LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9010, 15 October 1892, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

Most people will be interested to learn ; from a note of Canon Ainger in his new volume, " Tennyson for the Young" (Macoiillan), that *' Crossing the Bar," the last poem of the Laureate's last volume, " was written in Lord Tennyson's eightyfirst year, on a day that he journeyed across the Solent from Aid worth to F.iringforth." > " The flvory Gate," the title of Mr. Walter Besant's new novel, which is about to run in Chambers' Journal, was also the title of a novel published by Mortimer Collins more than twenty years ago; and Through the Ivory Gate" is the title of a theosophical work by Miss Mabel Collins, who has allowed Mr. Besant to use her i father's title for his new story. A discussion is being raised as to the manner in which, in defiance of the law, the Borghese Raphael, the portrait of Caesar Borgia, was conveyed out of Italy. It is surmised .that the painting was taken out of Italy by an Ambassador, as the baggage of persons of the Diplomatic Corps is passed free of examination at the frontier. It is also said that Prince Borghese treated with M. Rothschild for the sale of two others of his pictures at the figure of 1,200,000f. Professor Henry Urnmmond has appeared in a new character—that of a writer of "boys' books." "Baxter's Second Innings" is the title of his first essay in this sorb (Hodder and Stoughton). Its cover will appeal to the sympathy of every boycricketer. It is bound in cloth of white and scarlet stripes, and the title is woven into a suggestive cricketer's badge. But this is the gilding, as it were, of the pill; and the little book contains much useful advice for the game of life. In view of the forthcoming life of the American Quaker poet, the following extract from a recent letter of Mr. Whittier's will be read with interest: —"I have reached a time of life when literary notoriety is of small consequence," wrote the veteran poet, " but I shall be glad to feel that I have not altogether written in vain ; that my words for freedom, temperance, charity, faith in the Divine goodness, love of nature and of home and country, are welcomed and approved." Lord Beaconsfield profited little by his earlier books, but from "Coningsby" downwards the gains were considerable, and he must have cleared at least £30,000. Of poets, Tennyson has been far and away the most successful in money-getting. Byron's total gains amounted to only £23,000, and the highest, price ever paid to Thomas Moore was £3000 for " Lalla Rookh." Of historians, Lord Macaulay is at the top of the tree. Messrs. Longman published the History on the understanding that the author should receive three-fourths of the net profits, and within a few months they paid him £20,000 on account. For the foregoing information we are indebted to a volume of "Great Thoughts." Mankind are indebted to Queen Elizabeth and Lord Burleigh for the first printed newspaper, which was entitled the English Mercuric" The earliest number is still in the library, and bears date July 23,1688. During the civil wars periodical papers, the champions of the two parties, were extensively circulated and edited by such famous writers as Needham, Birkenhead, and L'Estrange. In the reign of Anne there was but one daily paper, the Daily Couranfc. The first provincial journal in England was the Orange Postman, started in 1706, at the price of a penny, " but halfpenny nob refused." The earliest Scottish newspaper appeared, under the auspices of Cromwell, in 1652. Madame Meissonier, the widow of the painter, denies that ib is she who stands in the way of an exhibition of her late husband's works or of a Meissonier Museum, to which she was willing to give her share of them—that is to say, the third of the unsold works. The hindrance comes from her stepson, M. Charles Meissonier, and her stepdaughter, Madame Eggly, who want the division to be made in kind. Madame Meissonier did what she could to have the works shown to the world, instead of having them taken to Poissy to be locked up there. Since the painter's children stand in the way, she insists upon a public sale by auction. All Paris will be able to go and see the studies and finished paintings that the great painter lefb to his family when they are on view in the sale-room Madame Meissonier having demanded a sale by auction, the unsold works of her late husband can be disposed of in no other | way. ■ .-'•--