The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-31
BOOKS N


OF the Decoration, 'The Brass Bowl and
The Flyers following In the order given.
1t has been a dull season In books. No
great sensations have enlivened the situa-
ton and no new stars OF the first magnitude
have arisen The cause OF the quiet season
has been variously attributed to the decline
in stocks, to the COOL spring, which has en-
abled people to remain longer in town in
stead Of retiring TO their country homes,
TO the general disinclination manifest in
every trade and industry TO take chances on
selling or use money generously in buying
The current Academy hAs an article de-
~nouncing the novel as a vampire" -Those
who have anything TO say n~owadays," ac-
cording TO this authority. are afraid that
no one will read II unless 1t Is expressed by
means OF fiction: those who have nothing to
say. but can catch the trick, put out volume
after volume, scraps stolen from the ak or
seven living novelists and the sixty or
seventy dead ones who had dreams or
thoughts to sell-volumes that contain not a
single genuine thought, not a single sincere
emotion, not a single living or lifelike char
aoter. While the writer admits that the
essay 10 an uncommonly difficult form TO
ma ma ge-almosta az difficult and fascinating
as the sonnet-the most important work is
done not on the essay but on the mind that
conceives it." Make yourself as wise and
as witty and as learned as you can and the
essay will look after itself. MIR. CUTLER
Couch Is pronounced the best living essay
list. Mr.. S%winburne lives 49, forever but
writes no more; Mr.. Birrell is dead and
buried-in politics: the works OF Max
Beerbohm were finally collected years ago.
Mr.. Quiller-CoIch knows more, he feels
more deeply. he is more alive and more
himself than any other"
Among the hundred or more letters con-
cerned with the courtship of Lady Mary
Montagu and her churlish lover published
in George Parton's recent biography is
one which should nave made the middle
aged wooer comfortably content. Il can
esteem, / can be a friend. but / don know
whether ! can love. Expect all that is
cOmplaisant and easy. never What is fond
in me-"
Mrs. Baillie Saunders, who is making
a notable SUCCESS with her second novel,
London Lovers" is the wife Of the Vicar
of M~arylebone. She made her debut as a
novelist in 1905 with Saints in Society"
a prize story. Her new story deals with the
new type Of Jew in fiction. the Jew con-
verted by love into first a philanthropist
and later into a Christian,
The villa on a small island close to Corfu
which was celebrated for the shrine raised
by its former owner, the Empress Elizabeth
Of Austria, TO the memory of Heine has
been sold to the German Emperor, The
result will no doubt be that the worship Of
Heine manifested by pilgrimages TO the
Achilleion will cease. Heine was a free
thinker and once signed himself "Heine,
Prussian libere." The new owner has
placed the palace at the disposal OF his
sister, the Crown Princess of Greece, and
intends to spend some time there every year
himself.
Mr.. Henry Buckle OF the Burmah Com
mission has written a book called "The
After Life which is to be published soon
in England. 1t is a history Of beliefs con-
corning the future life from the earliest
times,i which is brought together the teach
ing Of eminent men of all ages and coun-
tries on the subject OF the future destiny
OF mankind.
Mr.. Kipling's new poem, recently pub
lished, is based upon the Biblical story OF
Martha and Mary and lays down the axiom
that because Of Martha's Tudeness TO the
Lord her guest" IL il the lifelong duty
OF her sons 10 wait upon Mary's sons. 1t
always did seem rather an unjust tale, and
Mr.. Ripling's rolling stanzas are full OF
vigor and rough strength. In describing
the curse upon the sons Of Martha, he says:
II is their care In all the ages TO take the
bunet and cushion the shock.
II Is their care that the gear engages; II Is
their care that the switches lock.
II is their care that the wheels run truly: II
Is their care 10 embark and entraIn.
Tally, transport and deliver duly the Sons OF
Mary by land and main.
Marjorie Bowen's real name. according
to the Bookmdn, is Gabrielle We're Campbell. |
and she belongs TO the clan which visited
such severe vengeance upon its hereditary
enemies. the Macdonalds, two centuries
ago. Miss Bowen, or Campbell, has dis
covered certain documentary evidence
proving the massacre which forms the
theme OF her latest story, which in this
lie called THE Master Of Stair" and
in England The Glen O. Weeping" The
chief cause of her substituting this story
for THE Leopard and the Lily" 30 much
NtcShs wac tbS eppAcuNh"b "N'S ~ |
London OF a letter containing the order
for the Massacre OF Glencoe" dated
February "a, 1892. This letter. which was
found in some old papers in Australia.
was written by Major Duncannon to Capt.
Campbell. That the old feud still
was demonstrated TO Miss Bowen
by an experience at a ball. hen she
commented on the fact that the best dancer
in the room had not been introduced to
her she received this reply; -oh. yes. he is
he best dancer here, and we wanted very
much to present him TO you, but, OF course.
was out Of the question, or possibly you
do not know that ne 10 a Macdonald"
Mrs. A. B. Nichols Of Bansgher, the widow
Of the late Mr.. Arthur Bell Nichols, whose
first wife was Charlotte Bronte, has per-
the Bronte Society TO purchase for
merely nominal sum SOM OF the most
interesting relics in her possession con-
neoted with the Bronte family. These
a little colored pen sketch by Char
alta proptS ~ har siater Anne. two nor.