LITERATURE AND ART.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12609, 25 June 1904, Page 4 (Supplement)

LITERATURE AND ART.

i . • ■';. , . ,'■-■■ ..;..■■- ■■ ■ .-, The new English edition of Motley'* works is to be one of nine volumes. " The third volume has jnst come from the .press of John Murray.. » Mr. Jack London, who has gone to the East as ■ a war correspondent," left behind him for publication a volume:of stories to be called "The Faith of Men." Lady Burne-Jones is preparing a bio." graphy of her husband. * It will contain reproductions of-* many -5 of his ; pictures—of some \ pictures ;of which no reproductions 'now exist.: '";■■"/v'V %;■:■''■':'''.'■■:.■'*■■. Mr. Stephen Phillips'has written » novel, which will be published in the autumn. The author has been steadily at work on it during the last three r years. The-book is at present called "The Sin of David." ~ Mr. Victor Cavendish states that the official history of 'the South African War is being compiled by Major-General Sir T. F. Maurice, with the assistance of a staff of officers. It is hoped that the work will'be completed within three years' time. ♦-•'■*. The demand for Dean JParrar's famous work, "The Life of Christ," in various editions, continues without intermission. The cheapest impression ever issued of this work will be shortly published in the form of a complete edition of over 700 pages,, Bvo., bound in cloth, at one shilling, in connection with The Quiver. The Countess of Cromartie, who has intimate family associations with the Highlands, has written a volume, of Celtic stories. It takes its title, "The End of the Song," from the story with which it opens—-rather a long one. Lady (Jromartie is already* known as.it contributor to the magazines, but this will be her first book. * *' A long poem by Mr. Swinburne appears in the June number of Harper's Mag-Mine. It is entitled *' The Altar ot Righteousness," and its subject is the unity of all religions. Here are the closing lines: —> ' Death may live or death may die, and the r truth bo light or night: Not for sain of Uf-nven may man put away the rule of right j :• ; "The Romance and. Realm of Commerce'* is? the .title; of a work which Messrs. •T. Nelson and Sons are about to publish. Its object is to set before' parents and guardians and their boys the advantages and prospects of a commercial career as against the chances' of success in many professions that are already: overcrowded. The work» which will 1 be well illustrated, is written by Mr. Alfred Morris, who is" a member of the London Chamber ofiCommerce. '•. "•'■■„

- "The Racing World and its Inhabitants" is the title of a volume edited by Mr. A. E. T. Watson, which Maemillans -will have ready immediately. The ' novelty of the work (says the World) is that the contributor* have been (selected from' men professionally connected with • racing, * and* from enthusiasts who have occupied themselves , with the sport. The contributors include a trainer, a jockey, a breeder, a judge.a starter, a handicapper, a "bookmaker, a tout and a tipster..

Mr. Lane is shortly to publish the book which Major Gibbons has written describing his remarkable African journey. He travelled north through Barotseland, and the i aluminium launches which .he carried iqsections were the first steamers placed on 'the' Zambesi above the Kebrabjisa Rapids. That was the point reached by David lavingstone in ' his pioneer steamer : the MaRobert. Major Gibbons traced the Zambesi to its source, which hitherto had been undiscovered.": ■<;

; A new part of the Oxyrhynchns Papyri will be T issued early next month by the Gneco-Roman branch of -'the Egyptian .Exploration Fund. 'It is likely to prove very interesting. The place of honour i§ given to the new "' Sayines of Christ' and a fragment of ; a lost gospel, about which some details were made | known last;, autumn. , ; A popu- • lar edition of; both "finds," together with' thev"Lo»ia" discovered, in 189 is to be issued by Mr. Henry : Frowde. Then, km introduction to the "Sayings," in which they are connected wth St. Thomas.

, Mr. Heinemann will shortly publish a book which aims at giving a full and true portrait of Indian life. It is written by Miss'Mar-' garet ;2f oble, who some 1 : years ago went ;to India to- work with the Hindus, chiefly in the. field ■■• of ? education. , She did not live ■ in j the European quarter of Calcutta, but in the very heart of the Hindu quarter. . Her position enabled her to enter the homes of the Bengali, not as an inquirer,) but -.'a*' a friend and helpmate. Among other subjects \ she deals with \ the question of caste, with' l the great Indian, epics, and with the future of the peoples of India. * '

Mr. Geoff de Holdenstone, whose book on. the automobile industry is just coming out, is a- writer of much facility and experience in yachting and racing, with a mental outlook which has been broadened by a good deal of colonial sport and travel. lie has compressed into the space of a 'little more than two hundred pages practical treatises which are said to be more thorough and comprehensive than the modesty of the preface admits, and an early glance through the different chapters shows <he treats of ■'the different types of motor in turn with uncommon interest." It will be curious to' see what discussion this book brings out in regard to' the many controversies as to the comparative merits of the various methods of propulsion. ; ,'...' "'/;"..■_.■-■;..=:...•>.■. '* ■'•':. ■' '\:-i'\i[

President Itocmevelt is better knows as an author than any previous President of the United States. His regular publishers, the Putnams, have nine books by him in their catalogue, and they are about to issue a tenth. This is the selection of his speeches and Presidential messages, for which Sonator Cabot Lodge lias written the preface. Needless to say the book is published with the full approval of President Roosevelt, and, indeed, the addresses have been arranged under his supervision. It is worth noting that ho sort of payment will be derived by President Koosevelt from: the book, the contents of which being public deliverances, he holds should belong to the American public. ..'.- . ;: !;';;*'-':;;.g;". ,-"''".,•- ":•;'/'''

A German Shakespere memorial (a statue) was unveiled at Weimar recently. The monument, which i« the work of the Berlin sculptor, Herr Otto Leasing, stands in a quiet and secluded corner of the Weimar Park, against a background of tall trees, close tn the little Gartenhaus, where Goethe often lived. The poet is represented sitting on a block of granite, holding in one hand a scroll, while the other plays with a rose. The face, which is said to have been modelled after "authentic portraits," of the poet wears a smile which, in the opinion of German critics, expresses the spirit of the author of the comedies rather than the loftier moods of the creator of Hamlet and Lear. At the foot of the statue lie a skull in cap and bells encircled with a laurel wreath, a dagger, and a fool's 7>auble. A' bronze tablet on the pedestal bears the inscription " William Shakespere."

The Art Paris of "Trilby" is written upon by Mr. Val. C. Prinsep, R.A., in the Magazine of Art foi May. An echo of " Trilby" ocean in the following passage: —During my residence in Paris my desire to improve my drawing was so sincere that I thought it not enough to attend the Atelier Gleyre, which was only open during the daylight, but that it was incumbent on me to draw at a night-school also. I had heard of one kept by an old model called Suisse, who was additionally interesting since he bad posed to David for the "Rape of-the Sabines," which is in the Louvre. So one Monday evening I set out with my " carton," paper and chalks for the Atelier Suisse, which was situated on the Qnai beyond the Morgue. I arrived, knocked timidly, was admitted to a large room hung round with studies, paid my week's fees to the massier and set to work. I recollect there was that night a female model, "lapetite Sara," who is mentioned in ' Trilby" tinder the name of " Mimi la Salope." She had a very sweet voice, and while she was sitting would warble charmingly songs of what Dn Maurier called " tout ce qu'il y a de plus canaille." Then she stood and sung as , usual while some twenty of us drew near.