LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 10014, 28 December 1895, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

The house in Took's Court, Chancery Lane, London, whero the original or Snagsby in " Bleak Houbo" lived is tu be demolished. Dr. George Brandes, tho well-known Danish critic, has recently been to Stratford-on-Avon. His critical study of Shakespere is being translated into English by Mr. William Archer. Among forthcoming works by foreignerthere are set-oral of interest. Eleonora Duso ie writing a romance dealing with the Italian stage. An English translation of the story will probably appear shortly after the Italian edition. Messrs. Longmans aro to publish an historical rotnanco of the days of Joan of Arc, by Mr. Andrew Lang. It is entitled "The Monk of Fife," and relates the adventures of a young Scotsman who follows the fortunes of the miraculous maid. Messrs. Hutchinson's new novels include Mr. Frankfort Moore's " Phyllis of Philistia Mr. Joseph Hatton's "When Greek meets Greek " A Pitiful Passion," by Miss Ella MacMnhon, author of "A New Note;" and "A Question of Faith," by Miss Lily bougall. It has now been arranged that the seventh preat International Art Exhibition is to bo held at Munich in 1597. A preliminary programme has already been pub lished, and it shows that this exhibition will be carried 011 very much on the same lines as that of 1892. The Duke of Newcastle, Secretary of State for War at tho time of the Crimean campaign, left at his death abundant materials for his memoirs. The task of preparing them was, some time ago, committed to the charge of Mr. Henry Carlisle, and their appearance may shortly be looked for.

Masuccio's " Novellino," translated into English by Mr. W. (J. Waters, was to be issued in England in Novomber in two large volumes. Of one edition at three guineas there will bo 1000 copies for England and America. Of an edition printed on Japanese vellum, arid costing six guineas a set, there will only be 250 copies. Messrs. Lawrence and Bullen are the publishers. Messrs. Ward and Downey aro about to publish an interesting reprint. It is a facsimile reproduction of the original manuscript history of "The Voyage of tho Pilgrim Fathers in the Mayflower, and the Foundation of the Plinrioth Plantation," by William Bradford, second Governor of the colony. It is now in the library of Fulham Palace, and is re issued by permission of the Bishop of London, with mi introduction by Mr. John A. Doyla, Fellow of All Souls' Collogo, Oxford.

In connection with the movement to initiate a fund for the assistance of Mr*. Clarke, the widowcf the lata Marcus Clarke, a meeting was held in Sydney the other day at which it was decided, oil the motion of Miss Ethel Turner, seconded by Miss Louise Mack, that the effort to raise money he undertaken by a magazine of one issue. Mr. Charles Nicoll was appointed secretary, and the arrangements for publication were left in his hands. All the leading Australian writers hare agreed to contribute, and included will be a short sketch by Marcus Clarke which has never previously beon published. Mr. Louis Beclce wrote in terms of sympathy with the object, and promised a short story as soon as his health permitted. Apropos of the Carlylo centenary, the following amusing little piece of flippancy, taken from Mr. John Kendrick Bang's "A House-Boston the Styx," now running in Harper's Weekly, is worth quoting :— "Poetry," said Tennyson. "1 wrote ' Lockfley Hall'and ' Come into the Garden, Maud.'" "Humph!" said Dr. Johnson; "I novor re»d 'em," "Well,why should you have read them?" snarlod Carlylo. " They were writton after you moved over here, and they wore good stuff. You needn't think because you quit, the whols world put up its shutters and went out of business. I did a few things myself which I fancy you never heard of." Oh, as for that," retorted Doctor Johnson, with a smile, "I've heard of you. You are the man who wrote the life of Frederick the Great in 902 volumes—" " Seven I" snappsd Carlylo. " Well, seven, then," returned Johnson. "1 heard Frederick speaking of it the other day. Bonaparte asked him if he had read it, and Frederick said no, be hadn't time. Bonaparte cried : 'Haven't timo! Why,, my dear King, you've got all eternity,' „'I know it,' replied Frederick, ' bub that isn't enough. Read a page or two, ray dear Nap»leon, and you'll 800 why; "