The Washington herald., 1907-12-22

The books most called for at the Public
Library during the past week are as fol-
lows: In nonhction. Trine's What All
the Worlds Seeking and Soule's Ac-
counting. In fiction, Burnett's Shuttle"
and Chambers Younger Set" Music
and art history were also of popular in
terest. and in the former Kobles How
10 Appreciate Music" and Mason's "From
Grieg to Brahms" were frequently asked
for during the week, while on the latter
subject there were many calls for Ludke's
History OF Art and Muther's History
OF Painting from the Fourth TO the
Eighteenth Century" In juvenile litera-
ture the books most in demand were Miss
Alcott's Rose in Bloom" and Howard
Pyle's Christmas Angel" Many of the
classic authors were also in demand in
the juvenile department Dickens being
hve times Is popular as any OF the other
classics. according to the statistics given
out
Few translations have received such
high praise as that accorded the author
ized translation by Charlotte Porter and
others Of D'Annunzio's remarkable
drama. The Daughter OF Jorio." pub
lished in attractive holiday style. by Lit
lie, Brown & Co. Prof. f. c. de Sunni
chTast. Of the faculty OF romance, Ian
guages, and literature. Harvard says: 1T
reproduces. in form which. while being
English, IS for all that none the less
close TO the original the feeling of the
rhythm, the music of the dictiOn at once
smooth and virile melodious and impetu-
ous which enchants the reader To have
succeeded TO this height is TO have even
passed the limits OF ordinary translation.
It is TO honor as II deserves one of the
great works, the very great and rare
works, Of our time"
Little, Brown & Co. announce for early
publication a new edition Of ''The Re
tuvenation OF Aunt Mary" by Anne
Warner, with additional Illustrations
from photographs Of scenes from the
play, in which May Robson is starring
II is now announced that Miss Robson,
as Aunt Mary" will return 10 the Madi-
son Square Theater, December %, for a
prolonged engagement
Next Saturday at Sotherby's. in Lon
don. viii be sold Lord Howe's remarkable
collection Of early quartos and the four
folio editions Of Shakespeare's works. II
includes twenty-eight quartos, OF, with
the doubtful plays thirty-five They
are nearly all in excellent condition The
greatest rarities are the Hamlet of
lbe4-one Of three copies known the ether
two being in the Devonshire and the
HUH collections-and the "Richard III"
Of l5O7 the first edition of which. it
seems, only two perfect examples are
known.
For years the poet Francis Thompson
had been one of the submerged 90 selling
matches. calling cabs, anything 20 obtain
the pence necessary TO buy food. At last
he yielded to despair, and having for
some dayS =aved up all he could earn he
devoted it 10 the purchase Of a single dose
of iaudanum sufficient TO end his troubles.
With this he retired at night to his haunt.
the rubbish plot in Covent Garden Mar
ket. Then by MS own narrative the fol-
lowing incident occurred: lie had already
taken half the fatal draught when ne felt
hand upon his aTm and looking up saw
one whom he recognized as Chatterton
torbidding him to drink the rest and at
the same instant memory came 10 him of
how. after that poets suicide. a letter had
been delivered at his lodgings which If ne
had waited another day. would have
brought him the relief needed.
1t happened so with Thompson. for
after Infinite pains the editor of a maga-
zine who had accepted and printed an
essay and a poem Of his but could not
discover his address, had that very morn
ing traced Thompson 20 the chemists
shop where the drug was sold, and re-
lief for him was close at hand.
Sir Gilbert Parker. writing Of Fiction;
its place in the national life" says that
it is one of the most curious phases Of
our modern life. Everybody tries mis- or
her hand at it. Men o. many professions
practise Il and ladies use it almost as a
birthright. Ii is the medium Of grave
socologists. like Mallock, the affectation
Of historians like the late Nj Froude.
OF the scientist astronomer like NJ Flam-
marion. Of the naturalist like the late Mr.
Grant Allen, of the scientist student. like
Mr.. Wells, OF the millionaire. Ike Mr.
Astor. Of the natural mechanician. like
Jules Verne. 1t is the recreation of the
duchess beset by ennui, who lowered
with corOnet and the strawberry leaves,
still reaches out discontented fingers for
the bays; ~ is the outrageous dissipation
Of the popular archdeacou. il is the secret
To the novelist you come for a
story first. and before all and IL is the
first and last thing he should give you
Genius tells the story and reaches the
universal heart as well"
The old connection between law and
literature was. the Law Journal reminds
Us. strengthened by the late Sir Lewis
Morris, who practiced as conveyancer
in Lincoln's Inn while he was establish
ing his reputation as a poet. There have
been several poets who have abandoned
the steep places OF the bar for the slopes
Of Parnassus. The present poet lau-
reate was called at the Inner Temple in
1857, and attended the York Assizes and
West Riding Sessions for two or three
years. But the late Sir Lewis Morris
is the only poet Of repute who has found
the tasks of conveyancer not incompat-
ible with the cultivation OF the muse.
Mr. R. ID. Blackmore, the author OF
Lorna Doone." practised as a convey
ancer for several years. Sir Walter Scott
speaking OF himself and the law. said:
There was no gNeat love between us.
and IL pleased heaven TO decrease it on
further acquaintance. Most Of the
poets who have sprung from the legal
profession appear TO have entertained
the same unfavOrable view CoWper.
who was fellow pupil Of Lord Thur
lows in an attorneys office was called
to the bar at the Middle Temple but he
quickly yielded himself to the charms Of
literature. Denham was a member of
Lincoln's Inn, and Thomas Gray. the
author Of the famous 'Elegy Written In