New-York tribune., 1900-12-23
LITERARY NOTES.

LITERARY NOTES.
Mr.. Horace II. Scudder has ius. finished ,,s
first draft Of his biography OF Lowell. Tt is "a
be published early in the autumn Of 1901
son letters contains from Alan Breck 70
Private Terence Mulvaney with Alan's com
ments on the changes in the art of war since
the oays oI MS skirmish in the roundhouse OF
she brig Covenant.
John Ruskin was a persistent letter writer
and there are consequently a great MANY of his
epistles IN the autograph market. One dealer
offers variety of Ruskin letters AZ a fexy sbl
lings apiece. In one of these letters ne saws:
1t seems TO me more difficult every day as n
may become my own duty 20 live at least ON
OF life on others" He had dreams OF life in a
Garret al that time. IL was his failure TO carry
oGt ~ eNternals, as well in the spirit this
course OF remuneration that made him sign
letter-not one OF the letters now on sale-"Your
poor friend, John Ruskin."
Here is Tennyson's own idea of the .epor.,
drift Of his In Memoriam." 1T is ne said
once 10 the Bishop Of Ripon. "a kind Of small
DiNina Commedia' ending in 4 marriage"
Mr.. w f. Prideaux has lately found a oopy
Of that scarce little book. The PoeticaI Recrea-
tons OF The Champion and discovered in IL
some Gather poorD epigrams by Charles Lamb
which ne thinks have never been reprinted
There is also in the volume a poem. "A Lady's
he attributes 10 Mary Lamb:
Now the calm evening hastily approaches
Not sound stirring thro' the gentle woodlands,
save mat soIt zephyr with his downy pinions
ScatteTs fresh fragrance.
Now the pale sunbeams in the west declining
Gid the dew rising the twilight deepens
Beauty and spendor decorate the landscape.
Might IS approaching.
by the cool streams side peasively and sadly
81 /, while birds sing on the branches sweetly
rrsre sod rsrlf cof1- 81.
Lun TO Oblivion.
A characteristic note addressed by Charlotte
Eroute 20 her dear Ellen was also disposed OF
al this sale. From what you say OF Mr. Clap
ham, she writes, Il think I should like him
very much; Annie wants shaking to be put out
about his appearance What does il matter
whether her husband dimes in a dress coat or a
market coat, provided there be worth and hon
esty and clean shirt underneath"
Those who would like TO know more about the
Priest Of Aemi than the hero of Eleanor tells
Us must seek MI J. g. Fraser's beautiful book
oH magic and religion, The Golden Bough"
The central theme Of the book is the explanation
of his priesthood OF Aricia and the annual
sacrifice Of a human representative of the god
The edition Of The Golden BGugh'' is
greatly enlarged fact due TO the addition Of
much illustrative matter. II presents a change
Cf view also, in much as Mr.. Fraser now
regards religion and magic distinct, the
hHdlments or outgroWths Of two opposing prin-
aples; whereas IN the original form of the book
DE inclined TO the view that magic was loose
and undevelOped form Of religion.
The Historical Manuscripts Commission OF the
American Historical Association proposes TO
publish the papers Of Chief Justice Salmon p.
Chase and Mr. Herbert FFiedenWald is prepar-
ing them for The press.
An English critic rejoices over the present in
dIcatiOns Of a reaction against the dominion of
The bbelot in letters. He complains tnat me
little book has had long run and the little
masters" have made the best of il; that have
been living in an age of meticulOus preciOsties,
diet apt in time TO become clOying TO the
palate. And he adds Erimly, aprOpos OF the
fashionable bibelot binding There has been too
much Of the limp lamb in the recent purveying
Of English letters"
The dust OF Samuel Richardson the novelist.
lies under the pavement of St. Brides, Of
the quaint old churches in the city" Of Lon
don. and a brass tablet set in the wall repeats
Dr JOhnsOns tribute: He enlarged the knoWl-