LITERARY GOSSIP.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13614, 24 December 1909, Page 7

LITERARY GOSSIP.

Mr Henry Holt, a New York publisher, hasn't a very high opinion of the "ultimate value of writing that is being done nowadays in this country," as we learn from these words:—"Compared to the 'fifties and 'sixties, American literature is . dead. Everyone knows that. But American literature in the 'fifties aud 'sixties meant six or eight great authors, whereas now there are ten respectable authors where there was but one during the great epoch. This I attribute chiefly ; to the international copyright law, also to the enormous development of education-in, tlie West. In the great epoch a large portion of the manuscripts offered to publishers were so poor that they could be dismissed at a glance, while now nearly all have got to receive some sort of attention. There are very obvious reasons for the improvement, but why did so many people who didn't know how write before? The same class has learned how now, I suppose. I should be inclined to attribute something of the falling off in the very highest grade of writing to the falling oft in religious enthusiasm, but for the fact that most of the writers in_ the great epoch had themselves already been through such a falling off. Probably the loss of very high literary quality is due to the fact that commercialism is draining off the talent into the money-making pursuits, and especially to the new fashion developed by the literary agent of making authorship one of them."

The social order that Bret Harte_ depicts in his stories of California miningcamps is "an order that never was on sea or land." This charge against an American classic is made by Professor Josiah Royce, of Harvard, who speaks from the authority of his personal experience of the country described by Bret Harte. He tells us in the November "Putnam's" that he was born in a mining town in the Sierra Nevada which was founded in 1849, six years before his birth. As a- Californian, he declares that "not one childhood memory of mine suggests any social incident or situation that in the faintest degree gives meaning or confirmation to Bret Harte's stories." It is true, so he qualifies, that at the time he "came to consciousness in the early: 'sixties of the last century, the earlier California of Bret Harte's stories had passed away." But, he avers, "it was also true that Bret Harte himself never saw the mines in '49 and '50, and that, years later, ho collected the chance materials of his _tories from hearsay." These tales ire "based npon a deliberately false romantic method," says Professor Royce, in that "they depict the early California mining-camp as if it were more or less of an established institution, and portray the miners as if they already possessed a sort of provincial ' consciousness." Mark Twain also observes in his, recent book, "is Shakespeare Dead?" that'he knows by the •'phrasing" of Bret Harte's miners that neither he nor they "have ever served that trade."

In "Memories of Fifty Years," Lady St. Heliers, after referring to Lord Houghton, who, she says, talked more than most people, adds that "he was eclipsed by Browning, "who spoke louder and with greater perpistency than anyone I have ever come across in my life." Only once that she can remember was he outdone as a conversationalist, and that was by Carlyle, during an afternoon tea. at the deanery of Westminster. Queen Victoria was present, as she had expressed to Lady Augusta Stanley (Dean Stanley's wife) her wish to meet some of the distinguished men of tlie day in an informal manner. The party was small and very select, and Carlyle was in a good

humour, and in a loquacious mood. "He treated the Queen li&K** <*»£ nary mortal. He did not wait for her to begin the conversation; he talKea incessantly to hex on the Mibiect that was unuermost in his muid; sat down in her" "presence .witboot.hWßS *° do so, and continued to telk to .her during the greater _Dart or b«r-rait. As she ro>e to leave ami l-assed the remaining guots, »*o were xaabßßtteir obosiance, she turned to Mr B s°^ g « who had not been able to »_* word during tho whole afternoon, and said, 'What an extraordinary man Mr Carlyle is! I have never met aim before.' " .

Mr E. V. Lucas, who h"*** B Charles Lambs writings, letters, and has mado .tho Afjote E** field his own," must .W.brad V**™*" prise of his life when he found «*£*£ in the Brighton Corporatwn M««um a lvauuful statuette, in Derby biscuit ware, oi Charles Lamb. Tto «W*s seated in a chair, under T folios. Lamb, to M-ription in "The .Times," is dw»"« in shoes and knee-breeches> a,stock, with his line Titian-nke "beatf ™u&* little backwards and resting, on to right hand, as if pondering a P»*»g in tho tiny book which ed left hand is holding. The nose « largo and \Ve.lhn.gtonian; the. head a. we aro told was the case, « for to body. The countenance is benagn^ and intellectual: a man apart, y°» «»*« a- onco. The attitude is «asy and natural: one believes in it, thinks of x « s characteristic." It is that the statuette was modelled oy teamue. Keys, who worked at Derby . *<$$*>*£ figures of theatrical folk untiLlSSO. H* then left IX-rby for tlie Potteries. Mi Lucas's account of his. 'xliscovers appeared m "The Tunfs accompanied by tho suggestion,tbat wit statuette should be enlarged,-' and thai the resulting Avork should bo : iplaoed v the Temple Gardens opposite. Crow* Office row. where Lamb was-tjorn.

A contributor to "T.P.'s discoursing on "Modern •.Book-Collect-ing.' says that many modem booka have, since their day of publication, increased in value considerably. * 0 £ instance, if you had bought,a set o_ the Edinburgh Stevenson at.the time it was first offered, it would Jpavo -tosC you a little more than £16; you might sell it now for £40. Take* 1 ; another example of a modern author ;3vho naa reached a high pinnacle of£ literary greatness ■. — Maurice Hewlett. You could'<-have bought, when it was in. print, . Ins "'Masque of Dead \ ■ Florentines' ' for. a, shilling or so; < itß current \p_ice is about 355. .'_ Similar words his first volume of poems, which' is catalogued to-day at 2os. It might be 1 -worthwhile: getting a copy of his''Artemisibni: Idylls ana Songs,' TTiiWished recently. Jjarst tions of -several other-of his, boohs, notably "'The. Forest Lovers/ -how cost considerably "more than -thetf* original published prieo. Although thfe recent pale of Swinburne's hooks did not brinj. in the prices that were expected, it is the case that such works as in Calydon' and 'tinder the are worth many pounds, as' against their original published price .hot a few shillings." ""

I would also recommend .ft© con" tmues) the reader to look ; *t>nt *br Arthur Symons's books. Thesp is undoubtedly going to lie a-demand for his first editions some. day. Even, now they are. constantly Beinf advertisedfor. He TOUst not-4j© confuted with John Aldington. \ < Here again is' a haodern tJ antlrK>r, attfcough dead; whose first edfffons ara increasing in -valtie "-each year.. Lord Moflcy's earlier books are much sought after. It would be worth buying whatever he publishes. Q£ course, it is common knowledge that if one had had the opportunity of purchasing Rudvard Kipling's first editions they could bo turned into excellent gold notvadays. _ _j,

And there are many others *|ik-lylt© develop into "values" in the noxti twenty years. Who are they* The answer is in the lap of thetfzpt-8. .1 havo suggested one or two; ana a few other names ooonx to.mgj. .Whatnot try A. C. demon's fbrstf editions, Much ho published ano_ty_-otisJyJL editions of standard, works likeSl>ulao'a "Arabian Night-,"' by. Arthur exquisite poetry, and some of his proaeJ Q.JSL Chesterton's ear_y_e_tor±a and otto or two of his current worksK-E. V. Lucas'a dainty books,' Jnaafl■£*».mora serious works such as tho "Jhi© of Charles Lamb," are worth buying. I would even lay up a '■§*&! ofMV. iLookefs "Harcus. orde*n<tif an? *_*_> some bf;Mr Ifrmght .go ! on v occur of a writer's future every day; then strike in and list up his writing/*.; buy as opportunityfoffers, and watch your market. It is a.; fascinating game,.an*, repays even terest of the onlooker who la.sot « participant. • •' ;: