New-York tribune., 1899-08-20


his critic says 'because he cannot keep his tom
per. Throughout his life he has been angry with
the world" TOlstOi and Ruskin IL Is pointed
out, have always been angry with the world
but theirs has been the anger OF men who love
mankind despite its faults "Ibsen's the anger
Of one who hates II because OF its faults.
Sympathy-that IS what Ibsen lacks. Out 81
his exceeding strength no sweetness has eyer
come. The baseness Of man has always been ais
theme. Noble characters he has created hut
only obvious foils 20 the baseness II mankind
As Dogenes sought for an honest man. not
you may be sure, that he might delight In Ills
honesty but that he might the more pOignanHy
display the dishonesty Of ali the other citizens
50 has Ibsen evolved his ROsmers and stock
manns. And we feel that even the noble women
in his plays were evolved much less from any
belief in their than from hatred OF his own.
They are 50 many cudgels for the better crack
ing Of mems skulls. In fact, lbsen IL. first ana
last, a hater. Such, at least. IS the impression
one has In reading his plays. Il may be- just ~
unjust, but it is an irresistible impression 5y
reason Of it, cannot love IOsen any more
than we can love Diogenes or Dean Swift"
Mr.. Charles Neufelds forthcoming book on
his tragic adventures in the Soudan Is 20 bear
the title Of "A Prisoner of the K1ieefa." 1t is
to be illustrated with photographs taken by the
author.
Cowper's ugly old red house at olney the
house in which he accomplished HIS principal
works. now in dismal and desolate conii-
ton. II Is % be let for something under hun.
dred dollars year The London Daily News"
says that the world famous garden, w,th me
little old summer house in which Co~per ee-
lighted TO sit, Is no longer attached 20 the
premises. The garden has passed into The pos
session of one OF the local butchers. but the Old
summer house is still standing, though u has
had 10 be shored up % keep 1t standing.
Il write in a nook that I call my boudoT."
said the poet in a letter % Joseph Hill IT -
a summer house not bigger than Sedan chair;
the door Or l. opens INTO the garien-tnat -
now crowded with pinks roses, hOneysuckies-
and the window into my neghbOr's OrcharL
1t formerly served an apothecary as a smoking
room; At present, however, IL IS deii-atai -
sublime uses; here ! write all that I wrta n
summer time whether % my friends or 20 he
public. II Is secure from all noise. AMI refuge
from all Intrusion" The garden IS stu .IH z
old fashioned flowers and fruit trees and me
summer house itself looks though the poet
might just have stepped out Of il % 60 across
the orchard TO his friend Newton, at the v.o-
araSe. Il has white pl3stercd walls and a ~
tiled roof There IS 4 low seat on each sill" Z
the door, and under the window is a rush h0t-
toned chair and q small table. with barn"~'s
block upon it for tho poets wig VIXEN he was
at work and the weather was hot. Their Is !
visitors. book on the cable and every sl1ece
inch OF the plastered walls and ceiling is e. 4
with the pencil scr!obling of those who lave
come to pay their devotion At the little shf No.
Of the poet. The Olney people have been asked
20 lead in cOmmemOratlng the centenary y
CoWper's death next April but there does not
seem to be sufficient enthusiasm among them
10 insure any action.
Professor Jebb has explained with much
plausibiiity the reasons why authors work we'll
in London There is something he says, in .ha
intellectual and spiritual atmosphere OF a gr"at
centre Of national life which eXerts a favorable
Influence on intellectual study and has a st.mu-
lating and Dracing effect The centrally" 4
tone. which is the opposite of provincial m.
tends TO preserve what is easily lost in academic
shades-a due sense of proportion and a con-
scousness Of the relative value Of things.
Mr.. Andrew Lang IS wroth with Mr.. stephen
Gwynn who has lately shifted at Jane Austen
and even stated that he doesn't want 70 meet
her in Paradise He says. apropOs " Louisa
MusgrOves fall at Lyme Regis and Mr. GWyurs
treatment OF II: Mr. Gwynn may try taking 4
header from the Cobb % the hard stones
(Which was what Louisa did. in effecU and .han
fell out of a window. lit on his head became L
clever man. and ended Pope. Mr.. Gwyuns
experiment may have i similar and salutary
effect on his brain"
Mr. Michael Macauffe. late Divisional Judge
OF the Punjab. has been engaged for some tVeu-
ty years in translating the Al Granth the
sacred book Of the Skhs. The only Eng -h
version OF this available 50 far has been thlt
made by Dr. Trump. n German missiOnary.
whose knowledge OF English unequal = -ha
task. Native scholars have enthusiasticafy
approved Mr. Macauliffe's translation and he
has been accorded the absolutely uniluD dis
unctOn Of addressing. from the Holy Of Holes
in the Golden Temple OF Amrtsar fthe chiar
fame Of the Sikh religion) a large assembly y
the Sikh people. on the Granth Sahib and his
version of it.