New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-26
SUNDAY. JUNE &c, 1904.

Miss Alys ballard. writing from Paris to
1.-THE Author" describes legal incident which
reminds us once more of the unhappy chances
10 which the repute OF an author is subjected
after his death-if he is so unfortunate as to
leave behind him, in the hands of 4 friend
work which he himself never cared to give to
the world. 1t seems that one NJ. Gunaudeau
received from a former friend of Leconte de
Lsle some verses and letters written by the
poet during bis college days, and published
them in book. The poets widow started pro-
ceedings against this gentleman, claiming that
he had no right to publish writings which her
husband had not deemed worthy to include in
his complete works. NJ Gunaudeau, on the other
hand claimed that these poems came under the
heading of .poSthumOuS works. and as such
belonged to the person who owned them, and
that this person has the same rights
author with regard to them. However, Madame
Leconte de Lise succeeded in having the sale
OF the volume stopped until decision could be
given by the courts That decision has been
arrived at M. Gunaudcau and his publisher
have TO pay 1,5O0 francs indemnity to Madame
Leconte de Lisle. The destruction OF the books
cannot be decreed by this court, so that in order
effectually 10 stop the circulation of the volumes
the case will probably be brought before an
other court" 1t is pleasant to know that NJ.
de Heredia, NJ. Henry Houssaye, NJ. de Nolhac
and other distinguished literary men supported
Madame Leconte de Lisle in her position.
The first volume in the new edition Of Mr..
Swinburne's poems is out and prefxed TO II is
n "Dedicatory Epistle" TO his friend, Mr.. Theo-
dOre Watts Dunton. in which the author deliv-
ers himself of some highly characteristic re
marks The most seriously interesting passage
In the Introduction is that which implies that
she finds nothing that he could wish TO cancel
TO alter or to unsay in any page he has ever laid
before his reader; but somehow we recognize
a more thoroughly Swlnburnan touch in these
gUaYe lines:
The half-brained creature TO whom books are
other than living things may see with the eyes
OF bat and draw with the fingers OF mole his
dullards distinction between books and life
those who live the fuller life OF a higher animal
than he know that books are to poets as much
part of that life PICTURES to painters
as music is to musicians. dead matter though
they may be to the spiritually still-born chill
dren OF dirt and dulneSs. who find il possible
and natural to live while dead in heart and
brain
II anything could be funnier than this il
would be the public confession of Mr. Arthur
Waugh, written 10 show how he has been en-
tranced by this dedicatOry epistle. ITO read it."
he says lis to enjoy the sensation OF listening
to some mighty -mouthed Druid of the grove
Speaking down u sunset avenue of oaks to the
accompaniment Of distant harmony, and Of a
fragrant smOuldering altar. And where indeed
shall we find prose more susceptible TO the melo-
dies Of phrase and language, more emotional
more wayelike, or more haunting? Where, in
deed! "Spiritually still born children OF dirt
and dulness'l Mr.. Waugh repeats the words
with JUNCTION. Gould any sentence be more
magnificently fresh and young" he asks, "as
of some new knight-errant of the pen, setting
forth in the spring morning along the white
highroad, In quest Of adventure and a name" :?
No, we do not believe any sentence could
1t fen to the Poet Laureate to thank Signor
Eicci for a lecture Boccaccio which the Ital-
ian scholar delivered before the Dante Society
the other day. and having acquitted himself of
this duty. Mr.. Austin made few remarks on
another subject 1.-The worse poets are treated
I'm life the better il is for them" he said eff
there are any poets or poetesses here, my ad-
vice to you is DO not let society spoil you
We dare say that the poets present shifted, each
one being convinced that he or she could not
under any conceivable circumstances, be spoiled
by society or by anything else. Nevertheless
the Laureate was justified In Offering his warn
Ing. We are constantly witnessing the deteriO-
ration of minor poets and, for that matter Of
writer's in prose, under the malign influence of
social and other forces. The new celebrity Of
the moment is fooled to the top Of his bent with