LITERARY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2286, 23 December 1897, Page 50

LITERARY NOTES.

• . • At one time the plays of the late M. Meilhac were running at 14 itheatres in Paris alone. His royalties that month amounted to £5600. In his best year his incoms reached £32,000.

• . • The reissue of " Sentimental Tommy " this week by Messrs Cassell and Co. puts Mr J. M. Barrio's clever story in its forty-thifd thousand — a success which is no greater than we (Literary World) anticipated at the outset, both on account of the interest aroused concerning it and of its own intrinsic merits.

• . • A story for girls, written by the lata Christina Rosaetti nearly 50 years ago, and hitherto unpublished, will be issued shortly by Mr James Bowdeh under the title of •• Maude." Included In the volume will be a ph,ort sketch of the authoress by Dante (J. Rossetfcf, besides a preface by W. M. Ro«setti, giving the history of the story.

• . • Sir Charles Gavan Daffy's autobiography is to appear shortly through Mr Fisher Uawin in an illustrated volume, entitled "My Life in Two. Hemispheres." Sir Charles has had an interesting career. y For mary years he was intimate with Thomas Oarlyte, and not so very longago published-* volume of " Conversation* ". with the Sage of Chelsea. " - ''**<■• "A new work entitled" The Celtic Church " in Ireland," by the Rev. Professor Heron. D.D., of -Belfast,- author of " The Church of 'the Sub-Apostolic Age," will shortly be published by Messrs Service and Faton. Though the volume bears the title of "The Celtic Church in Ireland," it is really a history of Ireland, secular as well as sacred, from the earliest times to the Reformation, * . • Messrs Hatchinson and. Co. are about to publish " KiDga of the. Turf," being some memoirs and anecdotes of distinguished owners, backers, trainers, and jockeys who have figured on the British turf, with notes recording classic events and achievements of famous horses. The volume will contain numerous portraits. It is from the pen of the veteran sportiDg writer, " Tuormanby." • . • The Rev. S. B,riog Gould, the wellknown novelist, whose home is at Lew Trenchard, North Devon, is about to spend a fortnight in excavating pre-historic village* on D.irtrooor, and will then visit W»!«c, writing up scenery and localities for a Welsh story. It is well known that when thus engaged Mr Gould cannot bear to have his mind diawn of! to anything else and refuses work that would interfere with his •tudy. • . • "A History of Dancing from tha Earliest Ages to Our Own Times " baa been prepared from the French of M. Gaston Vuillier for early publication by Mr William Heinemann. The history of dancing is traced from its dawn in - Egypt throughout all its developments in the sacred- dances of the Hebrews, the Greeks, the Romans, and the early Christians. The author sketches the- decline of religions 'feeling in this form of art,.and the gradual ' debasement of the poetry of motion to the level of licentious pantomime. . . ' : » . • " Lounger," in the 'Crilio, is responsible for the statement' that Mr Crockett has two-type-Tfri ting machines of unusual riza And strength tbat he had made especially for bis own use at a cost of £100 each, and that ho works on these at lightning pace. ' But that is not all— he will carry on a general conversation with a roomful of people while he is writing out a story on the machine. Usually he works alone, beginning at about 5 o'clock in the morning, and "when he comes down to breakfast at 9 he has 5000 words written out. • . • M«sprs Methu6n and Co. will publish shortly Mr Crockett's new romance, • " Locbinvar." This is a story of a young cavalier wbo, after serving in the regiments of the Prince of Orange, took part in Dundee's campaign and fought at Killiecrankie. Messrs Ward, Lock, and Co. will publish shortly a new novel by Mr Headon Hilf, entitled " Beacon Fires." .The title has been allowed to stand through the courtesy of Messrs Bentley apd Son, who bare waived objections to the book being" issued with It; although they themselves publish a novel with the same name. ■.. ■ A story is being circulated that when Browning was at the height of his fame he omitted from bis income tax return any account of revenue from his bopks, and thai: when a special messenger fronv the Inland Its venue Office called to point oat the omission he merely "asserted " th&t the omieeibn was justified bythe non-receipt of income from that quarter. Unfortunately no year i« mentioned, and.it may have- happened tbafc in the particular year there was nothing to pay; but still there should have been an average of three years. • . •An interesting book may be expected in " Catherine Sforzu," a study by Count Pasolini, adapted from the Italian by Paul Sylvester. Count Paeolini is a lineal descendant of the hereditary enemies of the Sforza family. .His work brings within the reader's ken, not only the militant princess who held the Fort of St. Aogejo against the Conclave (thus arresting the affairs of Europe until her own were settled), who circumvented Machiavelli and defied Caspar Borgia, bub the private woman is her Court and home, her domestio and social relations. Mr William Heinemann has the work in hand,

a . ■ Among the rare books disposed of daring the present season may be named the 11 Dictes or Sayings of the Philosophers," first edition and complete, CfcxtoD, £13?0j Chaucer's •' Canterbury Tales," perfect qopy of the sscond issue, 1498, from Wynkyn do Worde's presp, £1000 ; Isaac Walton's " Compleat Angler," first edition, £415; "Pursmdus Rationale Diriqoram Officioru.ro/' 1459, the third book with ? date printed with movable metal types, £3?0; first edition of Milton's " Paradise Lost," £90 and £80 ; the Ktlraarnock edition of Robert Bums's poem?, £80 And £86 ; Bissbop Auscitw'a " Here be> gynneth a litil Bok« on Pestilence," black letter, £147 (sold in the White Knlght> «a1« for £9) ; ' Oathon,' a jraro Oasfan book, 1483, imperfect, £295; and "Chronicles of (3t. Albunß," 1483, second Book, printed »& S*. Albans, £180. Among MS3. disposed of were 13 letter* signed, by George.Watbtpgton, £470 ; original autograph Life of Lord Nelson, by himself , and letters, two quarto volumes, £1000; and autograph of John Keats'i " EndTmion." £695.