The Washington herald., 1908-01-12

5 AND GLEANINGS.
him much reason to change his opinion,
says a writer in the North American Re-
view He might think better Of 1t In one
way if he were alive to-day; and even
so he might be disappointed He might
regret that so many persons, among them
Americans, loved deeply, sometimes in a
maudlin way, the philosophy of the An
glicized Persian poet, persons who can
not understand. or at least enjoy, Will
lam James Pragmatism. We all know,
at least, that FitZ-Gerald's poem is now
a seller" So widely known is the poet
at present that the other day. when a
niece by marriage of John Fitz- Gerald
Edwards brother. was buried at Boulge
in Suffolk, there were reporters pres
ent" to mention the fact that across this
new-made grave fell the shadow of the
rose tree planted over the neighboring
grave of Edward Fitz-Gerald, It was
planted by the Omar Khayyam Club in
lS93 and 1t bears this inscription: This
rose tree. raised at Kew Gardens from
seed brought by William Simpson artist
and traveller. from the grave of Omar
khayyam at Nishapur, was planted by a
few admirers OF Edward Fitz-GeTald. in
the name Of the omar Khayyam Club,
October 7, 1893"
The University of Paris is 500 years
old, and antedates oxford. We must
not forget" writes President Thwing. of
Western Reserve University and Adelbert
College. in HaTpers Magazine for Febru-
airy. that it was students from Paris
who contributed much to the early prog
ress Of oxford" The university has six
departments-the faculties OF letters, Of
sciences, Of law. Of Protestant theology.
Of medicine, and the school Of pharmacy.
1t is co-educational. as are most of the
Continental universities, and welcomes
American students. President Thwing
draws an interesting comparison of Ger
man universities with the great institu-
ton at Paris.
in the days when Senatorial Washing
ton told stories. Vest, of Missouri. was
the king of the Senate cloakroom, and
Don Cameron was his lay figure They
rig jokes on new men in the cIoakrooms,
and the last thing they do Is to construct
serious laws there. The Senators who
spend most Of their time scenting their
own cloaks and those OF their fellows
with tobacco smoke are not often con-
suited on especially serious matters. they
constitute the army Of the flag. and
follow their leaders. When a real bill is
to be prepared. says Harper's Weekly. il
viii not be thrashed out amid the chaff Of
the cloakroom, but I'm some committee
room. When George f. Edmunds and
Thurman wanted to draft a bin or an
amendment Edmunds used 10 rise in his
place and blow his nose Then he'd walk
out Of the chamber Soon afterward
Thurman would walk out at another door.
They'd meet down in the Judiciary Com
mittee room, and there the business would
be done. The Senators or visitors who
talk about legislation IN the ClOakToom
talk so much about IL that they never
find time TO put down any thoughts. if
they really have any, on paper"
The Fortnightly Review will abandon
serials. Ar ". L. Courtney, the editor,
finds that mis- readers do not care TO read
novels IN monthly installments, and with
the conclusion Of Maurice Hewletts The
STOPPING Lady has resolved to substitute
for the serial novel short stories. each
complete in the number in which it ap-
pears.
In the literary department Of the Jan
uary number Of the North American Re
view THE Poetry of Madison Caweln" is
reviewed by W y. Howells, and Bazan S
lie BE Qui Leve" by Alvan F. Sanborn.
Dutton & Co. in their series Of Eng
lish idyls, have brought out an exquisite
edition of Jane Austen's Pride and
Prejudice with twenty-four illustrations
in color by c. +. Brock, and decorated
chapter headings. The type, though small
| is beautifully clear and the book is al
together a charming expression of good
taste in binding and makeup.
Apparently it is hazardous for any
writer-even Mark Twain-who is hu-
m0roUs. not to be. Not long ago the
| Harpers published little story by Mark
Twain called a Horses Tale, which IN
VOWED very delicate humor in the telling.
/ but involved also as a climax a sudden
and startling rush Of pathos centcring
! upon a child. For this the London Specta-
/ tor finds it impossible 10 forgive him. He
/ Mark Twain has no right accuses the
critic. ito make an abrupt transition q
/ the great emotions Of life" Whether the
writer limits his edict to this story. or
whether he intends to cut Mark Twain
I I..gT q. 81
/ life. is indefinite Any reader OF A
| Horses Tale however. could explain
1 this critics attitude. No man was ever
| yet surprised into tears without expert
| encing some Indignation at the cause It
1 is really a kind of resentful compliment.
Herman Whitaker is very frank 10 tell
about the early experiences whereby he
first learned the crafts Of the frontiers
man. In a recent conversation over THE
Settler" his latest novel, Mr. Whitaker
offered the Harpers. who are his publish
ers. some personal facts that show an
excellent method Of learning what a man
does not know Arriving in the country
without any practical experience. laid
Mr.. Whitaker, my first task was to 'ake
out house and stables from the adjoin-
ing forest I had never even seen a lo5
cut, but I knew that one hitched a team
10 them and drew them out to the sleighs
| NJ first log was green poplar thirty
f1et long and eighteen inches in diane
/ IT at the butt l suppose It weighed
hree-quarters of a ton, and I tried
-erily, I tried to lift it on TO my sleighs
nv cbaar cfrpnUfh and Ignorance The
ignorance won't didn't lift Putting my
Wits TO work. ! though that if I used that
fC~ a bed piece, threw two more logs
across il at right angles. with their ends
resting ypOu 1t, / might be able TO roll up
a third and drop il on my sleighs. Il
worked, and I afterward discovered that
L L.. L