LITERARY NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 46

LITERARY NOTES-

• , • The English translation of three new parables by Tolstoi will be published shortly, along wifh hi--, already known work, "Ivan the Fool." The parables are replies to some of the criticisms that have been passed on Tolstoi's viewe.

*.* Count Tolstoi has returned to hia favourite literary occupation of story writing, and is now busy afc work on ft tale in which one of tha principal scenes is enacted in a court of justice. Thu Count, in order to render this portion of the story as realistic and true to life as possible, is making use of the services of a well-known Moscow lawyer, who is with this objeot residing at " Yasnaya Polyana." The aged novelist is now quite recovered from the fever he has lately been suffering from, and enjoys remarkably good health, considering his years. • . • When the American journalist! is on tha war-path he is not easily deterred from effecting his purpose. A year ago Mr Edward W. Bok journeyed all the way from Philadelphia to London in order to interview Miss Kate Groenaway, chiefly because he had heard she refused to be interviewed. Needleas to say he buccoeded. So did Mr Lahiff, of Ohioago, who came over an the representative of the Times Herald to interview Mr Gladstone. Tho story of how ho managed to evade all the obstaclea placed in the way of tramps and journalists is interesting and instructive, although the dignity of tl.e latter profession is comprotTiiaei by some of the incidents, Buch as climbing over the walls of the caatle only to be towed back by gainekeepergl Mr Lahiff seems to have been particularly anxious to obtain some indisputable evidence of his haviDg really accomplished the task he set himself : people are so suspicious of journalists — especially when Americans. So be publishes a poem, "Ad Djrotheam," with tbe statement that Mr Gkdutone addressed it to hia granddaughter on the last anniversary of his marriage. The impression conveyed is that Mr Lihifli brought a copy away with him as a pouvenir. He may have done so, but, as a fnc v , Mr Gladstone is quite JDnuccnt of ike authorship of the p:etty poem ; it is one of the clever imitaHuQH in Mr Graves's book, " The Hawarden Horace."

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WHAT THEY HEAD. Lord Clivß said that " Rjbluaon Cmsoa " beat any book be aver read. n&Haaa (said that Livy was the model hisfcori#n. Chopin isrel,y re?yd a^iylhing heavier than a French novel. Aubar hated reading, and never read save uud«r cvapu'.eion. Voltaire's favourite classical author was Juvonal, the satirist. Ro«eiui for nearly 30 years read nothing but French novels. B«nj<uniu Franklin road all he could find relating to political economy and finauce. Beethoven was not a great reader, but occasionally /ound pleasure in a novel. BiCh was no great reader, but much enjoyed books of jokes and funny stories. Hogarth was fond of joka book«j and farces, and enjoyed them immoderately. Cnsi'ubini was a lover of botany, and made collections of works on khe subject. Mario, the great tenor, read anything he could obtain relating to sports or hunting. Haydn liked stories', and he said, " The more love there is in them the better." Swift made a special study of the Latin patirists and imitated their style and language.

— Fully Occupfcd.— " My good man," said the fashionably-dressed lady, " have you over stopped to think how much money is wasted each year on tobacco and whisky 7 "" — '• No, mum, 1 hain't," answered tbe Object. " It's a-takiog op all my time jisfc now to figger out; how many pore families could be supported on the price or the exti'a cloth women pats in their sleeves." — Severe.— One frequently hears people say, when atfdreased in some language with which they are supposed to be familiar — " I can understand it, but I cannot speak it." Toe expression would not be heard as ofteo if a)l v/uo u*-«i il> wore treated as brusquely as was a Hi..;M>uidcr recently by an old friend of the iamily. The old man spoke to him in Gaelic, and received the customary reply — <>i can understand it;, but I cannot spoak it," " llj dog can do that," said the MiCgregor scornfully. A BEAUTIFUL COMPLEXION. Apply ,Sulpholin« Lotion. It drives Rway pimples, blotches, roughness, redness, and all disnguremeiits. Sulpholine develop* ft lovely Bldn, is bottles. Mado hi London.— [Ajts.