publishing
House: William Blackwood and His
Sons: Their Magazine and Friends.
by Mrs. NJ. o. w. Olphant Another
hriefer summary of the subject is The
Blackwood Group" a recent issue Of
the Famous Scots series, by Sir George
Douglas.
Stopford A. Brooke has given us a
very short treatise on THE Need and
Use of Getting Irish Literature Into the
English Language"
Among the uncounted millions Of
books which have appeared in the
thousands of years since ltera ture pe-
gan there is probably none that is ex-
actly similar in the nature of its con-
tents to the two volumes of the Let
ters of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett
Browning. 1S45-6." Whatever may be
thought of the books of these two au
thors it is universally conceded that in
their ideal married life and genius of
character Mr.. and Mrs. Browning were
unique among mortals. The most pri-
vate papers of other personages have
been intrusted to their literary execu
tors. who have employed them in franz
ing the theories that they have given
the world. Even this is a great gain
in general, though likely to be grossly
abused. as was the case in Froude's
disgra ceful SANDER of Carlyle. But in
the Browning letters we have the most
private thoughts of the two geniuses,
in the fullest expression of their other
wise repressed emotions, and whether
it be helpful or not we have something
that the world will be glad to read.
These letters. covering over a thousand
printed pages. We're written within two
years. and with no thought of their ul
innate destiny. They comprise the pc
Rod from before Robert Browning and
Elizabeth Barrett ever met to the time
of their marriage, after which happy
event the fortunate couple were never
constrained to such unsatisfactory
methods Of communication as writing
necessitates. The letters do not fail to
contain comments of value on the vari
Gus artistic and literary themes in
which the authors We're so vitality in
terested. but this kind of information.
though commendable, is fortunately
quite common. The main interest OF
the volumes is the record of the out
pouring of a vital and intensely human
affection, for the expression of which
even these specially gifted word paint
ers We're hardly equal. The volumes will
be misunderstood by some. but we are
sorry for any who can peruse them
without the strongest feelings of rev.
erence and appreciation.
'"The Life. Character and Writings of
William Cullen Bryant" from the pen
of George William Curtis. is an old
book and small one which we are
glad to add to our collection
One of the notable events of the last
season was the publication of the Cor
respondence" of Robert Burns and
Mrs. Dunlop, a work which adds more
of value to what is known of the gifted
singer than any other book issued for
a long time.
The record of q most charming per-
sonality, who was at once partly cler-
gyman. partly mathematician and
wholly a lover Of children, lis the Life
and Letters of Lewis Carroll" by Stu
art Dodgson CollingWood. In this book
the character of the subject is revealed
as we are glad to have revealed the
author of Alice in Wonderland
A timely volume is Marriage Cues