New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-24


According TO THE London Bookman." two
novels by the late Henry Seton Merriman are
stin to be published. One at least, THE Last
Hope" is TO begin serial publication in an Eng
nsh periodical next month 1t will later be
brought out in book form in this country by
Charles Scribner's Sons.
There has lately been published IN Paris e
letter OF Bslzac's relating to his canddature
for the Academy, written in 1s43 The novelist
was Disguised 10 find that his poverty was prov
ing an obstacle in his path. and to his friend,
NJ de Pougervile, himself an Academician, he
wrote: IF fortitude In uphill struggle IL the
independence which refuses 10 exchange labor
for Irritating government protection. If poverty
constitute obstacle TO my election. then
ought never TO offer myself when fortune shall
have favored me. 1t would be as discreditable
for for the Academy that gold should
give & claim higher than that OF life devoted
20 literature. You will approve. trust
an attitude dictated by the self-respect insep-
arabic from love for ones own good name"
MT. Kipling is an enthusiastic automobilist
Out OF his experience with a OF his own he
has apparently gained inspiration for literary
work. At all events. IT IS announced that he
has written some PAROLES in verse under the
general title Of The Muse Among the Motors"
Delightful are the ways OF the complacent
paragrapher Mr.. c. K. Shorter has been read
ing one OF the new Sherlock Holmes stories and
he gravely assures the public. through the COL
unns OF The Sphere" that he has read It
with somewhat additional interest on account
of the fact that the principal character was
certain MT. Hilton Cubitt. Of Riding Thorpe
Manor, Norfolk" Now, just why should this
fact have stirred the deeps Of Mr. Shorter's i'm
sgination? In my early years" he goes on.
Il was frequently visitor at the house Of a
now deceased uncle Mr.. Cubitt. Of Foulsham
Hail. Norfolk. He left son. and, If am not
mistaken the name of Cubitt no longer obtains
IN Norfolk ! glad. however, that this Mr.
Cubitt Of FOuIsham Hall, had none OF the
tragedies associated with his life that belonged
TO Sir Conan Doyle's creation" OF course. we
are all glad Of Mr.. Shorter's gladness.
The monumental dictionary Of Slang and Its
Analogous" compiled by Mr.. ]. S. Farmer and
the late w E Henley. has been completed. The
work is published in seven volumes and costs
more than 500. The prospectus issued by the
publishers includes this statement: Printed for
private circulation only; all previous announce
rnents are cancelled. and the present prospectus
is liable to be Withdrawn at any time"
The "RecoIlections" OF the late John Callcott
HorsIey. the English painter contain many
anecdotes. Here is one about the Duke Of Wei
nngton:
On one occasion. during the Asszes at Read
Ing the judges were staying AT Strathheldsaye
with the great duke, who entertained them nos
pitab The duke had various harmless eccen-
fricities. One was that at breakfast time ms
favorite man servant used TO bring in a long
viii We
beautiful silver teapOts one for each guest
Those were days when people were given their
choice Of black or green tea The duke hlnseu
mt the tea into each pot questioning his guest
individually. What tea do you Ike. sir, black
or green" was asked in stentorian tones. NO"
young Denman (afterWard LORD DehhlaHl' Mho
was acting as marshal TO his father. had been
consumed with nervousness ever since he en-
tered the house al the very thought OF converse
with his distinguished host and V hen the ques-
ton was shouted at him as to black or green
the beshflIl youth hesitated stammered, and
when the question was put a second time with
some impatience the reply came out with
rush at last. Il take il mixed, your grace" The
duke was taken aback at the unaccustomed an
swe~ but in a moment roared out Take Mr.
Denuan two pots" The table was convulsed.
Major Martin Hume IS to write stiI another
volume or the matrimonial transactions Of his
toric ROYALTY. II viii appear under the title of
The Wives Of Henry VIII" In the mean time
Major Hume is revising THE Courtship of
oueen Elizabeth TO which We referred the
other dav in reviewing his The Love Affairs
Of Mary Queen OF Scots published by Mcclure.
Phillips & Co. It Will be not only revised, but
viii appear. in its form, with additional
chapters.
The Moscow correspondent Of The Daily Mail"
writes 10 that paper 10 say that the hero Of
GorI1fs account of a tramp from Odessa 10
TYhis has been identified. Cork called him
Prince Shallro Ptadze, but he is really Circas-
sian railway conductor named Skalidze. Skal-
tdze says that one day when penniless at Odessa
he was accosted by a begga- who asked for a
few coppers and introduced himself as Peshkov.
In company the two wandered through the
Crirnea, and Peshkov proved himself admi-
rable mendicant The conductors stick, hat and
clothes were sold by Peshkov. who himself
in rags On reaching Tihis Peshkov dsap
peared, and the conductor never saw him again.
but has identified himself the hero Of
Gorkis book. and Cork other than Pesh
kovi Cork is a man OF wealth He gives
luxurious dinners at his sunptuous town house
in Moscow, and dispenses generous hospitality
at his splendid estate on the Volga. The CORE
spondent adds that in Moscow it is said that he
has forgotten the days and the ideas Of his
poverty stricken youth.
The Tooth anniversary Of the death Of Kant
IS 70 be celebrated in K6nigsberg, his native
town. on February y. A bronze tablet will be
placed on the Dantziger Keller. situated near the
house in which the philosopher lived, and there
viii be foil commemorative exercises.
Not content with institutions like the John
son Club and the Omar Khayyam Club, certain
Isondoners have assisted Mr. H B. Wheatley