The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
LITERARY GOSSIP.

Christ in his eyes. There is some debate
on this point, but Wagner's own letter OF
september q. 1880 ought 10 end Il:
i have been asking myself seriously
how I can rescue this last and most holy
work Of mine from the fate Of vulgar
operate career. How can and dare there
I be produced IN theaters like ours. and to-
gether with a mixed opera repertoire, a
story C"Handlung0 in which the most
exalted mysteries Of the Christian re-
ligion are depicted IN the open scene?
/ can well understand that the church
might object 10 the performances Of these
sacred mysteries on boards where yester-
cay and tomorrow frivoiity holds sway
because OF this feeling I entitle my Par
sifaI' "consecrated festival play,
I Therefore I must seek a stage TO which I
can c0nsecrate the play. and that stage
Is nowhere else than in Bayreuth. Never
shall ',Parsifal'' be produced on any other
stage. and 1t is my one and only desire TO
find means whereby 1 can encompass that
end
I His wishes were held sacred until a
I Few years ego. when advantage was
taken OF the outrageous condition OF our
/ copyright laws 70 produce the work in
/ New York. In spite OF the protests OF
Wagner's widow and her appeal 10 the
law courts. The piracy was legal enough
as written laws go and II has been ex-
ceedingly popular In its German text and
IN an English version. Rupert Hughes,
In the August Smiths
Young herbalists and their elders viii
hail with delight George I. Walton's
Practical Guide 10 the Wild Flowers
and Fruits" as a useful instructor-com-
panion 10 accompany them TO the rural
places. DR.. Walton. who is a well-known
Boston specialist in nervous diseases and
author Of "Why Worry studied botany
when at Harvard under Prof. George
Lincoln GOCdale and In recent years
turned attention TO il as an avocation
when It was convenient for him 70 visit
the fields and woody places.
The Third Circle" by Frank Norris.
published by John Lane Company. con-
tains some Of the earlier and r-1st I'm
portant works of the author 0r The
Octopus and "The Pit" In Il are pic
lures Of conditions OF life in San Fran
cisco-some OF them describing the under
world of Chinatown-as is was before the
great earthquake and fire Of 1905 The
book contains an introduction by WIZ
Irwin. an intimate friend OF Mr. Norris
ana co-editor with him Of the san Fran
cisco Wave.
Samuel r. Elliott. himself a veteran OF
the civil war. contributes vivid and
realistic story OF reprisal In the issue OF
Harper's Weekly for July l0 The
story, which is a true one. describes the
selection by lot Of a number Of Northern
captives 10 be hanged By Mosby's men Ia
return for the execution OF number OF
captured Confederate irregulars- one Of
fcer. who had offered himself IN place OF
a prisoner. having assisted a Southern
woman, at whose house they halted. IN
the care Of her diving son, was discovered
I by ner % be a Freemason and advised 90
! try the sign. How this assisted I'm his
! escape may be read IN this thrilling
narrative, whose value is enchanced by
/ the fact that the author himself drew
lots al the bidding OF Mosby's men.
Mr.. Howens cheerfully considers the
[ question Of having women Presidents
/ in the future OF America in his Easy
+ Chair" IN Harper's for August. He
I thinks a better title than Presidentess
| or Presidenune could be devised. and he
/ suggests that the election Of a man and
I his wife as President and Vice President
I would seem an almost perfect arrange
ment AR HOwells' irony IS stlngless,
( and the suavity Of his style. a delight
That cheering philosopher. Mr.. Z. S.
Martin. writes in the August Harper's
7 Of several ways by which 20 become an
I optimist- Here IS one OF them.
ITO think last OF yourself is next 70
I being proof against calamity The nat-
ural laws work ever in the long run for
/ the material welfare Of men: the spiglt-
ual laws work Just as surely for their
consolation and happiness. Respect for
both is the price OF satisfaction with
life. Confidence that mems understand
1 ing Of both kinds OF laws IS rapidly i'm
proving 70 the immense betterment Of the
condition and the relations Of men, is the
great basis OF satisfaction with things
( as they are. and the most satisfying an
swer TO what's the use?'
Mr.. Dooley says somewhere that the
foundation OF the American Constitution
viii be found TO be a piece Of apple pie
and hunk OF homemade cheese, or
words TO that effect. The remark is one
Of the many brilliant sayings which have
immOrtalized the philOsOpEic Irishman of
/ the Ar-rchey Road. But Mr.. DOeley has
never, SO far as We remember. said any
Z thing which went straight to the hearts
Of his feminine auditors. Never mind
Belle Sweeny is saying those things. She
/ Is the race-traCk gamblers widow who
stil keeps up the fat In Central Park
I West because OF its associations with her
( past life. although she can barely make
ends meet She had 10 pawn her hair
20 pay her gas biz. as she says, and vet
she once had so much money she was
carriage trade" You viii Ike Mrs.
SWeeny when you know her Ii is easy
10 become acquainted; read Mrs.
Sweeny's Suitor." by Charles r. Barnes.
IN The Popular Magazine for August.
In the letter Of gift printed on page
six-of the Introduction OF the catalogue OF
the Henry o. Avery Architectural Ii
brary G-ibrary Of Columbia College, 1890.
occurs the following paragraph:
The LbVsry-It is our wish ths. the purchases
made for the Avery Library be made exclusively
b. a commission u tETpe pgrsous. namely. The
Librarian Of Columbia College. the professor OF
acting ITOfess0F of the architectural department. o.
tie scaool of Mines ard Nr. Russell SturEis. o.
New York. whose suCussO- IN case Of his dcClina-
ton ot any time is to be selected by the other two
members of the commission above. 10 be always
an architect and not Immediately connected with
Columbia College.
In this way the founders Of the II
! brary gave to Mr.. Sturgis a controlling
position in its management which was
proper, as the conception Of a standard
architectural library in the city Of New
York was primarily his. During the last
ten years OF his life. Mr.. Sturgis ap-
proved every purchase made from the
income OF the Avery Fund. Mr. Stur-
gis' death left this honorable position
vacant. As his successor, the members
Of the purchasing committee Of the Avery
Library. the late DR.. Candeld. OF the