LITERARY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 81

LITERARY NOTES.

— " Lady Anne," a new novel by Morley Roberts, is appearing in Unwin's Colon : al Library. Lady Anne ie the widow of a great colonial administrator,- whose personality overshado jvs the story. The_. book has both strength and subtlety. — The granddaughter of Sir James Ma/jPherson, " Ossian," has just died. She was Mrs Gordon, of Pitburg, elder daughter of Sir David Breweter, whose "Homo Life" she wrote. She was also the author of novels which had a vogue in their time, such as "The Fortunes of the Falconers' (1846), 'Kingsconnell" (1850), and " Musgrave" (1851). —Mr Unwin is publishing in his Colonial Library Mr A. G. Hales's new novel, "A. Lindsay o' the Dale." It deals with the fortunes of a British family in Australia ac, the time when the penal settlements were in full force. Mr Hales is on familiar ground in his book, for he was born, in the bush, and spent much of his life amid the scenes he depicts. The book is considered by those who have read it to be the most_ powerful thing the- author, has yet done.

I — A subject in which the vast majority of mankind has a if unconfessed interest as treated by Dr Albert Shaw in "TKe Outlook for the Average Man," to be- published shortly by Macmillan. v Dr Shaw, as editor of the Review of Re-views, is -well knowp. as a student of economical subjects, and this treatment of the various.-* phases of industrial and social life in the twentieth century is above all practical, as its title would indicate. — When lan Maclaren (Dr John Watson) died, he left "behind him the manuscript of a story, "'St. Jude's," which is to "be published very shortly in Mr Unwin's Colonial Library. It might be called "The Humours of a Free Kirk Presbytery," The characters are all intensely Scotch, varying from a bank clerk who through a long life devoted himself to secret charity, to a Calvinistic inquisition. The book has much of the appreciative humour which is a phase of sympathy. —It was not to be expected that _ J- JBell would remain satisfied with his extremely clever sketches of city and pro vincial life. For some time past he has been at work on a long novel, which will be published by Messrs Hodder and Stotighton. "Thou Fool," as might be expected from the title, is a story of the mockery of riches. There is something of the spirit of the age in bhis powerful book, and it will come, we believe, as a great surprise to the many who only know of Mr Bell as the author of "Wee Macgreegor."— T. P.'s Weekly. — Mr Unwin is publishing a colonial edition of a new work by Major Martin Hume, perhaps the most distinguished living authority on Spanish history. It is entitled "The Court of Philip IV: Spain in Decadence," and it is an attempt to depict in its human aspect the life of the monarch who has been immortalised by the genius of Velasquez. It is the true inner history of the decadent King and his artistic and poetic Court that Major Hume now tells for the first time, from sources, largely manuscript,and all contemporary, hitherto unused 1 for the purpose by English writers. Major Hume has been at worlc upon the volume for many years, and has produced a. notable contribution to history, which cannot lail to attract attention. — A rather uncomfortable sense- of unwitting injustice is stirred by the publication of the life of Dr Samuel A. Mudd, imprisoned for some four years on a charge of conspiracy in the assassination of Lincoln, the foundation of the charge resting on his attendance as physician on the assassin, Booth. The volume is lartrely made up of letters written by Dr M^<ld from the place of his imprisonment, and the story is peculiarly pathetic. The <™-.orh of editing 1 has. been done by his daughter, Miss Nettie Mudd, who hopes that the volume will clear any remaining stiorma frcm^lir-r father's name. It is issued by +he Xea'.e Publishing Company of Nfw "York. -Mv letter box (says "T P.") h ahvnva source of interest. somot'TPS of aipa7oment. A correspondent <.vr;t°= : "O" •<• « tell me why so much fn=s '■=; made o? M-»v- . Twain's short storr, 'The OleV-rnTd Jinn-, ing Frog'? Is ifc not, n fsct that pr>"^« of short stories — a qual in ixiei-jt to Mark i Twain's — arp drifting daily from editor to j editor seeking nubli^arinn?" Mv co"~f v1 spondent, sistm himself '" Powj'drrc-^ " To ' aid his bewilderment. I *vn assure hin^ that | such stories as " The Celebrated Jufrming | Frog" are not "drifting rlaily •< f-om ed'toc Ito editor." Stories with observation, humour, and snap ar°. not so <"otr:J"^n as 1 "Bewildered" supposes. '• . — Sir Lewis Morris, whs- has just «?'t:rl. .

will always be remembered as one of tho pioneers of the movement -in Wales. He wrote much -verse and many articles, but the piece of work which "will live longest is his *'Epic of Hades," which' has now got beyond its forty -fifth thousand. Some time ago Sir Lewis told the story of how he wrote this fine poem. " Much of the book was written," he said, "amid the not inappropriate sounds and gloom of the Underground Railway, very much about the time when, in similar surround- ~ ings, the beautiful 'Earthly Paradise' was born. I recall with distinct pleasure the cheap notebook and pencil and the writingillegibly at express speed as the lines rushed out headlong; and the nod 3 and winks of the young city clerks, who thought their fellow-traveller crazy, while he was - basking in the sun of Hellenic skies, though fathom deep in the grime and smoke of our dear London."

— Messrs GeoTge Newnes are issuing, n the Art Library series, "Sir Thomas Lawrence, P.R.A.," special permision having been given by Charles Wertheimev, Esq., to reproduce the picture in his possession _ oi Julian, Countess of Jersey, when a child. This attractive picture, formerly one of th« Peel heirlooms, w&.s purchased by Mr Chas. Wertheimer for the record price of 8000 guineas at Christie's lately. This attraolive series ia under the editorship of Mr Granville -Fell, art editor of Messrs Newness book department^ Mr Fell is a soiMivlaw of' Sir James Linton, and is a very distinguished artist himself. He was educated at King's , College,. London, and at the age of 16^ entered -Heatherley's old academy in Newman 'fefcreet, exhibiting for tho first time' at the'Acadeniy at the age of 19. In the following year, 1890, Mi Fell gained the first prize in design with "The Return of the Victors," open to all the metropolitan sketching clubs, and ex« hibited a,J the R-S of 8.A., Suffolk street, repeating that success for three years. Later he was appointed artistic adviser to Cedric Chivers, the famous bookbinder of Bath, and was the inventor and innovator of many novelties in the bookbinding craft. Among his artistic book work may be mentioned bis illustrations of "The Book of Job," which delighted the late- G. F. Watts, who wrote to the publisher requesting him to bring the artist fx> his home. — P.T.O. —In the preface to fches twentieth edition of "Lorna Doone" Blaokmore - writes : — " What a lucky . maid you are," my Lorna I When first /ou came from the western moors nobody cared to look at you ; tha 'leaders of the public taste' led none ol it to make test of you. Having struggled to the light of day through obstruction and repulses,, for a year and a-h»lf you Ghivered in a cold corner without a sunray. Your native land disdained your voice, and America answered, 'No child of mine!' Still, .a certain brave man, your publisher, felt convinced that there was. good in\ you, and standing by bis convictions— as 'English "manner used to be— ' She shall have another ohance,' he- said ; 'we have lost a lot of money by her ; I don't care if ,we lose some more.' Accordingly, forth you came, poor Lorna, in a simple,' pretty ..dress, smal* in compass, small in figure, smaller etill in hope of life. But, oh! — let none of khe many fairer ones who fail despond — a certain auspicious event occurred just^ then, and gave you golden ' wings. The literary, public found your name, akin to one 'which filled the air, and, as graciously as royalty, itself, endowed you with imaginary virtues. So grand is the luck of time and name — failine which more solid beings 'melt "into oblivion's depth." In other words, th« brilliant British public, upon the marriago of the Marquis of Lome to Princess Louis**, besieged the libraries for " Lorna Doone." under the impression that the novel was in some way connected with this "auspicious event" !

— Guy Boothby died a few years ago, and now Ben Boothby appears on the scene with, a romance as sensational as any of his predecessor's. " The Centipede" (Ward, Loclc, and Co., Ltd.) relates the marvellous deeds of an individual as wonderful as Dr Nikola. He was a nian "of most extraordinary fascination," tall and good-looking, with "almost black hpair and eyes," a rlear-cnt face, determination and strength written in every line and feature. Naturally he was a born leader of men, and when he bad once made up his mind on a point there was no power on' earth that ';ould ohanga it. Where he sprang from no one knew, but he had become notorious throughout the world by his daring robberies. In India his name was a household word ; in Australia •he was the boldest and most fearless of bushrangers ; in Persia and Tur« key. in the Dutch pearl fisheries, in Burman and South Africa his crimes wer« adapted to the xmditions of the country. Ag he always succeeded in getting away, he was known far and wide as Hie Centj* pede ; he ,of one hundred legs. The storf turns on an audacious crime by which ha steals jewels of incalculable value, belong*, ing to the Maharajah of Gavalcore. A/ter this coup he determines to retire into private life, become an English squire and member of Parliament, and eventually Prime Minister, c position which to sensational novelists seems to be within fhe reach' of almost any clever adventurer. But ha has two enemies on his track, the revenjre* ful Maharajah and a beautiful Englishwoman, who has been his accomplice, _ and claims as her reward his hand in marriage, which he- refuees. The story is full of exciting incidents, most of which take place either in the palace at Gavalcore or in^ a' ruined city and palace, buried centuries aeo in an almost impenetrable 'iungle in. NortKorn India, the haimt of outlaws, am? visited only by an occasional antiquary.

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' RVirnio auiVkly cures Rheumatism, Gout, anr? kin^rpd diseases. Vo matter how lonij vov. mar have sufferpd, Rheunio will cure yotf :f <rjwn a r *ir tr'al. Mr F. Newall is well Vno«" in Fnmilton. Read how Rheumy or-"' 1 l,;-n. He writes on June 19. JSO7:-<

" """ivinc been a sufferer from Khenmw t'.r, fJ-iii for somp time. I have great plea/ -utp iv saving that I have experienced" p-i-nof w'inf fo- pmc T>v using Rheumo. — F< VT?MTAT,T,. Hamilton." Van* or chemist sells Rheum* at 2<? 6d and 4s 6d.

— Hubby: "Awfully sorry I'm co isXo, dear. Been detained on business with Nevcombe all the evening." Wifey :K: X "Yes, <Tar!in<r. Mr New combe has been waitinsr here fo>' you since 9 o'clock."