LITERARY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2059, 10 August 1893, Page 40

LITERARY NOTES.

There seems to be a revival of affection for the shilling novel, otherwise called"shocker," and more recently "soother." Messrs Gassell and Co. have arranged to publish a series of oopyright novels in monthly volumes at Is each. The seqond-volume of Sir Richard Burton's collected works, edited by his widow, will contain the «• Mission to the King of Dahomey." The issue, with the exception of a few later corrtptions by thp author, will be an almost exact reprint of the original edition, His adventures in the kingdom of the lately deposed monarch were very extraordinary and exciting. Sir Charles Gavan Duffy's autobiography should prove one of the most interesting of the year, considering hia wide and varied experiences as statesman and litterateur. Sir Charles is preoluded from devotiug much time to literary work owing to cataract on the left eye, for which he is about to undergo an operation, he having returned to London from Nice for the purpose. The conclusion of a copyr'g'it convention between Great Bdtain and Austria-HuDgary puts an end to a state of things that has been keenly ft It for some years to be uneatisfactory. Austria- Hungary not having been one ot the countries that joined the Brrte convention, thtre was nothing to prevent translation and reproduction in either country of the other country's literary and artistic works. Mr William W. Astor's entrance Into English journalism, as proprietor of the Pall Mall Gazette and " Pall Mall Magazine," has been followed by the entrance of his brother, Mr John Jacob Astor, into Journalism in New Tork, where he has bought an interest in the Illustrated American. The latter Mr Astor Is described as a man of about 28, with a laudable ambition to be something besides a millionaire. Mr F. J. Gonld essays a big undertaking in "A Concise History of Religion," of which the first volume is just published. Writing as an avowed agnostic, bis object is to make it evident that "Christianity is but one of a great family of religions — like them the offspring of the human mind and the product of human evolution." His primary object is not to " sound the war-whoop of debate." A rather painful interest attaobes to " Under the if awthorc, and other Verse," by Atfgusta de Gruchy, which will shortly ba issued by Messrs E. kin Matthews and John L,ane. The authorise, who was a native of one of the Channel Islands, saw the early proofs of her book, but died while it was 1 passing through the press. " Under the

Hawthorn" was to be the first work she had ever published. Her verse is said to be full of aongfulneiß, but strikes rather a sad note. From French journalists Mr Sala would have his English brethren learn something of their "light and airy style "and of their " courtesy and good manners." The *' curse " of anonymity he feels strongly, and only for "the high-class political leading article," which is a "complex piece of machinery," would he have the editorial We retained. For women journalists Mr Sala has but a half-hearted liking, and is so bold as to doubt "the extent of their capacity" for what is required of the all-round, first-rate journalist. It would scarcely possible for a patois poet ever' to become a universal favourite. Even Mistral and Barnes commanded only a limited, if increasing, audience. Edwin Waugb, a poet of uncommon merit, is condemned to local fame, although every Lancashire man knows his best work by heart. Burns, pre-eminent as he is among the world's song writers, ia more talked about than read. It requires some patience and' perseverance to fully understand these men;, and to all outsiders, unless they are sympathetic students, their noblest qualities are hidden. — Academy. Mrs Deland, author of " John Ward, Preacher," has a new book, " Tommy Dove, and Other Stories," in the pross. Mr Churton Collins'*) biographical and critical stu'fyof "Jonathan Swift "is published by Mesßra Ohatto and Windus. It ia the result of 10 years' study, and Mr Collins has been able to vindicate, to bis own satisfaction, " the consistency of Swift's political principles, his character in all that related to practice and duty as a Churchman, tha parity of his motives as well as bis wisdom as an Irish Agitator, and his conduct with regard to Stella and Vanessa." Mr Collinslong ago felt convinced that Swift was never really insane. Dr Nansen'B new work, "Eskimo Life," will describe how^for one wholfc winter, he and his companions were cut off from the world and quartered among the Greenlanders. He lived in their huts, took part in their hunting expeditions, and tried as well as he could to live their life and learn their speech. The author treats at length of the racial 'characteristics of the Eskimo-, The book is inspired by an intense sympathy with the Eskimo in his heroic struggle for existence amid the most inhospitable natural surroundings. " It contains numerous illustrations by Otto Binding. The story of the Aaaerican press-clipping agency- sending faotices of new editions of her novels tp Miss Jane Austen the other day reminds one of a curious experience of Herbert Spencer. Not so very long ago the philosopbar received a letter from, a "Wild West " American ' publisher, asking how much he would take for the exclusive right to publish his poem, " The Faerie Queen," in the States 1 There is a popular professor of music in London, by name William Shakespeare, who is said to have once been addressed by letter as the author of Hamlet, but the story is almost too good for the marines. , * "Better Dead" was the title of a thin little book which introduced Mr J. M. Barrie to fame. It imagines a society formed for the secret murder of bores, in case they cannot be persuaded to put an end •to themselves. The hero detailed to persuade Mr Labouchere calls on him at his residence and represents to him that, as the Christmas Truth is rapidly declining in popularity, and. the House of Commons shows symptoms of regarding him as a dinner bell, it would be a good thing for him to quietly remove himself. Labby declines. The emissary urges and, with a fine touch of humour, is ejected by several footmen in silk stockings. "Mnny Inventions," Mr Kfpling's new book, is issued uniformly with •' Life's Handicap "and bis other books published by Messrs Mactnillan. It contains 14 complete talos, of which the majority, if not the whole, have appeared serially. The tales are prefaced by a poem entitled "To the True Romance," which begins as follows : Thy faoa is far from this our war, Our call arid counter-cry, I shall not find Thee quick and kind, Nor know Thee till I die. Enough" for me in dreams to see And touch Ihy garments' hem : Thy feet have trod so near to God I may not follow them. In " Old World Scotland : Glimpses of its Modes and Manners " Mr T. F. Henderson presents us with a series of chatty papers under such titles as "On Wine and Ale," " Usquebagh,", "Kirk .Discipline," ".The Reformation and Raiment," &o. Those who are to-day joking over t^o attempt of the Scottish elders' to exercise discipline in the matter of dancing have probably little conception of the state of things in Scotland as regards Kirk discipline in the dajs of John Kqox. 'The Kirk assumed the entire moral charge of the nation individually and.collectively, add the only means of escape was by the extreme expedient; of committing a capital ciime. ,The book cames from the Gresham Press, and is published by Mr Fisher Unwin. , - - In an appreciation of Miss Christina Rossetti contributed by Mr Gosse to the new number of the Century Magazine, a contrast is drawn 4 between D. G. ( Rossetti and his sister in the following respect:— "Gabriel Rossetti, both as poet and painter, remained very Italian to the last, but his sister i 3 a thorough Englishwoman. Unless I make a great mistake, she has never even vidted Italy." This is quite correct ; bat what is cutiouslv interesting is that neither did D G. Rossetti ever visit Italy. "My brother," says Mr W. M. Rossetti, " was very little of a traveller j he disliked the interraption of hisordinary habi's of life, and the flony or discomfort involved in locomotion. In boyhood he knew Boulogae; be was in Paris three or four times, and twice visited some principal cities of Belgium. This t was the whole extent of hu foreign travelling."

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