The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-18
OF Books
0no Writers

''~-O Ga Y AoNCt1OuSIy 1IClnGQ, mas 5STTHAM
ABROAD the rumOr that when the hui
morlst dies he intends to bequeath his
Skull to Cornell university 1t is not
reported whether Cornell has applied
Tor this valuable legacy or whether
wishing to do something for the cause
OF science and discovery, Mark Twain
mas himself suggested the matter, but
the TACT remains that the runner is cur
rent Who knows but that this may do
much toward Introducing a sense of
numor into university life which all
VIII admit has been lacking judging by
Ine remarkable statements made not
only by college professors but by stu
dents as well. Tt may be the huInor-
list has In mind the days when, as an
innocent abroad, he discovered the
skull of Columbus, and calling to re-
men1brance the entertainment afforded
him by the find, he believes that there
Woula be like JOY among future gener-
atoms when gazing upon the skull of a
map Who did SO much in his time to
make life less sad. 1t is to be hoped
that Mrs. Eddy will not be taken with
the same idea, for it is doubtful wheth-
er even Cornell is large enough to house
Two skulls which, during life. held such
contrary opinions. That is, Of course,
presupposing that Mrs. Eddy is going
the way of all flesh and win not over
come death, which she considers pos
sible to the most spiritual believers in
her doctrines. If, instead of his skull,
Mark Twain would leave his brain to
some university, as several great men
have promised to do, 1t would be more
valuable as specimen than the empty
skull. An article on this subject by
Mr. Clemens would be Illuminating.
Still Another Magazine.
The Booklovers' Library which has
"a
every form of literature and publishes
everything except a comic paper, has
started a magazine which is a dream
of beauty in appearance, and contains
seine good matter. Whether or not
the library is eaching out too far and
trying to do too much is a question
that only time can answer. It has con-
siderably raised its price with the new
year and has introduced a feature Of
the circulating library by allowing
members to go to the library and
change their books in the interval be-
tween the wagon deliveries. The most
notable article in the first number Of
the magazine is a paper on Dickens,
by Andrew Lang. 1t has been limited
by critics here and abroad that the
name Of Andrew Lang merely conceals
a syndicate of clever men who write
on everything under the sun, this die
tum being induced by the variety and
cathOlicity of his work. Is there any
subject he has not written of, ask the
critics, but if he brings a keen insight
and logical mind to his subject as he
does most always no one should be
captious about it. critic, in a we'll
known review, says that Mr.. Lang has
done an objectionable thing in running
connter to his (the critic's) views of
the worth of Dickens work. Mr.. Lang,
as he should do, has put "Pickwick Pa
pers" first, and his words are worth
remembering. He says: I'm all Pick
wick. 1 do not remember one person
who has a black drop in his blood.
Even Messrs. Dodson and Fogg are too
comic to be really wicked. You may
have observed Shakespeare's tender
ness for rogues. He lets them
off easily; he is inexhaustibly clement,
and in 'Pickwick' Dickens has the same
good humor, the same smiling toler-
ance." But after all, Mr.. Lang is not
a great yadmirer of Dickens and says
some severe things that will not cas-
lily be forgiven by Dickens lovers, in
Guiding this particular writer himself
who confesses to a certain shame that
a man of Mr.. Lang's ability should say:
"Tou may skip all of Little Dorritt'
with my full sympathy" This is where
he falls foul of many Dickens enthuSi-
asts and he must expect severe caSt1-
2aIlOn Ine1r ndnuS. Illus QO6S JIi0
Booklovers' Magazine start out pro-
pitieusly in that it contains an article
which has already provoked much dis
cussion.
Prof. Burton's Poems.
Prof Richard Burton, who not long
ago deserted Minnesota for the classic
shades Of Boston, is about to publish a
small volume Of poems to be called
Message and Melody and to appear
with the stamp Of the Lothrop Pub
fishing house upon 1T, for which inSt1tu-
ton Prof. Burton serves as reader.
How very nice to be q reader for a
publishing house and a writer at the
same time, we know Of no position
which offers greater advantages. Added
othlS fact is the fact that Burton is
no mean poet and an excellent prose
writer as well. 1t is learned from a by
no means academic source that one
reason for the departure OF Prof. Bur
ton from the Minnesota university was
that it lacked literary atmosphere. This
is only becoming known in these parts,
but it seems that to the outside world
it has been fairly well known for some
time. The scientific department of the
university is MeIl-nigh beyond COM
pariSOn, and attracts students from
even far-aWay New York. Three
grandsons of Cyrus Field are now
studying at the university, attracted
there by the fame Of it's scientific
course But it lacks the literary tone
which a man Of Prof. Burton's cast of
mind would naturally desire, so he
shook the dust of the place from his
feet though holding out the hope to the
many friends and admirers he left be
hind him that he might return within
a year or two. But as time goes on the
hope grows less, and it is doubtful
hot In hack AVRnNf tn
visit. Minneapolis may we'll ponder
upon the glories of it's literary past, as
at one time it sheltered not only Bur
ton but Richard lie Caffeine as we'll
He came on visit to Mr.. Young, the
book collector, and stayed long time,
lecturing in his a1uring manner to au-
diences in both cities. 1t Is quite well
remembered how he shocked the old
ladies in this city, for he said some
very naughty (but delightfuD things
and he tucked his handkerchief up his
sleeve and did other LIE Gallienne kind
of things. But he passed, as has Bur
ton since and now Minneapolis is not
the center of anything literary, If one
excerpts McClure's Magazine.
The Real Man Problem.
Justns Miles Forman, who can write
love stories to suit even the most fas-
tidious, is about to publish his first
long novel, which viii appear on Feb.
IL, and will be called Journeys End"
1t is a modern romance and is said TO
concern the two sides of a mans ma
ture, not exactly in the DR.. JeykiH and
Mr. Hyde fashion, and yet 1T asks the
question whether the real man is as he
is born, with certain traditions and i'm
herited instincts, or that which he
makes himself by his struggle with the
world. Now this is a very large order
and if Mr.. Fornaan can answer it sat
;e.eo-o4.,ilrr Wa MIL he much i1ldAhtad