The Washington herald., 1908-01-26

OF course, the main topic of literary
discussion during the week has been the
death of Mr.. Edmund Clarence Stedman,
who, in the realm Of poetry, at any rate,
undoubtedly held the leading place in
American letters at the time of his death.
II is as poet that he will in all prob
ability be popularity remembered. Among
men OF letters ana students of literature.
however, il seems most likely that il is
his work as critic that Will commend
him. The critical faculty in Mr.. Sted-
man was developed to a high degree; his
ideals were high, though his tastes We're
catholic. The following quotation from
one of his essays viii give perhaps the
best idea OF his attitude toward the lit
erary art;
favor a generous eclecticism or uniyersaisn in
art enjoying what is good and believing that, a.
in nature, the question is not whether this or that
kind is more excellent, but whether WORK Is e1-
ceicut of its kind find that the qualities
upon which ] have land most stress are
simplicity and freshness. in work Of an Kinds ana
Of greatness IN MASTERPIECE, simplicity ana sloh-
taneity. refined by art, eXcelied by lnaglhalloI'
and sustained by Intellectual power
Among the most interesting book sales
for the near future is the announcement
that two fine works of Nathaniel Haw-
thorne will be sold at auction in New
York City shortly. One is copy, in good
condition OF Hawthorne first book
"Fanshawe: L Tale" which was written
while he was in his twenty-fougth year
when student at Bowdon College. 1t Is
one Of the rarest of the first editions of
American authors and commands high
price whenever Ct copy turns up at auc-
ton At the Arnold sale la 1901 it sold for
$40, at the COnely sale in 1902, SNiu az
the Nay sale i'm 1908. $3.50 and al the
French and Chubbard sale i'm 1904, S45a
"Fansha1ye" was published in Boston IN
1S2S at HaWthOme.s own expense. After
IL was ISSUED be Tepented OF his act ana
tried his best 90 suppress the book 80
far as known. only eleven copies have
been offered at public sale and in some
instances the same copy has been record
cd twice. The other interesting item IS
HaWth0rne's own copy of the second edi-
ti0n of THE Scarlet Letter. published in
Boston in 1850 The book contains card
on which is Hawthorne's autograph sig
nature. This card was for a long time
I'm the possession OF Zach Burchmore, who
was known a the father Of the Salem
custom house. He carried it in his pocket
book until it assumed its present soiled
and crumpled appearance, It viii be re-
membered by admirers of Hawthorne that
his introduction on the Salem custom
house aroused quite storm of indlSna-
ton. Among the characters he drew IS
old Zach Burchmore. Hawthorne's pen
portrait OF him occupies four full pages
of description. His gourmand sin is par
ticularly noticed. 1t was marvellous.
says Hawthorne. TO observe how the
ghosts of bygone meals were constantly
rising up before him
one of the most important literary an
uounCemcnts of the week is that which
tells of the combination of the Reader
Magazine. published by the Bobbs Merrill
Company, of Indianapolis, and Putnam. s
Monthly. The announcement is made by
Mcssrs. c. = Punam's Sons, and it fol-
lows hard upon rumors which were rife
ia literary circles to the effect thdt the
Eobbs- Merrill Publishing Company was
finding its financial burdens too hard 20
carry The combination Of these two
magazines goes into effect with the March
humber ana the new magazine Will bear
FtIc somewhat clumsy title OF Putnam
Magazine and the Reader 1t will bear
the impriuts OF O.. T. Putuams sons New
York and London, and the Bobbs-Meril
Company. Indianapolis The list of con-
trihutors to the Reader includes George
Ade. Alice Brown, Geliett Burgess, Emer-
son Hough. Francis Lynde James Whit
comb Riley. Octave Thanet. Ammo Warner.
and Brand Whit!ock The two serial az
ticles. now running in the Reader The
Coast Of Chance by Esther and Lucia
Chamberlain and "Our Inland Water
ways" by Herbert Quick, viii be con-
tinued fin the combined magazine. Moth
ing is stated in the announcement as 10
what will be done with the Bryan-Bev-
eridse debate which has been one Of the
interesting features Of the Reader
Nj Charles Welsh, whose Golden
Treasury of Irish Songs and Lyrics has
been so weIl received. has nearly ready
Dor publication collection of sea songs
y entitled Songs for Sailors" While it
contains many of the classic sea songs OF
!. British origin the greatest part of the
anthology consists of those songs inspired
ry events in this country since the days
when America had a merchant marine
and a navy which dared 60 give battle 70
Britain. down To to-day. when she has
one which commands the admiration of
the nations Of tie world
The announcement was made last week
of the death of David Mason in Scot
land, whose claim 10 literary fame rests
on the fact that he taught English Iitera-
tUre 60 four great writer's, Robert Louis
Stevenson J. n. Barrie, S. r. Crockett
and Dr. John Watson. These n0velisJs
studied at Edinburgh University, where
PROF. Mason held the chair OF English
literature from 1850 10 1885. Stevenson and
f. #.f ~ in
early 70s. whiIe among other pupils were
William Archer the critic, and Lord
Eosebeuy 90 an these. however the one
who bears the deepest testimony 10 Prof
Mason influence is J. NJ Barrie who
once declared that DE made up his mind
10 so i'm for literature orc day when he
saw the professor rUmmariug over
secondhand book store with 81 800 i'm
bank notes bulging ont of his pockets.
OF the uses of Rhodes scholarship
three may DE mentioned as of practical
value and as peculiar 10 oxford First
IS the parsuit cf studies asd research
preparatory 70 teaching history the
classics. or English literature. secondly.
following a line of study preparatory to
journalism and, lastly. the taking I'D of
studies in view of entering cur foreizn
consular or diplomatic service. In this
list history might well be given as the
leading place. iuasmuch as the history
schools Of oxford are celebrated for thor
oughness. for the scholarship of the in
structing staff and for the excellent
methods OF teaching. Supplemental TO
this is the historic setting i'm and about
OXfUrd. and the proximity Ot the conti-
uent so rich in historical libraries. great
living historians. and cities and battle
fields famous in the annals of the past