The record-union., 1899-03-05

our municipal evils a. SCI lO1l III oiiA
the author has explained the organiza-
tions and methods which he thinks like
ly to be most effective for their remov-
al. The question Of home rule and the
theory of an autocratic Mayorality are
broadly treated. Both the actual and
the true relations of political parties to
city government are set forth, and it is
shown by what means parties have
gained an unjustifiable control of Amer
lean cities. The relation of Tammany
politics to the Government of New York
City is very fully treated, as is also
the new charter of Greater New York
Mr.. Lecky's description of Mr. Glad
stones fierce and sometimes vindictive
expression has called out some inter-
esting "reminiscences from correspond
ent Of the London Times This cor
respondent once talked to the states
man on this very subject-his express
sion. 81 asked him, rather like Red
Riding Hood: Mr. Gladstone, why do
you sometimes look so fierce?'
ct know what you refer to- he re-
piled. but you should remember that
look of fierceness, as you call it, is
greatly the result of age; the muscles
used to express the passion of anger.
AS one grows older the muscles of con-
centrated attention are more often
called into play, owing to the difficulty
of hearing, and the look you speak of
becomes intensified.
ssI am quite conscious that in re-
pose as well as in conversation I wear
sometimes this fierce look: but, I re-
peat, it is only the knit brow of atten-
ton stamped on an old face'''
Asked if he were handsome when
young. Gladstone turned to his ques-
toner face illuminated by that won
derful smile of his, and said with a
kind of parental fondness for his past
self, Wen, I don't think I was exactly
handsome. but had beautiful eyes,,
Here are some lines from the pro-
logue which Mr.. Swinburne has recent
ly written for Tourneurs play of 1.-THE
Revenger's Tragedy:
A judge unjust. a slave that praised his
name,
Made life and death one fire of sin and
shame.
And thence reverberate even on Shake
speare's age
A light like darkness crossed his sun
Music. sublime as storm or sorrow, sang
Before it: tempest like harpstring
rang.
The fiery shadow of a name unknown
Rose, and in songs high heaven abides
alone.
English authors, it is said, consider it
detrimental to writer's reputation, as
also to his profit, to publish more than
a couple of books in a year. The Lon
don MALI says that the assumption is
that if books come too fast they cannot
be good. ''At least five well-known
authors could be mentioned who are
regularly producing novels upon whose
title pages assumed names appear A
half-pathetic, sensational novel
published the other day and attributed
to a new writer is in reality the work
of a famous humorist, and a decidedly
risky novel which appeared a few
weeks back is in actually the unac-
knowledged production of an author re-
puted for the strictly religious tendency
of his fiction" >
"a Duet-With an Occasional Choir
u.s." is the title of DR.. Conan Doyle's
forthcoming novel. 1t is mentioned as
describing the humors and incidents ct
the domestic life of a young married
pair-and as in some sort a protest
against the apparent belief of novelists
that only unhappy marriages furnish
suitable themes.
The great New. English Dictionary"
which has now reached "Hod." has had
some queer vicissitudes The section
''Hy," when in manuscript, was lost fol-
some time and then found intact, but
the manuscript of PA and "Pe," after
being missing for twelve years, was
found seriously mutilated in a stable in
Irelandi