New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-04

dote Book" compiled by Mr.. A. II. Miles, the
producer Of the zone Thousand and One Anec-
dotes" He has provided little stories of every
sort literary, social. personal. musical dra-
matte, military. etc
Among all the English writer's of the day none
offers a sadder example of wasted energy than
Mr.. John Davidson-eXcept, perhaps Mr..
Thomas Hardy. in the guise of a poet Mr.
Davidson seethes with large thoughts and can
nowadays write in nothing less than a Triogy.
The first play of the three has just appeared
and is called THE Triumph of Mammon." In
a prose epilogue the author sets forth his be-
lief that il is impossible 10 write great plays for
the English stage at present because the theatre
is still content TO accept the Christian economy.
faith and morality fundamentals Shake
speare, In Mr.. Davidson's opinion has shown
man under the conditions Of Christendom once
for all. and therefore If it were only that there
might be drama it would be necessary 10
have a new cosmogony." He claims that he IS
the first writer TO bring an actual change into
English poetry. Hitherto he says. English
poetry subsists in two worlds-a material world
and a spiritual world. the latter allowing and
disaowing the former" His world is one OF
pure matter. and his play is written TO demon
strate its entire sanctty.
An American edition Of Dir. Z. J. ElIlss
book, The Real Blake" Is announced by Nc
Clure. Phillips & Co Mr.. Ellis is the editor or
an edition of the works of William Blake.
Hadji 4. Browne. a Mahometan who has
spent most of his life in the East. thinks that
the Egyptian of to-day is largely Influenced by
the feelings and asplra tons which had their
origin in the invasion OF his country by Ma
:
parte in Egypt and the Egyptians Of To-day
The pleasantest Of little books is Mr. E Y
Lucas's collection OF prose and verse FOR the
urbane" a book called appropriately THE
Friendly Town" There are old favorites which
haunt the memory: there are forgotten bits of
| beauty upon which one comes with delighted
surprise. Come then" the compiler quotes
from Henry Vaughan.
Come. then! and while tine slow icicIe hangs
A. the stine thatch, and winters frosty pangs
Midst noise and Of peace and rnirth discusse.
To winter and Christmas. friends and the fire.
the table and the binn, 10 books. the midnight
darlings." to music and painting and the play,
10 the tavern and the good townsmen and many
another subject Of urban interest charm these
extracts relate. Here are two as diverse as may
be-the first from old Pepys:
with my wife 10 the Kings House to 1.-THE
Virgin Marty the tiTs time ii hath been acted
great while and it IS mighty pleasant: not that
the play Is worth much. Dut II Is finely acted by
Beck Marshall. But that which did please me be
yond anything n the whole world was the wind
musique when the angel comes down: which Is 50
sweet that II raVished me. and Indeed in word.
sick, just as have formerly been when in love
with my wife; that neither then nor ali the evening
ANYTHING, but remained al nigh; transported, 50
| could not believe that ever any InuSuIo hath
that real command over the soul OF a man as this
did upon me; and makes me resolve to practise
WIud-muslquc, and to make my wife do the like
And here is George Meredith on "IsIet." his
dachshund:
Our Islet out Of Heleoland dismissed
,,t from ms quaint tenement. quits hates and loves.
There lived with wagging humorst
IN that hounds arch dwarf-legged on boxing
gloves.
\ Scotch commentator upon the career of the
Rev. Thomas Alexander. popular Presbvte-
rian minister In London and friend OF 'dour
Tammas.' of Chelsea. quotes n letter which Car
lyle wrote TO Alexander upon the question of an
Increase Of stipend With al Indifference said
to be characteristic, Alexander had neglected to
seek fair remuneration for his .abor and CARLYLE
demonstrated with him. quoting, with many re-
CARDS" the following verse from the old Scot
fish nursery rhyme, There was piper had a
cow:
The COW considered wi herseT
That mirth Wad never
gle me pickle guild ait strae
An sell your win for slller."
\ series of Primers of Art projected by
Doubleday Page & Co, viii deal with various
branches of industrial art The oppning volume