New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-24
LITERARY NOTES.

was denied writing materials during the first
few days. but the protest of his wife brought a
supply Of them He had been for some time
thinking about play the ground-tone Of which,
says 4 correspondent Of The LONDON Iele-
graph" had been sombre:
But in the chilly, narrow fortress cell the back
ground OF the drama became more ample ana ms
MS MOOD that NJ Gorky worked out the characters
OF his new play securing e1ects wncn SET MN
shaking with laughter when he read them over
in the twilight Of his cell IN SIX Gays me b dTaaa
Of the Sun" As MS bed in the cell was screwed TO
the spot and the table was also screwed; and as
prisoner had to stretch his hands and crane his
neck. as TO write upon his table Whne uslhs
the bed as a chair.
The author of "Typhoon" is said to have
rival in the person of Mr.. Edward Noble, about
whose first book, Tine Edge of Circumstance,
the English reviewers have been growing en-
thusiastic The author of this sea story roamed
about the world in ships for some sixteen years.
lie had TO seek a publisher for each one OF
those years when ne tried to dispose Of his
manuscript Sixteen members of the trade re-
fused it, and then a literary agent tried In
vain TO get it into print, but finally the Black
woods accepted it, and have been supplying
many copies Of it TO the public ever since.
In his seventy-eighth year n. Leopold De-
lis.a has been retired from the chief Librarian
ship at the Bibliotheque Nauonale. much to the
indigualion OF FreIchmen who appreciate the
services he has rendered TO the famous institu-
ton IN the current number of The Academy
the story of a piece of detective work which ne
once carried through in England is thus related:
A certain Count Iibri had, the reign of Louis
Philippe been made inspector general or Frencn
public libraries, and had stolen rare DOORS anu
precious manuscripts right and left His prlRnEc-
pal . distractions were from the Bibiotheque Ma
Iionaie. and NJ Delisle was salottea tie taSh %
tracing and. if possible RECOVERING the i9st S
ures He followed the tran liSe sieI Id s., n9 E9
land half Of the British Museum, and the
remainder TO Lord Ashburnham, ,ooo.,o+,ons for
tr5stees anticibang the entente cordiae, prom
ised to give up without compenss ton any stolen
goods If II. Delise could clearly demonstrate that
since an the labels and secret marks , had oeeh
The friendly assistance Of the Museum librarians
overeame the difficulty and carried off his treas
more difficult to deal with NJ. pelisle. they said.
fo4 them nave ana ay if 5i no e NOT Po The French
Inent refused 10 vote the money, ana NJ De use
by selling to the German Emperor an 0la manu- u
Teiativey small value to the French library but
which the Emperor was particularly anxious 10
the Grand Duke OF Baden.
Two new volumes have been published in THE
csewnes's Art Library" issued in this country
by Frederick Warne & Co. One Is devoted to the
work Of the late George Frederick Watts the
other to the work of Van Dyck. A new method
is adopted in the text dealing with the first OF
these painters A brief Biographical sketch is
contributed by Mr. w. K. West. and this is fol-
lowed by translation of the essay contributed
10 the "Nuoya Antologta." by r. Pantini. The
Italian critic writes with the warInest synpa-
thy, and is, indeed, enthusiastic as even the
most exacting of the painters countrymen
could desire. The usual generous sheaf of fine
full page halftones included a number Of things
which have not hitherto been accessible in such
inexpensive form We note few comparatively
unfamiliar things in the Van Dyck Also The
photogravure frontispiece in this case is from
the brilliant equestrian portrait Of Thomas Of
Savoy in the Royal Gallery at Turin Mr. Hugh
Stokes writes the introduction, and supplies
list OF the principal works Of the master in the
public galleries OF the world
Fie9mte Robert d'Humleres, in a volume de-
scribing his travels in England, has this note
about Mr Kipling as seen at home:
ais eyes in particular hold the attention, behind
gayety, tlrsting reject life In a It's forms Ths
9 T halr IS cut straight over the forehead
singular agility. WITH none Of the sonewhst Wooden
gestures OF TIE average Engiishnaan.
Here is one of Mr. Kiplings literary opinions,
as communicated to the Frenchman:
1t must he my Oriental leanings, but don't like
a woman outside her house in fiction properly soe
called She IS charming in real life, but one has
are so many other subjects.
Here is a little picture Of Lady Curzon, the
American wife of the Viceroy of India, paint
ed truthfully by Viscomte dHumieres
She IS tar. graceful Infinitely corneIy and beau
1919 oitssed-a WLlte gown strewn with small
her neck in the mid-centpry Winterhalter manner
p9t WIKI such patrician elegance, as Octave Peuil-
mirable eyes. nan anu @A-
Hunting down ancestors has become SO
IaVorite and engrossing a sport in these DAVIS
OF patriotic societies of Sons of This. Daughters
OF That and Danes OF Everything Else. that
the little handbook. Concerning Genealogies"
just issued by the Grafton Press and written
by It's own genealogical and Biographical Fx-
pert ar Frank Allaben. may justly be said TO
III d long Ielt want. To be sure, it Is somewhat
OF reciprocal want, and the reader is con-
sIantly impressed with the facilities offered nv
the Grafton Press and its Expert to aid in the
search, and also to assist the searcher In assert
ing his game when found and captured But the
volume Is SO entertainngIy written and SO fun
OF wise suggestion, perhaps even in its self
recommendations that it makes what is USUALLY
considered dry and uninterestng labor as
sumo the aspect Of gay and festive pastirne
1hus does Mr.. Allaben expatiate on its merry
joys:
thsn set Forth 10 explore the unsajled seas end
l.19eh cor llents OF your own some other per
territory You are one Of fortunes fav9rites with
cset tpSsL JOYS o. ne before you Nor is il any
s1tioh enjoyed by the ancestor. The truth js that
Ell ancestors are remarkable persons In The Srst
place, they are our ancestors, and in the second
pace. II Is a noteworthy fact, as mysterious as
aeLkhIul that every homely feature about them
wears 4 wondrous glamour and dignity
Mr.. Allaben inclines 20 look with dIsfavor on
the usual method Of Compiling American