The Washington herald., 1907-09-08

ords as springing from the pen OF a
/ Louisianian. Earlier than that. how
ever, according to Edward Childs Car
penter, Victor Jallot, a versatile genius
who was at once poet. master OF arms
and dancing. prestidigitator. patriot
philosopher. gentleman. and barber
wrote a play called The Gateway Of
Dreams" which the aforementioned
authority states was performed at the
Theatre 81. Pierre, New Orleans. as
early as 1898. The dramatic events at
tendant upon the production of Jallots
play make up the greater part OF the
arst chapter OF Mr. Carpenters new
romance. THE Code OF Victor JaIlot."
which is to be published in September
hy George W Jacobs s. Co.
One Of the important literary events
Of the season is the publication
BY the Hsrpers Of new novel by
Robert Hiohens. author Of "The Can
OF the Blood and The Garden Of
Allah" The new novel is entitled
"Barbary sheep" Like his other books.
IL is a story Of love and Of passion: and
again the scene is laid in the region OF
the Mediterranean.
Chatter about Harriet" is almost in
separable from an article on Shelley. It
occupies its expected place In an article
on the poet which George L. Knapp
writes in the September Lippincott.
This critic finds extenuating circum-
stances and states his case iugeniously
thus:
The chief thing On which sheiley's enemies have
relied 70 smirch his reputation IS hts desortion Of
his first WIFE ] have no defense 70 offer for that
act. No decent defense is possible. There were
e1yeuuatug Cir-umst snccs OF ccsrse-there alvr4vs
are foT anything. harriet Westbrook had und1uh,-
edy done the major part Of the cotwting and while
this Is perfectly legitimate 1t Il seldom good policy
shelley had never pretended to be deeply in love
alth Harriet and he was passiouately IN love with
Mary Goodwin Harriet had net been the best q
wives OF mothers. she was wholly unsuitad 10 be
Sheley life mate. and she insisted on the presence
in their home Of her sister Eliza who seems 70 have
been an intolcrable nuisance But after all these
things have little OF nothing TO do with the matter
Harriet was Sheileys wife; she was the mother Of
cne Of his children. end was about 70 become the
mother OF another. The least he could dccently DO
was - wait until the child borl and the mother
safe. and then. If need be. apply for divorce lie
would not have got it-lt cost a deal Of money and
more political influence 20 lobby divorce through
the House Of Lords in those DAYS but Shelley
try. His whole behavior was wrong pitiahly wrong
and Is aved from absolute meanness only by the
freukuts, with which be av0wed his Intentions and
tie frcedom with which he provided Tor Harriets
support Fortunately. one swallow does not make a
summer. and Cne wrong does not fix a chhracrer
Il we would give fewer haos tc our saints and fewer
stripes % or sinners IL would be fairer to both
parties. and better fer ourselves. Had ST. Augustine
died as early did Shelley be would have been re-
membered, Il al all. only as q rather clever and ut
terly diSsolute rake. 81. Augustine expiatei his
voutht1l faults by life n piety grand and inspr-
ing but so lined with savage intolerance that it
may fairly BE- said he harmed the world most when
he thought he was setting il the best example
Shelley at0ned for bis one serious error BY life
whose rare beauty and usefulness was ir7diated by
the EeHtlest humanism- And his life with Mary
Goodwin was an idyl; it was one Of the few perfect
marriages in history.
President Roosevelt's latest contribution
TO the discussion OF nature taking" pub
Hshed IN the September Everybody's Mag
az!ne. Is a vigorous presentation OF his
views. and very much 70 the point. That
the President is a naturalist well fitted
TO form judgments on matters OF this kind
is not likely to be denied by those who
are in a position 20 know. but an interest
ing light on this side of our many-sided
President IS thrown by Mr.. John Bur
roughs new book, Camping and Tramp
ing with Roosevelt" soon to come from
the press Of Messrs. Houghton, Mlfiin &
Co. In writing Of President Roosevelt as
q nature lover and observer, Mr. Bur
roughs cites many instances Of his acute
ness and accuracy which have come TO
his notice during years OF acquaintance
and he shows, too. how genuine a lover OF
wild animals and all nature the President
is. In the first part Of the book. 8Ir
Burroughs tells in an entertaining way
the story Of his trip TO the Yellowstone
Park with the President, and gives an
interesting picture Of his companion.
The Red Reign" IS the title Of a new
book which the Century Company will
bring out soon. II describes the adven-
lures and observations Of a year spent in
Russia by Mr.. Kellogg Durland. II is to
be illustrated with many photographs.
The English are still busied with discus
sion and praise Of THE American Scene"
that book by Henry James. in which he
describes his recent little tour IN America.
The London Academy is particularly i'm
pressed by what he writes Of American
women, and quotes from his book as fol-
lows:
Her manner Of embodyiDg and representing her
sex has fairly made Of her a new human con
yenience not unlike fifty Of the others. q slightly
different order. the ingenious mechanical contriy-
ances. stoves refrigeators. sewing machines. type
IL -
the household and the place Of business. for the
American name Il would take long to say
Why her situation under this retrospect may affect
tie inner fiber Of the critic himself one Of the
most touching on record; he may merely note his
perception that she to have been. after all but
the sport Of fate. For why, need she originally,
be wonders, have embraced 50 confidently. so glee-
fully. yet 50 unglardedy. the terms offered 70 her
TO an end practically 50 peridi0usi II is i'm
possible. Of course, to teIi and her case, as it
stands for Us, at any rate, Is that she showed no
doubts It is not on the American scene and in the
presence Of mere American phenomena that she is
even yet 70 be observed as showing them.
Conversation" says a writer in the
London Saturday Review, 'is no longer
cultivated as one Of the fine arts We
talk IN society, but we have ceased 10
converse and, perhaps, are all the more
lively for the change. A Johnson would
be voted a stupendous bore; we cannot
conceive a man who prepared himself az
all points for a meeting with lord
chancellor, and who, much as he loved
his friend Burke. always met him at the
club as an adversary. The pace IS too
good for that sort of thing now; mon
come 70 social gatherings to trihe and
relax, with the feminine element fortu- !
nately in the ascendant. The most gifted
raconteur, with the most tenacious MEM
ory. no longer shines at the dinner table
unless he is brief and discreet. MacaI- |
lay with his rare flashes of silence would