LITERARY MOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2332, 10 November 1898, Page 59

LITERARY MOTES.

— Sir Ch': rles Gavan Duffy is engaged upon a second volume of reminiscences, which will deal with his life since his return from the Antipodes some 20 years ago.

'— Of the handsome 12-volume edition tie luxe of Tennyson, the first foui volumes will be devoted to the biography, and the • remainder will contain the poems, photographs, pud illustrations, reproductions of MSS., and so on.

—Mr William Heinemaiin . will publish, undor the title of " Mogreb-el-Achra " ("The Far West of the Mohammedan World "), Mr Cunningham Graham's account of his travels in Morocco last year, during tho autumn.

— The Girls' Realm is tho title of a new magazine which Messrs Hutchiuson and Co. are projecting. It will be on the lines of the Lady's Realm, published by the same firm, and is intended to catei for girls between the ages oiJLI and 17.

— Mr T. Fisher Unwin will publish another volume of stoi ies by Mr Joel Chandler Harris of "Uncle Remus" fame. The stories are set in America, ami portray life in the Southern States toward Ihe close of the great war.

— Mr John Long will publish in the early autumn a collection of Australian bush stories, under the title of "When the Mopoke Calls." The author is Mr William S. Walker, who is an Australian by birth, and a nephew of " Rolf Boldrewood." —Mr J. MacLareu Cobban has completed a new historical romance, which will be published early in September by Messrs Melhuen. and Co., under the title of "The Angel of the Covenant." It deals with the Marquis of Montrose and his connection with the Scottish Covenant.

— The life, good works, and political efforts of Catherine Gladstone, widow of the late distinguished Liberal statesman, will form the subject of a book promised this autumn by Mews Sampson Low. It has been written by Mi Edwin A. Pratt, with the approval of her family. There will be a series of interesting pictures. — One of the most important books_ of the coming season will be Dr Sven Hedin's account of his extraordinary adventures and experiences during the past four years in Central Asia. " Through Asia," as the work will be called, is in two volumes, profusely illustrated from the author's photographs and with 10 maps. — Messrs Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. have nearly ready for publication a new edition of the famous " Essay on Irish Bulls," by Maria and Dr Edgworth, to which has been added a complete collection of "Latter-day Build." The "Book of Bulls" will be provided with a complete reference index, which should make it very useful for lecture purposes. — Ths need for some system of title registration is again enforced in the case of Mr Robert Cromie, whose new _ novel Messrs George Newnes were about to issue under the title of "The TJnchartered Island." This title has been olaimed at the last moment by another firm, and the story will now appear as "The Lost Liner."

— Admiral Keppel's autobiography will appear during the autumn season through Messrs Macmillan and Co. Sixty years of active service should produce a narrative of stirring interest, and the admiral has had the advantage of being able to utilise the habit he early contracted of keeping journals for giving a convincing touoh to his recollections. —Mr Walter Scott will shortly issue an illustrated book by Professor Eugene S. Talbot, M.D., entitled " Degeneracy : Its Causes, Signs, and Results." It will present the basis of fact on which the speculations ot Nordait and others have been founded. The chief causes tending to produce degeneracy m modern life are discussed, arid the methods oi combating them considered. —It in sometimes said that the # largest amount ever given for serial rights in Engj land was £7000 for George Eliot's " Romola,' which appoared in the Comhill Magazine. This is not quite accuiato. £7000 was paid to Mr G. H. Lewes, on behalf of George Eliot, by Smith, Eldev, and Co. for the absolute copyright of "Romola." Mt George Smith about the same time paid £5250 to ■\Vilkie Collins for the copyright of "Armadale," which also appeared ii? the Cornhill.— Literature. — Mush Bymjjfttliy will be felt with Profoa-

sor Church afc the blow which has befallen him by the drowning of two of his sons in the Athabasca River. Seme of our readers may remember a little book called " Making a Start in Canada," edited by Professor Church, and containing the diaries of these two sons of his. It is a pad ending to an oxporiment which seemed to promise so well. — Aliss Mary Kingsley is bringing out shortly, through Mesers Macmillan and Co., a volume of " West Africar- Studies," which will form, a supplementary work to her " Travels in West Africa," published last year. Tho studios deal principally with the early history of discovery and of trade in that region, and with native methods of healing and of fishing. Some further observations and speculation* on the subject of fetish will also appear in the volume. — A Belfast correspondent writes in the Literary World about the serial which has been running in the Daily Times foi some months past: — "The reviewer of Mr Black's ' Wild Eelin ' remarks ' whatever a pesewepe may chance to be.' It is the bird known as the ' green plover ' or ' lapwing ' — a common resident of our moors and bogs, and the supposed authoi of the ' plovers' eggs ' sold in London. In the North of Ireland and parts of Scotland the peasants know the bird as ' pecs-weep.' " It is strange, says the Literary World, that neither Chambers's nor Ogilvie and Annandale'a dictiojiaries give the word.

"SCOTS GEEYS " AND " INNISKILLINGS."

[In "The Battle Pause," the longest poem in Mr Mackenzie Bell's new volume, "Pictures of Travel" (Hurst and Blackett), occurs the following passage.] "A Scotsman here among " The Greys " Chafes inly now at war's delays, — Would but the bugle sound the charge! Would that he were once more at large Among tho flying cuirassiers! He knows no pity, knows no fears, — For him each instant passes slow Passed not in fight against the foe, — 'Tis hard to stand, nor givo one blow — It suits his fiery humour ill To bo a living target still, rsor use his pood sword at his will. Near him " Tho Inniskillings " share i post of danger- -everywhere True soldiers they — who greatly dare.