New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-27

a aho,. IS tne glory such the light that clngs
a. A19us me footsteps and the deeds of kings;
fhe ia IN she shadow Terror sits and Hate
ana heaven is Knocked with all unheavenly things.
| When criticism has said the best that It can
say for this sonnet, can it still maintain that It
| has, as poetry, any value? It is clever no
ooubt, but that is all, and 1t might much better
! have been left in manuscript, along with lot
of verse that Mr. Watson has printed. Some
where Keats says. 81 could jump down -41tna
for any public good, but hate nlawkish pop
| ularity." Not only Mr.. Watson. but all the
minor poets who belauded by their
friends. should take that saying to heart.
A surprising picture of Herbert Spencer is
displayed IN the recoIlectons OF Mr.. A. I.
Shand. One of the most lively dinners he
members when he met Sir Edward Hamley
by appointment at the Atheneum one Christ
mas to pronounce on some canvas-back ducks
cent him by American friend:
BY the way, the refrigerated ducks were fail
ure, as usual, but that signied nothing, for there
was store of Christmas cheer in the deserted dining
The ducks suggested America: Harnley in his youth
ed by him out in fssRioR that astoSnded
us He d f the tn dress Of Noel GuTard and
novelty to hear tEansatlaptie manners. Red md
dogs discussed with the profn 9 OF onsoence
and the roHeking fun of Tooie
land has interesting paper on the famous
prima donna, Jenny Lind. He says that her
character had all the notes of greatness.
She was vivid in phrase and gesture. She
could not endure any impertinent curiosity; and
it was always perilous experiment to introduce
stranger to her lest she should suspect some
motive in the introduction, when her GOODNESS
would be freezing" He describes a scene in
which some strangers sought an interview:
erect. "Oh. Nine. Goldschmidt we hoped to have
the pleasure OF seeing you and making your ac-
with whis ronnd There IS Hi my back now
with deep curtseyl you can go home and say
that you have seen me-.
A writer in at P.'s Weekly" has something to
say about the curious decisions which many
people entertain about the value of their old
books, even if they be odd volumes of Steele's
Taller" copy of the Turkish Spy" The
old fashioned is, apparently, quite sufficient
10 set many book owners dreaming of silver and
gold. The writer mentions a lady who offered
to accept 900 for thirteen volumes of an old
magazine, Of which the entire set, something
like forty volumes be had whenever they
are met with for about % shillings She eS-
planned that she wished to part with the volumes
in order to give her daughter musical educa-
ton the Continent.
A reader might be excused for looking askance
at new edition Of "A Sentimental Journey"
Sternes book has been reprinted almost to
death. But practically all of the recent editions
have been nvalidated by the one which Hough
ton, AIiff1in & Co. have just issued in the series
which they have been specially printing at the
Riverside Press. 1t follows in form and style
the edition of Fieldings Voyage to Lisbon"
which they brought out three years ago. The
shapeIy octave of some $50 pages is printed in
oT1d 10
the title page. chapter headings and binding the
publishers have used restraint in delightful
contrast to some Of the decorative reprints of
the Journey" which have seen the light in the
last ten years. A better book to look at, TO
handle and to read has not been made even in
this series of well made volumes. On smaller
scale and in daintier style the Houghtons
have also published The Love Poems of John
Dome selected and edited by Professor
Charles Eliot Norton. The introduction, though
brief, forms an uncommonly graceful and just
note on the subject. Lovers of Dome will cordi-
ally approve Professor Norton's omission of
those pieces which the poet himself ultimately
looked upon with disfavor showing too I'M
bridIed an emotion He loses nothing of his
essential fire through the suppression of this
or that rather murky CLEAN. Observing that |
this volume, like the Sterne. is exquisitely man
ufactured, we borrow a characteristic poem:
NEGATIVE LOVE.
I never stoop'd so low as they
Which eye, cheek lip, prey;
Seldom to them which no higher
Than virtue, the mind TO admire.
For sense and understanding may
Know what gives fuel to Gheir fire;
My love, though silly, is more brave;
For may I miss whene'er crave
IF I know yet what would have.
If that be simply perfectest,
Which by way be express
But negatives, my love is so.
To all which all love, say no.
If any who deciphers best
What you know not-ourselyes-ean know,
Let him teach me that nothing. his
As yet my and comfort is,
Though 1 speed not, cannot miss.