New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-03

nsrtnent OF pure literary criticism
which enabled an author TO see himself
as others saw him, and, II he was wise
man, to mend the error of his ways.
The brusuue marginal notes which z.
a. Freeman. the historian, wrote in his
copy of Froude's history-which is now
preserved at Owens College-have lately
been printed in the British Weekly.
Such gentle expressions as Beast and
.Bahr' are among these scrIbbhngs-
One query is Can Froude understand
honestly" and a terse statement is to
the effect that "Froude is certainly the
vilest brute that ever wrote a book"
All this, il is to be supposed, is Saxon
frankness.
The copyrights of some of Henri MIR
gers books have run out and cheap
editions Of them are now to be pub
Iished. Scenes de la Vie de Boheme
and Pays latin are announced
The PI1tnams are about to publish
here THE Great Illusion" book which
has reused much interest in Europe
during the autumn. This illusion is, IN
the opinion of the author, Mr.. Norman
Angel, the theory that one country
gains advantage through the conquest
OF another He has attempted TO show
that for the modern nations war Is not
worth while. Whatever may be thought
of his arguments his paradoxes are at
least entertaining. His name. we pc
Iieve, is a disguise
The story of mans efforts to fly is
.oId in a volume which is to be pub
lished soon by T. Nelson & Sons The
author. Mr.. Richard Ferris, begins his
recital with that day in the eighteenth
century when a balloon ascension was
made by three helpless creatures.
sheep. a duck and cock
a forthcoming book about Dickens
which viii have some freshness Of inter
est is Mr. S. J. A. Fitz-Gerald's Dick
ems and the Drama The novelists
close association with the stage, his de-
light in acting and his genuine gift for
il are the foundation Of many engaging
anecdotes His own plays and the
dramatizations Of his novels are dealt
with in detail
Mrs. Robert EIsmere is revisiting her
world Of readers in Mrs. Humphry
Wards new novel. The Case of Rich
ard Meyuell.'' The first instalment of
the story appears in the current number
of "McClure's Magazine
A great-grandnephew Of Racine has
found among his family papers docu-
ments that have enabled him to give, in
a volume just issued in Paris. an en-
tireIy new view Of the dranlatist. The
book has many Illustrations
Mr.. W Z. Norris will publish a new
novel next spring. He calls it ''Vittoria
Eictrix'
There are many entertaining anecdotes
in the lately published biography Of
Count Giovanni di Candia-otherwise the
great tenor. Mario. who could charm in
q tenor note the souls in purgatory."
One of these stories has to do with the
disagreement with the Gar Nicholas I
which led 10 the abrupt termination Of
Mario's third enga cement In Russia IN
1853. The Emperor. we are told, had
commanded him to sing in little play
which would compel for the proper rep
resentation Of its period the sacrifice Of
MaTio's moustache and beard The great
Italian was always particular about ac-
curacy in such matters. In this case he
did not wish to shave, and asked to be
released from the role. The Emperor
refused and Mario, his hot Sandman
blood fired went off, vowing he would
not be commanded by any one. Even
an appeal from the Empress Marie
Feodorowna failed TO move him. Your
majesty" he said, kneeling and kissing
the outstretched hand, Il would give you
my life, but my beard-impossible,'' The
book is the work Of the daughter Of
Mario and Grisi, Mrs. Godfrey Pearse,
who gives, by the way, a personal rem
iniscence Of Queen Victoria. The last
time the Queen was in Florence she sent
for her and said: L shall never forget
the singing Of your dear father and
mother 1t was beautiful. most beauti-
full. In The Huguenots' your father was
superb: there was never anybody like
him" 1t was then more than forty
years since the Queen had heard that
glorious performance OF Mario's.
Mr.. Thomas Hardy put on his eye
glasses the other day, took out a little
notebook. and. in a thin, nervous voice.
read the first speech he had ever made
in all his life. II was in response to the
address presenting TO him the freedom
of the Borough of Dorchester. Above all
things does the novelist dread such a
public ceremonial His speech was in
teresting if not remarka bic. The chron-
icIe of the town, he said, has vivid
marks on il Lurid scenes have been
enacted here within living memory, or
not so many years beyond il, whipplngs
in front OF the town pump, hangings on
the saoI roof. l myself saw a woman
hanged not one hundred yards from
where We now stand, and ] saw, too,
man ~ the stocks in the back part of
this very building
Miss Burney, IL her diary. speaks OF its
aspect when she drove through with the
resi- Of King Georges Court on her way
10 Weymouth She says: The houses
have the most ancient appearance OF any
tint are inhab ited that l have happened
"a see - This is not quite the case now,
and though we may regret the disappear