New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-10
CHE Netu'Uork gribmaas.
ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT-
SUNDAY. JANUARY 10. 1904.

licensed for the press by Thomas Tomkyns
chaplain to the Archbishop Of Canterbury, and
it is undoubtedly what it IL being called IN
London to-day, priceless treasure. DR.. Furnl-
vail, it is true takes different view OF the
matter, and has written to 1.-THE Times" to pro-
test against the fuss that is being made over
the document He declares that it is not worth
enormous sum. But already there is talk
of the probability Of its being sold for at least
$2J0,OOO, and, Of course 1t Is assumed that an
American collector will come forward to secure
the manuscript at some such price. Mr.. Sidney
Lee and others are in a panic over the Nkeh-
hood Of the manuscripts coming to this coun-
try, and have written almost hysterical letters
appealing to Brtons to ward Off this calamity.
These cries Of terror, that are 80 often raised
amongst our English cousins when literary or
artistic treasures are sent to the auction room,
ought, doubt, to excite our compassion but
a matter Of fact are tired Of them II
the English suffer so when we buy their hts
toric relies, why, In the name Of all that is
reasonable, do they not protect themselyes7
Why do they not prove the faith that is in them
by outbidding US? There are rich men galore
in the British islands
We much impressed with the critical
acumen OF Mr.. i. 7. Patten Writing to The
Academy about the "Ode on a Grecian Urn
he says that he has always deemed Keats's
poem greatly oyerrated." De we ask for fur
ther weghty matter on this too famous work
Mr.. Patten hastens to satisfy US "A poet is
permitted to embellsh nature" he says, ~but
he is not at liberty to falsify it." and he pro-
ceeds to show us how Keats is guilty OF that
ridiculous and inexcusable fault" by quoting
from the poem In question these lines:
Who are these coming TO the sacrifice?
To what great altar mysterious priest
Leadst thou that heifer lowing at the skies
AND all her sNken tanks with garlands drest7
No one has hitherto noticed anything wrong
here, but we have been reckoning without our
Patten. MY experience with heIfers," he |
proudly announces sis that under no clrcum- |
stances whatever do they low at the skies not |
even when they are being led or driven to the |
slaughterhouse in their sacrifice to mans car |
nlyorouS appetite Therefore am quite |
certain that no ancient Greek sculptor was as
ignorant as John Keats Of the habits Of lowing !
heifers." We Like Mr.. Patten. He will 90 far |
When Edmond dc Goncourt drew I'D the |
clause of his will relating to the 5000 francs
which he wished the members OF the Goncourt |
Academy to bestow annually upon some author. |
he said MY desire Is that the prize be given
to youth originality and talent, and new and
daring efforts Of thought and style" A short
time ago nine OF the ten Academicians dined
together in Paris and came to a conclusion as
TO the writer whose work in 1908 deserved the
golden reward They fixed upon NJ Toruuet
who writes over the name Of John Antoine Nan
lie began life as seaman, has dwelt at Mar
Unique San Francisco Hayti, the Balearic Isl
ands and Tenerlffe, and now, I'm his thirty-fourth
year. is established at Saint Tropez, little port
not far from Frejus, the Mediterranean.
where "he INDUCES in literary and piscatorial
pursuits" He has written short stories and
poems, and, with a collaboration, has made q
translation OF book by DostoeYeski Poets
md critics are not eligible for the Goncourt
prize, but his Judges on this occasion did not
consider that his verses were sufficient in bulk
TO exclude him from the lists, and, besides. tho
novel which had attracted them to him is pre-
eisely the kind Of book which they delight to
honor This novel, Force Ennemie" according
20 The London Standard" deals with an asy-
!um in which all the inmates, including the doc
tors and warders, seem mad. cit is the story
If the relapse of patient, or the slow invasion
Of sane mind by lunacy and the process Is
depicted in such manner that it Is impossible
or the reader to discern where madness be-
,inS and sanity ends" Obviously n toyous hook !