The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-23
LITERARY GOSSIP.

Those who do o see literary jour
nails and magazines and newspapers
can have no idea Of the number OF
novels that appear each week and are
highly praised. In a few weeks near
ly all are forgotten by the reading
public. Wait fully a n year before
you read a new fiction. Two years
would be better. You will thus es-
cape reading a vast amount of perish
able trash and thereby save much
time. Try it. Be wise. We have in
a year seen the judgments of over
praised novels reversed. Life is too
short to be fooled away over promiscu-
Gus novel reading.
The most conspicuous Canadian
novelists now are Gilbert Parker (the
best probably Grant Allen, James
Barr, Robert Barr, and Mr.. Roberts.
George Borrow is being much dis
cussed. The latter day excessives who
praise p~romiscuously the current novels
cannot find it in their hearts to praise
him as very interesting and original,
and refuse absolutely to listen to any
claim for him of genius. If "Laven-
gro" and 1.-The Bible in Spain" are
not books Of singular interest and
originality, then we are out of it alto
gether. Borrow has been a man Of
mark in letters since 1885.
In the opinion of the London Times's
LITERATURE" the two greatest living
masters of English prose are John
Ruskin and Rev. Dr.. M%artineau. Of
the latter we can speak from no
thorough acquaintance, but Ruskin is
easily first so far as our reading ex-
tends. DR.. Martineau's address to the
students of Manchester New College in
1881, is considered one Of the greatest,
most magnificent productions of the
kind in all English literature. He is
an Unitarian, we regret to know.
There is a series published in Eng
| land that should be circulated widely
in this country. 1t is Blackie's School
and Home Library, 25 cents a volume.
1t reprints fine classics like the "Spec-
tator" of Addison and Steele (selec-
tions) and that work of American
genius, Herman -Melville's "Typee"
which we read nearly fifty years since
, with great admiration and delight. If
Melville's two other extraordinary
books are included-"Omoo" and
"Moby Dick" the series will be much
enriched.
There are several editions of Shakes
peare appearing, wv or more in Eng
land, the "Eversly" and the white
| hail.
The flood of Napoleonic literature
| continues. Scores of volumes on the
| greatest man of modern times-of
1900 years-as a genius in war, as a
| factor in the world, as a statesman
have appeared in the last twenty
| years. There are five or six new
works recently issued in France. Some
one or two are of genuine interest.
One by Mason is particularly praised.
It is a most remarkable and inter-
esting fact, as given in a Photograph
ical Survey in London Literature"
that among the members Of the British
parliament there are 100 authors, and
there are % others who have won dis
tinction as contributors to literary
journals and the British press. That
tells the story of intelligence and ca
pability.
Cheap fiction is the rage among
British publishers. You can buy for
two cents a clearly printed copy of
many English classics.
A new and complete edition of the
great poet Tennyson has been issued
in London by Macmillan for SO cents,
the cheapest of all editions that are
complete.