New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-21
MISCELLANY.

A Mr. William Mottram has Just given to the
world a book called The True Story Of George
Eliot" in which he has something TO say about
the actual personages used by the novelist in
her work. He tells us all about the originals
OF Adam Bede Seth Bede, Dinah Morris, Mrs.
Poyser, and so on We suppose we ought TO
be profoundly grateful. but somehow we can
not contrive TO dilate with the right emotion.
The John Lane Company has Just published
IN THE Champagne Standard" collection of
the papers IN which Mrs John Lane has dis
coursed with so much good sense and vivacity
upon the ways OF the Anglo-American world.
The quotations have made from some of
these papers when they have appeared in the
magazines have shown what a judicious and
amusing critic the author is. It is good TO
have her clever observations put into perma-
nent form
In a Memoir of Colonel Henry Lee little,
Brown G. Coz Mr.. John T. Morse writes pleas
antly, II at far too great length, of a departed
scion Of Brahminical Boston, a descendant of
the tribe Of wealthy India merchants who lived
! in an atmosphere OF old-fashioned refinement,
culture and good citizenship. Henry Lee
brought into the nineteenth century of
the ideals Of the eighteenth as became one who
could count his family tree the names Of
Thomas Dudley, Simon Bradstreet. Anne
Hutchinson and John Cotton. He was so thor
oughly Bostonian that Il is said of him: He
would have sickened and wasted away Of unfit
ness in any other place than Eastern Massa-
chusetts." All the remnants Of old Boston he
held sacred and some of the most interesting
pages OF this volume are filled with his Wig
Orous pleas for the preservation of monuments
like the Old South Meeting House. The pro-
posal TO do away with such relies Of the past
would start into fame his always fiery temper
ament. AS Governor Andrews aid in. the early
days Of the Civil War he exceedingly use
full in dealing with the rush of young men de-
handing commissions. Most Of the applicants
were unknown TO Andrew: Lee was apt TO know
the individual. and If not he knew all about his
ancestors.
So The Joke ran Amt that he would S often say to The
grandfather was a first rate captain at Lousburg
1T for a second iieutenancy.' and SO on What he
OF sd the STern nS 6ne da
What 40 gou say 70 y appointing SgnTeT
il. Governor' why not?'' You know as Well as
T. ''No one OF US is perfect" mo but some are
and you have no business 70 put him in charge Of
IS my own. and unless you drive off some of these
about the wicked that you have no heart for an
honest man"
Mr.. Swinburne has finished his essays on the
| Elzabethan dramatists ard the book will be
| brought out in a few months. It may be looked
| for with interest and will cause his readers to
forget, ii IS hoped his latest absurd publication
the reprint Of a foolish novel OF long ago.
Mary Of Scotland and the Casket Letters will
| probably torment historians through the ages.
THE Saturday Review Of London points out
| that experts have doubted the Authenticity Of
the letters for three centuries and that they
| convinced no one at the time they were said to
! have been discovered.
We know now fact. which the authors OF
three centuries subsequent TO the murder of Darn
! lev did know that the letters in their silver
| gilt casket formally produced In the Prvy
Couacil-so minuted-till fifteen months after
those months in the possession OF the Queens worst
! enemies. Did Mary ever exhibit knowledge Of their
| existence2 AfteTward they appear IN three Ian
suages. and only II the originals were in French
could they be genuine, while In that IL Is not
4 obvious why any TRANSACTIONS necessary.
| novelist RACES In THE Academy over the
abomnably careless fashion in which too many
novels are treated by the illustrator. His rage
| appeased by expression. he arrives at the con-
! temptuOus conclusion tha. las the modern novel
| is written for people entirely destitute OF imag-
ination. the illustrations made with the