LITERARY GOSSIP

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5163, 2 January 1904, Page 10

LITERARY GOSSIP

“Cassell’s Magazine” (Christmas number —Cassols and Co., Melbourne) is one of tho best publications of its kind we have seen. Its supplement is a reproduction of Stone’s famous pioture_ “In Love,” and this is refined and artistic in a high degree. Tho issue also contains a beautifully illustrated one act extravaganza, “Tho Queen of tho Garden.” It is cleverly written by Itoberfc George Leggie. Mr Pemberton’s admirable magazine is altogether excellent in style and execution.

Among tho pocket editions which are so plentiful this season, tho “Flowers of Parnassus,” an illustrated series of celebrated poems must atti-acc favr,'.arable attention. Mr .John Lane, tho publ. sixer, forwards as a specimen copy, Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey,” admirably illustrated with etchings by Donald Maxwell. Some of tho finest poetry that Wordsworth ever wrote is enshrined in “Tintern Abbey,” and lovers of his verse will welcome this dainty edition of a famous poem.

“Christian Thai,” by M. B. Francis (Longmans, Green axxd Go.), is tho lovestory of a ilxusician, a marvellous young pianist; and as if to lend a musical atmosphere to the .story, a few bars of music are printed ac tho head of each chapter-—a novel but not very convincing device. Tho most remarkable character in tho book is not Christian, despite his musical genius and his beauty; not Juliet, the young girl with whom ho falls in lovo; hue Annola Isto, the woman to whom Christian owes the development of bis wondrous gifts. Robbed by sickness of a voice which would bavo made her famous. Annola cbanocrl to find young Christian, then penniless and unknown, and out of his promise and power she built up her shattered hopes anew. She kept tho hoy out of her own scanty pittance, slic paid for and supervised with unremitting care, his education am! musical tuition, and when Juliet would have come between them she frightened tho girl into renouncing Christian. Finally, when tho young pianist miters into Ids inheritance of fame, Annola marries him. It is not a happy match, for Christian’s heart "is ever with Juliet. No-doubt it was desirable that tho loving couple, should in ■the end bo re-unrted; but to get rid of poor, jealous Aunola-.by tho crude expedient of lotting her gown catch fire from a candle seems to indicate a lack of resource on tho part of the authoress. Annola is not supposed to claim tho vender’s sympathy to tho exclusion of Christian and his love but we rather fancy that she does all tho same.