New-York tribune., 1900-03-31

Age OF Johnson has been contributed by Mr.
Thomas Seccombe. He protests in his introduc-
tfon against the fact that from the time OF
Coleridge and the great Romantic Renaissance
there have been number of critical writer's Of
no mean order, who have carried out kind OF
literary boycott of the eighteenth century.
The century had, like others, its ugly ana oe-
pressing Sides he admits, but his judgments on
its leading figures are, the whole. cordial
The book is really series Of portraits with
just enough general argument running through
It to give certain unity to the study. Mr..
SecccRbe is agreeable and competent writer.
and this little handbook may be commended to
the student.
1t would be a grave mistake to suppose that
because knowledge" was founded by one as
tronomer-the late Richard A. Proctor-and Is
now conducted by another-E. Walter Maunder
it is exclusively astronomical periodical
The character of its contributions to popular in
formation regarding stellar science is, to be
sure admirably sustained. The January issue
this year contained article on the constitu-
ents Of the sun, by A. Fowler, and in the Febru-
ary number Mr.. Maunder discusses the ques-
ton whether astrology astronomy is the
older. and DR.. Isaac Roberts supplies one OF
his famous photog raphs Of nebula, this one
showing the Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius. But
other sciences likewise represented in an at
tractive and instructive manner The latest
issue contains papers on Wireless Telegraphy.
THE Evolution of Simple Societies" The Fly,
Syritta Ppens" Long Waves Of Weather and
THE Buried Alps" besides notes on microscopy,
chess, meteors and comets, and number OF
book reviews. The principal articles are Illus
trated
The current novel in France is said to be the
novel with purpose The new issues are more
oS
manent merit
John Ruskin's table talk is thus described by
one who visited him at Brentwood We'll, my
first lunch at Brentwood also homely and
comfortable There leg Of mutton,
minced meat pie, and big piece of cold salmon.
and all went at There were flowers
on the table, and the centre ornament was an
old fashioned cruetstand. The talk for half an
hour was entirely confined to the subject of
lavender; we We're company Of eight, but even
with seven others to help I felt lavender did
not open up much vista Luckily the Master
made it a text for fiery dissertations on the
iniquity of growing flowers that had scent,
and showed clearly that people who did it would
come to no good end. At any rate lavender
allowed you to eat your food In peace. but in
rash moment mentioned opals After that the
apple pie, which duly followed the leg of NUT
ton, grew cold upon ones plate, for when min
erals alluded to there end to all
comfort then the Master took to making airy
excursions to his study. and flying back with
mineralogical specimens. and passing them down
the table, and each agate and each opal had to
be wetted with water. and examined through a
magnifying glass. and held this way and that
way. After lunch adjourned to his study.
Was there such Snowman the Master?
He would devote hours to fetching out his Tur-
ner drawings, his missals. his Durers, his Scott
MSS, and his wonderful minerals: his agates
he always said the best collection in Eng
land. 1t beautiful to see how he enjoyed
himself when displaying his treasures, and what
curious naive delight he took in his pretty
things. / bound to that in later years
the dear always announced he had made
the discovery of some wonderful man or woman
Gt more often a woman) who could draw
like Dlrer and color like Titan, and specimens
of their skill shown for ones admiration
Alas, many Of his geese. and
most Of the phenomena had their day and ceased
to be-, but whilst their reign lasted they were
absolute monarchs."