New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26

great indignation over the disclosure of her
identity This is very dro. Surely it is pos
siblc for an author to keep his personality
unknown if he really makes up his mind to
conceal it,
English authors might well be pardoned if
they looked with cOmplIccncy upon the two
groups of letters giving. in one case the views
some of them hold on French literature, and.
in the other, the views of English literature
held by some of the writers in France On the
French side there is as we pointed out last
week ignorance almost beyond computation.
Most of the Frcnchmcn applied TO for their
opinions chose Shakespeare as safe author
10 mention. and all of them disclosed a very
slight acquaintance with English letters in gen
cral But the English contributors 10 this cor
rrSpOndcncc seem, OH the whole, 10 know
French literature almost as we'll as they know
their own. Even Mr.. Hall Caine has read
GuStavc Flaubcrt. 1t is amusing to see how
ever. that the novelists DO not all go outside
the domain Of fiction in their French reading.
Conan DOYLE talks of Dumas pcre Jules Verne,
Erckmann-C hatrian and Maupassant. Rider
IIaggard is for Balzac and Dumas. Sir Edwin
Arnold. with respectful compliments and good
wishes for fair and over troubled France con-
graduates that country on It's possession OF the
works Of Gautier, BalZac and Victor Hugo.
Mr.. Andrew Lang remarks that AL the great
French authors from the 'Chanson de Roland
10 NJ Anatolc France, are highly characteristic
of the genius of France in different aspects
4 not very personal confessions: but may
be- sure that his knowledge is not confined to
the twenty "fayortes" he names. Mr.. j. T.. c.
Bodlry. in a long and learned letter pays to
Nine de Sevigne a tribute so charming that
we must quote ii intact: Her letters, which
were not published until thirty years after
her Heath, were without influence on literary
history 1t is for this very reason that rank
her 80 highly. To have meritcd a place among
the greatest writers without ever having writ
ten book, or even dreamed Of writing one,
j. typical Of the true national genius and the
feat was achieved by Nine de Scvgne." Al
together the Englishmcn may turn right
naughty glance upon their French confreres.
II would be gratifying if our own authors would
let lis know how they stand in the matter.
The question Of whether Literary" play can
eyer expect TO succeed Oh the stage would seem
to have been pretty conclusivcly settled. Not
al The euogies pronounced by the admirers of
Mr.. Henry James could make Guy Domville"
hold the stage and though there Is a c0ntrO-
vcrsy raging between Mr.. William Archer and
Mr.. George Moore which ought to stir the
public up tremendously over the two plays
causing the argument-"rhe Heather Field"
ana ''Maeye," by Mr.. Edward Martyn-there is
no ground for believing that either of these
productions will ever go" Yet there Is one
circumstance which may give encouragement
to the literary dramatist. Not only Enacted
but acted plays are being printed now in at
tractivc forms for popular circulation. and there
is no doubt that plays of both sorts are being
more widely read today than ever before
among people not specially students Of the
draWa. l. it possible that this will in time
get the public more accustomed to looking at
n play with deeper appreciation Of the mere
writing in it. and that this will create a new
feeling Of sympathy for the literary" play?