LITERARY LINES.

Evening Star, Issue 6711, 1 October 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

LITERARY LINES.

In Mr Besant's new Btory, "Dorothy Forster," bat few of the rules which he laid down in his recent " Lecture on the Art of Fiction " are observed. The novel is none the worse for this, remarks the ' Spectator,' and we aro willing to pardon the author's theories, provided that he always departs from them so much to our satisfaction as in the pre3ent instance. The most recent lion of Parisian literary salon* is a Japanese editor, an entity which is as rare in Europe as a black swan or a white elephant. This interesting gentleman is named Jugoi (an honorary title) F. Yano, aud he is editor and proprietor of the 'Hotchishieuboun,' the principal organ of tbe Liberal party in Japan. A readable new bojk on India is " Storms andSunshino of a Soldier's Life," in two volumes, in which the widow of Colin Mackenzie tells the Btory of that brave but somewhat unsuccessful officer's career in India. He '.vas at Cabul as far back as 1841. He retired in 1873, and lived thereafter m peace and quiet in London and Edinburgh, with variations of Continental travel.

E. E. Hale, H. B. Stowe, "H.H.," Rose Terry Cooke, Edgar Fawcett, A. W. Tourgec, E. H. Roe, and many other American authors are contributing to the ' Continent' a series of anonymous stories, called "Too True for Fiction," founded on fact, and the ' Continent' offers attractive prizes to the readers who can guess which of the forty stories is by which of the two score of authors. Julian Arnold says that his father, Edwin Arnold, wrote most of the "Light of Asia " on the cuff of his Bhirt sleeve while riding in the cars to and frcm his office. In the evening, after his return home, he copied the lines off on paper, and in this way wrote most of the poem. One of the most sumptuous and expensive books on the culinary art that the world has ever seen is the work of a French artist, Emile Bernard. So large is this volume that it wll cover, even when closed, a moderatelysized table. The illustrations of dishes are each photographed full size by an expensive apparatus, constructed specially for the purpose. The letterpress, the binding, and the gilding show that nothing that money could purchase was stinted. Only 100 copies were printed, and these are in the exclusive possession of crowned heads and their immediate relatives, by whom they were subscribed. The total cost of producing this work was about L 15.000. The author served as assistant chef to Napoleon 111., aud of late years he had been principal chef to the German Emperor. The cosmopolitan edition of the "Newspaper and Bank Directory of the World," just published by H. P. Hubbard, of New Haven, Conn,, might, perhaps, with greater propriety, be entitled an Unabridged Dictionary of the World's Periodical Press. It is modeled more nearly on the dictionary which made another citizen of New Haven eminent for generations, than upon any other work, and reflects scarcely less credit on the mind and the man conceiving and accomplishing it. As a standard and complete gazetteer of the serials of all countries, it is without a rival, and in its special departments contains much matter of great value to statisticians and specialists. As a guide, philosopher, and friend to advertisers, it appeals with force and good sense in a manner likely to arrest attention and command confidence. Years of practical and successful experience have demonstrated Mr Hubbard's fitness for his calling, and the Directory shows in many features the skilled hand of the veteran. No reader of the Directory, or anyone consulting it for reference only, will fail to notice its practical character ; that it contains nothing for which a good reason cannot be given, and that to c'o business with profit is one of the fundamental articles of its publisher's creed. Advertisers who study its pages will be likely to conclude that not only are its facts and statistics coi-rect, but that its suggestions are wise and its conclusions sound. The three volumes of Hubbard's "Newspaper Directory of the World " should be in the office of every newspaper and of everyone who has much to do with them.—' Exchange'