New-York tribune., 1900-01-24

Well, we'll: The critic Of the London "Athe-
ns9un'' has not been in a mood of Christmas
omiabilty Writing about Mr.. r. H Daviss
book THE Lion and the Unicorn, this Engllsh-
man declares that the author has rather al
lowed himself to run dry and TO produce stories
only enough like those which have won him sue
cess to make one begin TO analyze them and
wonder II they were good after all. III must
be confessed that in this last set Of stories that
smart tvne Of American man, who rather
sn,ustnp at first with his epicurean good
nature becomes somewhat Of bore when one
realizes his unabashed priggtshness, and his in
veterate habit OF setting every other mans house
hut his own in order. We remember a restless
American Of this type at oxford. who announced
that he came the back Of the American eagle
TO awake the superauauated university from it's
torpid Iethargy. The stayed for year
making a great fuss and doing little, just like
Van Bfbber and Mr.. Davis's other heroes-so
no doubt they true to life, but after the
smartness OF their phrases has worn off they
are undeniably tiresome. We ought, perhaps.
10 confess that we are rather prejudiced critics
OF Mr.. Davis. there is nothing so calling to
an Englishman as the calm assumption that
seems to run through his English stories that
the American man woman is needed to set
the Britisher in the right path. He is kind
enough 10 admire US. ii is true. but he pats US
the back with an air Of tolerant superiority
which is almost impudent. 1t is not as if Mr..
Davis Were merely dramatic in this respect; he
seems TO regard il as quite natural and right"
Mr.. De Kay's particularly readable paper on
Berlin in THE Cosmopolitan" does not sustain
the popular impression that William II is per
sonally hated and in danger in his capital.
Even the social democrats. who persistently
object emperors, kings and a standing army,
prefer attack the system and warn the peo-
pie OF the results of a continuation of the pres
ent government rather than criticise the En-
peror himself. And the social democratic
press. although hundreds Of editors have been
thrown into prison by the Of legal fctions
and by their conviction. through bubbles, of in
suit TO His Majesty, does seem to be in
spired by any real grudge against the person of
the Emperor. In the Reichstag. when those
able orators, Liebknecht, Singer and Bebel. at
tack the Government and assail bills in which
the Emperor takes a tender interest, il may be
fairly said that there is more bark than bite.
When all the members of Parliament are ex-
pected to rise up and cheer the Emperor the
social democrats desert the hall in a body; their
leaders have been known when caught
awares by such occurrence to remain seated
as a protest against monarchy and Imperialism.
But the gap between acts of this kind and acts
of people who really hate the person Of their
ruler is very wide"
Lady Tama Arnold who is we suppose the
Japanese wife of Sir Edwin Arnold has just
published in London little birthday book which
she calls Golden Pages" She justifes the title
with the lines For golden CLEAN the pages
where names of friends do shine Sir Edwin
has contributed to the volume a series Of poems
on the months. Here for example is December:
In fretwork of frost. and spanges Of snow,
Unto his end the Year doth wend;
And sad for some the days did go,
And glad for beginning and end;
But sad or glad. grieve not for his death,
Mournfully counting your measures OF breath,
Ye that before the stars began
Were promise of woman and seed OF man;
Ye that are older than Aldebarani
II was but a ring put about the sun.
One passing dance of our planet done,
One step in the infinite minuet
Which the white worlds pace, to music set
BY life immortal and love divine;
whereof is struck in threescore and ten,
One chord OF the harmony fair and fine.
Cf that which maketh women and men.
In fretwork Of frost or spangle OF snow,
Sad or glad. let the Old Year go!
There must be some distinctions between
major and minor poets although enthusiastic