LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12213, 7 March 1903, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

Me. John* Morlet will, it- is rumoured, return to journalism (possibly in. connection with the Daily News), when lie is free from the Gladstone biography—the publication of which is likely to be ' postponed once again. . "The French Impressionists" form the subject of a book by M. Camille Mauclair which Messrs. Duckworth will publish soon. It aims at giving, the British reader the clearest - possible account of the ideas, the personalities, and the works of a group of artists, who have so widely influenced European art. . The Rev. Charles Voysoy, the founder of the Theistic Church in London, has written a new book, entitled, " Religion for all Mankind." Mr. Voysey explains that the work is meant to replace a former book, written in 1878, and now out of print, entitled, " The Mystery of Pain, Death, and Sin." Messrs. Longmans, Green, and Co. will publish the book. Miss Agues M. Gierke, whose " History of Astronomy during the Nineteenth Century" recently reached a fourth edition, is publishing through Messrs. Adam and Charles Black "Problems in. Astrophysics." The former volume surveys the past; the latter looks to the future, and aims at stimulating progress along lines marked out as immediately practicable. Coincidences are always • interesting. In a recent list of Messrs. Thacker's the following items appear next to one another: " The Management of Children in India," and "The Rod in India." And it sounds like exaggeration, but the latter book -is by Dr. Birch. Which makes us wonder whether "Thacker" is a misprint for " Thwacker."— A new work on Buddhism, by the Rev. St. Clair Tisdall, entitled, "The Noble Eightfold Path," is about to be published by Mr. Elliot Stock. The author's purpose is to present Buddhism at its best, without taking an unduly favourable view, or unfairly depreciating the system. An important section of the work is devoted to the identification of many places with the events of the Buddha's life, and a new map is given illustrating these localities. Arrangements have been made for the completion of the "New History of the English Church," the last literary enterprise of the late Dean of Winchester. The work is to be in seven volumes, four of which have been issued, and the Rev. William Hunt, who was co-editor with Dean Stephens, has arranged with the Rev. W. H. Frere to write the fifth volume dealing with the reigns of Elizabeth and James I. The Rev. W. H. Hutton is to write the sixth volume, covering the period from Charles I. to the end of Queen Anne's reign, and Canon Overton has undertaken the last volume, which deals with the eighteenth century.

The edition of the poems of James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, which is to be issued in spring by, 'Messrs. Isbister, under the editorship of Dr. William Wallace, of the Glasgow Herald, should be welcome to many. Dr. Wallace has few rivals in the extent of his knowledge of Scottish literature. 'Of the personality of Hogg many amusing anecdotes have come down to us. ■ Readers of Lockhart's " Life of Sir Walter" will recall how on one notable occasion Hogg dined at Scott" he advanced to " Shirra," and thence and how as the dinner advanced and the liquor circulated the Shepherd's familiarity increased and strengthened; from " Mr. Scott" he andvanced to " Slrirra," and thence to "Scott," "Walter." and "Waltie," Until he fairly convulsed the whole party by addressing Mrs. Scott as " Charlotte." ; With all his eccentricities and vanity James Hogg had a wonderful literary gift, which found an outlet not only in his poems, but in his prose work in Blackwood's Magazine and elsewhere. Scott was a warm admirer of " Kilnieny," and was ever a generous friend to the author. . . :