Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-03-02
NOTES.

The selection of William Dean How
ellis as orator at the celebration Of the
Longfellow centenary, Feb. 81, was Ia
every respect suitable, says the New
York Times. He is the one literary
man of emiHenco in this country who
one-tenth OF his fellow countrymen
would have chosen to do honor to the
memory of New England's great poet.
For Longfellow was great poet great
alike In his literary achievement and
IN his influence upon American thought
ana feelings, and it is absurd to fancy
that denial of his greatness indicates
tine literary Judgment. II has long
been the custom of a certain set of
English Journalists to sniff at Long
fellow, chiefly because OF the popu-
larfty Of his writings among the Eng
lish middle classes. Their attitude to-
ward admirers of the author of 'fffa-
watha" and "Eyangeline" ID similar
to that of the distinguished III. G.
Wells toward some Americans Cschool
children. we believe) who betrayed
knowledge OF Tennyson's princess"
But II IS not necessary to rake any
English iudgIuen emf of Longfellow into
consideration when we measure his
greatness, nor need we ever keep in
mind the need of measuring the pro-
duct OF his genius and fancy.
Edwin Lefevre whose novel, "Sanlp-
son Rock of Wall Street" is to be pub
lished next week by the Harpers, Is
exceptionally we'll equipped to write
stories of the most important financial
district of the world,
For years he has studied Wall street.
He went into it as newspaper man,
a a financial reporter, with the def
mite and carefully planned intention OF
studying Wall streets characters and
life, and its myriad phases, for flc-
tionaf use.
He did not at once try TO write about
IL. He waited till he felt that he knew
1t. He waited until he had come into
intimate touch with its great manipu-
lators. Then, from the first. his stor-
les won success by their strength and
their knowledge.
He has not yielded to the ternpta-
ton of too-swft production. and has
written comparatively little. in total
quantity but what he has written has
established his reputation. His new
novel is far ahead OF any OF his pre-
vious work in breadth OF view and
power. 1t is a story of Wall Street by
a man behind the scenes--a man who
has made himself familiar with it's
life and its methods.
Seldom has a book attracted such
profound and instant attention as has
Mark Twain's Christian Science" and
one Of It's most interesting features is
his succinct summarizing Of Mrs Ed
dy's character and power.
He gives charming picture OF Mrs.
Eddy as she appears to her followers:
Patient, gentle, loving, compasson-
ate, noble-hearted, unseltish. sinless,
widely cultured, splendidly equipped
mentally IA profound thinker, an able
writer, divine parsonage, an inspired
messenger whose acts are dictated
from the Throne, and whose every Ut
terance Is the Voice of God.
She has delivered to them a re-
ligion which has revolutionzed their
lives. banished the gloom that shad-
owed them. and filled them and Hood
cd them with sunshine and gladness
and peace religion which has no
hell; a religion whose heaven Is not
put off to another time. with break
and gulf between. but begins here
and now, and melts into eternity as
fancies OF the waking day melt into
The dreams OF sleep"
II. q. Wells really believes that Mars
Is inhhbited his weird imaginings OF a
Marian race. set forth IN one OF his
early works, are based upon an actual
conviction.
or course he Is far from asserting his
hellef as certainty. But he holds that
Inc lines upon the moon shown In the
best photographs, which seem to be laid
out with such mathematical precision.
do really indicate canals on something
else, not the chance result OF nature.
lie hopes however that this world
VIII come nearer to settling its own
problems before II shall really get into
communication with Mars. Until pres
ent problems are adjusted he fears the
coming of new set OF unknown indus
cnces
lie Is a man OF wide interests. and.
unlike many Engishiner, feels the Inn
portanco OF other countries as well as
his own
Ills opinions IN regard To the United
States he has recently set down IN the
important book entitled The Future in
America. IN conversation, recently. he
succinctly summed up his views by say.
Ing that the Principal danger, for AM
erica Hes IN too great growth Of a
dangerous type OF indiyidualism and too
ltilee Of q binding of the people together
by The stare.
HIS book has. by its earnesiness, at