New-York tribune., 1907-01-19
BOOKS and AUTHORS.
Current Talk of Things Present
and to Come.

George Eliot appears to have suddenly become
interesting TO French readers. NJ. II. Bremond
deals with her religion in an article in the Re
vue des Deux Mondes" He says that the works
OF Walter Scott first shook her faith in the
Nonconformity in which she was brought up.
The Revue Bleue" is presenting a series OF
Souvenirs" of Herbert Spencer. articles which
treat OF the philosophers acquaintance with
George Eliot. 1t appears that there one
with whom he felt more pleasure In discussing
questions in philosophy. and that he thought no
other woman and few united like her the
capacity for abstract thought with the power OF
concrete representation AS TO her novels. he
affirmed that he from the first advised her 10
write them-an advice which she did not take
for many years-and that he had nothing TO do
with her general education. although she was
perhaps considerably influenced by my books"
In "a Royal Tragedy" NJ. Mgatowich former
IL Servan Minister to England. tells the mis-
erable story of King Alexander and Queen
Draga. attributing the fall of the Obrenovch
dynasty entirely TO Russia He describes the
King and Queen as living for six months I'm mo-
mentary expectation Of seeing their execution
ers enter. At last summer night the door
Of the secret chamber in which they had taken
refuge slowly opened. and they found them
selves facing group Of officers:
King Alexander stepped forward in front OF the
Queen, as II 10 shelter her. looked straight at the
What is it You want? And what of your oath
OF fidelity TO me?'
There was a second two OF deadly silence
They looked at each other-as If mesmerized Then
Lieutenant -, who. before entering the army,
are YOU standing gazing at? Here is our oath OF
Saying this ne fired on the King who sank into
the arms of Draga. In moment several revolyers
both thon dropped on the floor
This was only the beginning OF scene which
might as well have been left to the imagination
''The Leopard and the Lady" is the title Of
the new novel which Miss Bowen. author OF that
much overra ted book. THE Viper of Milan" is
about to bring out.
The mast year among the old book shops of
ENGLAND is said to have been a reasonably prof
table one Early printed books and first edi
tions of great writers continue to keep up in
price
DIR. Frederick Cowen gravely declares In THE
Strand" that all the great executive musical
artists he can call 10 mind who possessed 1.-The
power to attract, unaided. large audiences all
the world over. and to fascinate and rouse
them TO great enthusiasm" the proud
wearers of luxuriant heads OF hair. After mem
tioning Paganini, Iiszt and Rubinstein. he con-
tinues:
could name other artists. equally gifted: Who
In many ways have quite failed to exercise this
extraordinary and indehnable magnetism over the
eessity. to appear ike ordinary everyday mortais
so far their hair was concerned
Mr. Christopher Stone, i'm making his colleo-
tjon of ea-Songs and Ballads" has been oddly
Indifferent to contemporary poets-or has per
haps been unable to climb the copyright fencs.
IA he ba by q. modern
writer-HenIey's 20 Falmouth is fine town
with ships In the bay"
Harry and Ursula" Mr.. w. E. Norris's new
| novel has been arranged in an unusual II not
entirely new fashion 1t is written in alternate
chapters by two severed lovers. the author HIM
self describing their reunion in the final chapter
merry Garden and Other Tales" is the title
| of LOS" forthcoming volume.
Volume vi of the "New English Dictionary
on Historical Principles has just appeared. The
earliest quotations In It. II Is noted, go back to
| SSS while the most recent belong to only year
or two ago. Popular magazines. newspapers,
catalogues and guides appear among the illus
trative references. The largest space In the
volume is occupied by the word "mind"-it COW
ers not less than twelve columns. Even a
! cursory glance" says THE London Tribune"
"will reveal many curious expressions which are
rarely met in ones ordinary reading:
''Min." for example, Is a rare alternative for
! ''tiR." "Methuen" which is obsolete was
/ "a nams tocula-ly applied Portuguese wines
imported under preferential duty In accordance
1 with the provisions of the commercial treaty OF
| 1903 between England and Portugal negotiated by
Paul Methuen, the English Minister at Lisbon"
curious still is "MethusalemeSs," the fefn,-
nine of Methuselah through the vulgar corruption
| 'Methusalem,'' which is based on the form of
Jerusalem.
| There are various pleasant glinpses Of Eng
! lsh celebrities OF the past in Mr.. Escott's new