LITERARY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2231, 3 December 1896, Page 47

LITERARY NOTES.

• . • Mr Alfred Pearse, the artist, whose illustrations of Eastern scenes have formed a distinct feature in tho Stiand Magazine for ■ Home time past, is now engaged in illustrating Mr William le Qaeux's new African adventure bock, "The Great White Qneer." j • . • A new journey through Sakhalien and the remoter parts of Siberia, undertaken by Mr Harry de Windt, author of " From | Ptkin to Calais by Land," has given the material for a new work on the subject, to be published under the title cf "The New Siberia." • . • Messrs Morrison Brothers have in preparation a new edition of Mr Nicholas Dickson's popular books on " Old Church Life in Scotland." It is propesed to issue the four ! volumes in two, the first to consist of " Tbe Elder at the Plate" and "The Kirk Beanie." This will be followed in a month by " The Auld Scotch Minister" and the "Auld Scotch Precentor." • . • Misa Helens G-ingold, the writer of " Half a D. Zen Transgressions" (Iliffo), has written various veise3 and stories already.Her present short tales are of various themes and notes, from the fantastic to the tragic Sbs begins in somewhat airy fashion, though abe is Concerned with the fortunes of a Russian gallant of a tremendously coequeririg parfcuaeior.. She affects a oynioal atti- : tude here and there, iays England and Paris under contribution for subjects, not fearing their darkei sides by any means, and fi&ishea witb a sorrowful story in whioh the wife's sister plsye a part not altcg3ther nnthought of in drama and fiction. i • . • Major Sharp Hume, who in " The Courtships of Queen Blizibeth " was fortu-nate-enough to make a decided hit, as the four editions testify, is about to issue a volume of historical studies, entitled " The Year After the Armada." Tho principal Btudy tells the Grange fitory of England's , attempt to take revenge for the Armada by a joint etock invasion of Portugal ; and each of the other eight chapters lays bare some extraordinary or ob6oure chapter of the past, j The volume will contain portraits of Philip IV of Spain Caf ter Velacquez), Philip II and Mary (after Antonio Mor), and others, including a notable portrait of Quevedo, whose pioturesque masterpiece received a new lease of life by means of the subtle pencil of Daniel Vierge. • . • Mr Alexander Mackenzie, the Highland clan historian, is engaged on a " History of tbe Munros," one of the moet ancient clans in the Highlands, which will coon be published, hr one of his clan eeriee, by Messrs A. and W. Mackenzie, cf Inverness. Several antiquarians, including the late General Stewart Allan and the late Alexander Ross, were engaged for more than 20 years eearching and collecting material for an exhaustive history of the '• Clan Rothaich." Mr Mackenzie has now been fortunate enough to secure possession of all the manuscript material left by these gentlemen, as well as the use of a very complete and valuable collection of genealogical notes in possession of and brought down to date by the Rev. Dr Aird, of Creicb. • . • A writer in Hearth and Home, discussing the influence of books upon character, with special reference to holiday reading, makes the following remarks on a certain class of fiction that has recently become prevalent, if nofc popular: "As morbid studies of. exceptional temperaments, what are called sexual novels may have a certain value in the eyes of those who hold that every phase of life should have its counterpart in fiction, but their influence upon the character of the young is distinctly for the worse. A taste unfortunately for this class of reading and for sensational fiction is almost ineradicable, and the only preventive is to imbue the rising generation with a love of high-class literature, since a literary palate with an appreciation of the best will scorn highly-spiced fare whose seasoning 1 only serves to disguise the inferior nature of its ingredients. t • . • A recent number of Richard Fleischer's "Deutsche Revue," published at the Deutsche Verlags-Anstalfc, in Stuttgart, contains among other valuable papers some very interesting reminiscences of Robert Schumann by the well-known pianist and composer, Karlßeinecke. Amongother anecdotes, the latter relates how Schumann invited him one day to a bottle of " stunning Bavarian beer " at a restaurant. When they were about leaving the house a music publisher presented himself concerning some business matter, but Schumann alleged that an "urgent private affair" called him away, and asked the publisher to see him some other time. Hardly had the two mnsioians settled down at the. restaurant when the music cnbUoner made hla ajoiearanoe, and

to his great surprise discovered on what "urgent private affair" Schumann was engaged. Ho pretended, however, not to see him, and discreetly vanished. • . • The many references a year ago to tbe death of Joseph Thomson, the African explorer, showed that the public mind had been deeply impressed with the strange character of hiß career. The story of. hie life, which his brother, the Rev. J. B. Thomson, of Greencck, is now seeing through the press, is sure, therefore, of a good welcome. The record of work wbioh Thomson accomplished in 12 yttirs of publio lice was certainly uncommon, for he penetrated the Diik Continent on each of its four sides, and led successfully no fewer than six expeditions, each one of which had its elements of romantio interest. The biography will be illustrated witb maps, portraits, and other pictures. The volume will also contain contributions in estimate of tbe man and his work by Mr J. M, Barrie, Df Gregory, Mr Soott, Keltic, nnd otherp. • . • Mr R. Farqaharson Sharp, of the British Museum, has in preparation a new work of reference wbioh should come as a boon and a blessing, covering as it does com- ! pendiou&ly yet concisely a field but inadequately occupied. ,lt is entitled "A Oonciae Dictionary, ot English Literature: Biogiaphr'c.il and Bibliographical,'' and is designed to give in the mosc.oompact form the salient features of the lives and works of all authors who have made any notable I contribution to English literature. Such authors from over the Atlantic as EmersoD, Hawthorne, &c, whoso writings form an integral portion of tbe graat body of EngI litih literature, will fittingly be represented, and tbe work will include such authors aB Mr Swinburne and others who have an acknowledged position in the hierarchy of letters Mr George Redway, who will publish tbe dictionary, hopes to have it ready early next year. * . ' The death of Miss Mary Abigail Dodge, better known as" GiiilHamiJton,"tookplaoeat Hamilton, Macs,, ou August 17. This talented writer was born in 1830, and began her oareer as a governess, first in a high tchool and then in the family of a newspaper proprietor. The latter engagement gave her the opportunity of appearing as a writer, and when 35 she was made editor of Our Young Folks, She came to know Mr Blame, tbe politician, and wae credited with being bis chief adviser for many year*. She was at work on his biography when she died. She was strenuous in her championship of Mrs Maybrick's cause. Her books have not bad a large circulation in Great Britain. Some of* their titles are : " Country Living and Country Thinking," " Gala Days," " Wool Gathering," " " First Love is Best," " What Think ye of Christ?'' and "Tbe InsnpprsEsible Book." • . • We are threatened with as many books abont Napoleon as about Nelson. We are to have in Volume form the biography which Professor Sloane has been running through an Anglo-American monthly, and we are also to have a new memoir of the Emperor from the almost- too-fertile pen of Mr BaringGould. Now, ifc was only the other day that Mr T. P. O'Connor gave us a thing of shreda and patohes on the subjeofc of Bonaparte. Last year we bad English books on his "First Campaign," his "Military Career," his "Deolioe and Fall" (Lord Wolafrley), and hia " Last Voyages " (not wholly new). In 1893 came an excellently concise account of Napoleon from the pen of Judge O'Connor Morris— one of the " Story of the Nationß " series. A book on "Napoleon's Life and Character" appeared in 1892. and in 1890 there was a reprint of tho " Life "by William Hazlitt. To these ought to be added the English translations of the recent French gossiping memoirs of Napoleon.