New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-19
LITERARY NOTES.

Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett has written u
new story, entitled In the Closed Room" 1t is
to be published serially in "McClu1eS Magazine"
before publication in book form.
Books illustrated by the three-color process
are steadily increasing in number. one of tn.
latest announced promises to be one of the most
interesting. The LonSmans will publish it,
under the enticing title of Some English Gar
dens' for Miss Gertrude JekyH who has writ
ten the text. and Miss Elgood who has drawn
the nifty illustrations.
An amusing story about the late Professor
Mommsen is going the rounds, having recently
been told for the first time in Berlin. Far back
In the nineteenth century it is said, when he
was a sentimental youth Mommsen wrote a
book of songs in conjunction with two friends.
OF whom he was long the survivor. In the
great scholars old age this volume
earthed and his permission asked for its
publication. Mommsen fatty declined. the
ground that neither the gravity nor the gayety
of the book worth serious considerations
He declared that it had become scarce by the
very effectual method of making waste paper
of the unsold copies" which were many Leave
the little book it's rarity!" exclaimed the old
savant; that is one of its most indisputable
virtues"
Some interesting German autographs were
lately sold at auction in Berlin. A letter from
Martin Luther fetched 1,6S0 marks: one from
Melanchthon 12O marks; one from Richard Wag-
ner on the political situation in 1S4S 800 marks;
three letters from Netzsche written in 1919
and complaining of his health, 800 marks a
two-page manuscript by Schiller fetched GtI
marks poem of twelve lines by Goethe 80
marks, and musical score by Beethoven four
beautifully written pages $40 marks. Three
of Schubert's songs in manuscript, Der Wan
derer' "Gresengesang'' and "Du Liebst Mich
Nicht, were bought at 9O1 marks for the town
or Vienna. A mazurka by Chopin fetched 600
MARKS ana manuscript by Schumann go
marks. At the same sale two lines written by
Napoleon were sold for JOG marks
Mrs Hugh Fraser has new novel coming out
under the title of The SHAKING of the sword
Mr. 7
issuing is called The Hunchback of West
minister, and has one element a secret So
dent is the foremost statesman of the day \
posthumous novel by Mr.. b. l.. Farjeon is an
nounced, The Amblers." and we are soon to
have new story by Miss Adeline Sergeant
Editors sometimes receive queer communica-
tons. one of the craft opened a letter the
other day to find this statement from the sender:
L am anxious to know how l discover,
without losing time, whether writer | have
extraordinary genius or not"
Mr. Swinburne is busily occupied seeing the
new complete edition of his poems through the
press. 1t is understood that he has in prepara-
ton a book made up of his essays on Shake
speare.
society has been formed in Paris for the
purpose of issuing a complete critical edition Of
Rousseau, compiling photography of his works
ana publishing periodical record of Rousseau
studies. Many of the leading men of letters in
France, Switzerland, Germany Austria, Spain.
in the project. They wish to remind the read
ing world that no complete photography Of
Rousseau. no authentic biography no trust
worthy edition of his correspondence, no critical
edition OF the Confessions" no critical and
complete edition of the mans work in general
are yet in existence. The correspondence it is
said is still in the state in which Musset- Pathay
left il eighty years ago. 1t is not only inCom-
plcte. but includes number of letters that are
patent forgcries.
The second series Of Taine,s Letters. covering
the years between 1873 and 1870, was published
in Paris month so ago, and an English
translation has just made its appearance There
are several comments in the book upon English
people and things, among them this passage on
Dickens:
The man is type and teaches much about
English taste. Elegies or satres. painfully acute
Tho characters not liked for themselves for
the sake OF logic, for the pleasure of developir
a force. as in BalZac. Dickens never forgets his
moral for an instant; he praises, wounds. snee.s.
that Indifference of the artist like Nature pre-
duces good and evil. and for nothing but to
produce much, to produce great things. He does
love passions themselves: he only tries to
develop the emotions of the heart, and to make
family life and sentiments attractive . Dick
ems is trying TO the nerves and IL is rest pass
from him to BalZac or to George Sand just as il
is restfu to look at DeCampss or Theodore RouS-
seaus work after Mulready's an;emic bathers or
the cadaverOus pictures of Millais.
Mr. Wilfred Wards biography of Aubrey de
We're is to contain a Sheaf of hitherto unpub-
lished letters from Cardinal Newman addressed
to the poet, and the latter's correspondence with
Sara Coleridge, Sir Henry Taylor and other G:;-
tnguished people. The book will also give De