LITERATURE, MUSIC, AND THE DRAMA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7371, 4 July 1885, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE, MUSIC, AND THE DRAMA.

What savages the Russians are! They compelled Mdlle. van Zandt at her farewell St. Petersburg performance to return to the stage thirty times, and showered upou her upwards of 300 wreathe ! Some interest attaches to the proposed changes in the examination system at Oxford, especially as one of the indirect results will be a lessening, if not a total abolition, of Greek as a necessary subject of study. Messrs. C. E. Webster and Co., of Now York, will shortly have ready the first volume of General Grant's " Personal Reminiscences." The work is to consist of two volumes, of about 500 pages each, and will bo sold only to subscribers. We learn that Professor Dowden has been bo fortunate as to obtain about 3000 hitherto unpublished lines by Shelley, some of which will be published in hia forthcoming book, "Tho Life and Works of Shelley," the first volume of which will be out next year. Dr. Thomas Erskino Holland is arranging a contribution to recent history — "The European Concert in the Eastern Question." The volume will be built up from the treaties and other official records of the great Powers with reference to tho Ottoman Empire. The Clarendon Press are to publish the volume. "The Works of the late Professor T. H. Green," to be published shortly, will be edited by Mr.R. L. Nettleship. There will be three volumes, of which the first will bo concerned with "Philosophical Works," and especially with Professor Green's examination of Mr. Speucer's and Mr. G. H. Lewes's application of the doctrine of evolution to thought. The price will be 16s. A three-volume novel, entitled "George Donnington ; or, Iα the Bear's Grip," from he pen of Mr. Charles H. Eden, author of " Frozen Asia," and various works of fiction, .3 announced for early publication. The scene is laid chiefly in Southern Russia and Siberia, and we understand that the author paints the evils of Muscovite bureaucraoy with an unsparing hand. , " Discriminate," a companion to " Don't," a manual for guidance in the use of correct words and phrasee in ordinary speech, by " Critic," has just been issued. Some of tho common errors in writing and speaking are dealt with in a series of short paragraphs, which briefly point out the correct, and also the erroneous use of words whoso similarity of moaning has been a fruitful source of error. Mr. Charles G. Leland, of Hans Broitmann repute, has, it is stated, had placed in his hands a remarkable collection of letters written by Thackeray, during a period of fifteen years, to one who had been an intimate college friend. .As they have never been published, and the lady who owns them has signified to Mr. Leland her willingness, he will probably edit them for publication in America. "Mind-reading and Beyond," lately published, ie arranged and edited by William A. Hove}'. It i3~largely made up of report 3 and findings of tho London Society for Psychical "Research. Liberal extracts are made from the addresses of Professor Henry Sidgwick, of Trinity College, England. The society here noted has been formed to mako investigations into various phenomena connected with what are cilled spiritual manifestations and whatever relates to mysterious and occult questious. It is stated that during his connection with Messrs. Moxon, Lord Tennyson received on a average £1500 a year in royalties. Later Messrs. Strahan and Co. became his publishers, payicg him £5000 for his books then in existence, and a separate account for new works, which were to be published on commission. During the five years of the contract they paid the author more than £31,000. Tennyson's next publishers were Messrs. King and Co., whose engagement was to pay £4000 a year, with a separate account for new works.

" Le Livre Demain" is the title of a book which is at present exciting much attention in Paris. It is printed on various kimls of paper with different coloured inks. The contents consist of selections in pro3Q and verse, as well as an sxcount of inks, paper, and the art of typography. The peculiarity of the book is tho endeavour to suit tho paper, ink, and type, even to the subject or the selection. Mr. de Rocbas contends, for instance, that a love poem printed with light ink on rose-coloured paper will make a far deeper impression than if printed with black ink on white paper. He prints several poems and short stories in accordance with thia theory.