The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, September 26, 1897, Page 23

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1897. REVIEWS OF THE LATEST LITERATURE. 66 tion” is the title of a vol- ume just issued in this country by Messrs. Charles Scribner’s Sons of New Y and for sale in Ssn Francisco by William Doxey, Palace Ho- tel. The book while modest in design is yet a valuable contribution to the litera. ture of the subject, whose immnortance may ve judged from the fact that the Brit- ish Museum catalogue contains sixty-sev- en entries under the head of Thomas, an eighty-nine under Matthew Arnold. T'his, it should be added, only refers to pub- lished works, and not to the large num- bcr of magazine and review articles de- voted to the illustrious father and son. Sir Joshua Fitch, himself an earnest la- borer in the cause of education, and for- merly Her Majesty’s Inspector of Training | Colleges, 1s the auihor of the latest tribute 1o the two earnest educators. The infin- ence of the Ma-ter of Rugby is treated ob- jectively; but as an intimate friend and colleague of Matthew Arnold for a period of nearly thirty years, he is enabled to speak with considerable authority of the man, his methods and his aspirations. Both divisions of the book possess pe- culiar interest for all enzaged in the pro- ion of teaching, whether in the public schools or privately. The work under review is not to be re-| girded as an attempt to supplant Dean Stanley’s well-known life of the eider Arnola in so far as it touches his person- alny. His “Life and Correspondence’’ is standard and a treasury of valuable ma- terial; but, as the writer of the present work points out, the book is a large one “and deals necessarily with much eph- emeral controversy, religious and politi- cal those features of end that of his more gifted son which jossess special likely to be of permanent value to preiessional teacher. An interes early life of Thomas Arnold, together with a succinct account of the influences tend- ing to form his strong character. Or these there were many; he was fortunate in Matthew- the his cccupancy of an intelligent and well- | orderec home. He was a child at the time when the news of Nelson's victories rang through Britain and when the name of Bonaparte was used by the English nurse as a terrifying corrective to infants. National triumphs on land and sea could not fail to impress & mind “wax to re- ceive, marble to retain.” As another formative influence must be accounted the | fierce national rivalries of his youth which may also be reckoned as reason for his combative disposition manifested in later life, Thomas Arnold’s school days were spent a: Winchester. He early developed a taste for history and for the solution of ethical and political problems. To Oxford, also, may be accredited a goodly portion of his education. Upon leaving the uni- versity he married and lived in retire- ment, taking a few pupils into his home circle at Lalenam. Here he began to put into practice his reraarkably correct the- es on the subject of teaching. One of bis pupils says of him: power as a private tutor resided in this, that be gave such an intense earnestness life. Every pupil was made to feel that re was a work for him to do; that his appiness as well as his duty lay in doing that work well.” Late in the year 1827 he was elected to the head-mastership of Rugby, one of the principal public schools in England. It should be expiained that the term public school is employed abroad in an entirely different sense to that accepted heve, being understood to mean a classical school, patronized chiefly by the wealthy ana titled classes. Rugby had its origin in the benefactions of one Lawrence Sheriff, grocer, who in 1567 bequeathed land and property in the county of Middlesex to maintain fair and convenient school- house at Rugby.” The task that Dr. Arnold found imposed upon himself was no easy one. His pre- decessor appears to have been a man with curious ideas upon the subject of dis- cipline, for we are told that beagles and guns were kept by the sportily inclined “big fellows,” some of whom had private o to wine cellars in their studies; drunkenness [ and swearing were common and defiance of authority not a rarity. A religious undergradnate was unknown, and was re- garded as a subject for laugnter whenever he made his appearance. In a sermon on the public schools delivered by Dr. Arnold shortly after taking office he said, “Public schools are the very seats and nurseries of vice, where good exists by sufferance.” Confirmatory evidence of these iacts will ve found in that famous work, “Tom Brown’s Schooldays.” In taking command of Rugby Dr. Arnold proceeded to manage things in his own way. He gave out the theory that a clas- sical education is an absolute necessity. This question, as is well known, has been a disputed one since Arnold’s time both in England and in this country, and his opinion upon the subject is therefore of interest. “Expel Greek anc Latin from your schools and you confine the views of the existing generation to themselves and their immediate predecessors, you will cut off s, many centuries of the worla’s experience ana place us in the same state as if the human race had first come into existence in the year 1500.”” There were those who criticized the action of the Mas- ter of Rugby, maintaining that the study of classics is useless and that the writings of classic authors are soon forgotten. To such he said: when a mean lays aside his Latin and Greek books he forgetsalso all that he haa ever gained from them. This, however, is so far from being the case that even where the results of the classical education are least tangible and least appreciated, even | by the individual himseli, still the mind often retains much of the effect of its real studies in the general liberality of its tastes and comparative comprehensive- ness of its views and actions.” But it was as a disciplinarian that Ar- nold excellea. His first idea was to secure the confidence of the *'sixth,” the highest grade in the school. He was a firm be- liever in the truism that if you want to make a boy & gentieman you must treat him as one, and no one knew better than | he was not, it must be owned, an exact- he when to lock witnout seeing. A hatred | ing inspector. of unreality made him dread impossible standards to set before the boys, and in- sincere professions of religion were an abomination to his soul. Theintellectual life, he thonght, should be dominated and controlled by -piritual influentes. “Give me credit,” he wrote to a friend, *‘for a most sincere desire 1o make Rugby a place of Christian education.” - Thomas Hughes' book, to which refer- ence has been made, comes in for a cer- tain faint praise that is damning at the bands of Sir Joshua Fitch, who claims tpat the book does not illustrate the | Fitch’sapparentleaning to a system based | their labors. ‘It does not follow that | HOMAS AND MATTHEW | Arnoldian tradition at all, that it ARNOLD ana Their Influ- | one sided, and that “it gives the re_mer ence on English Educa- | the impression that it is the chief business 4 | Brown,” and if, in the capacity of censors, Sir Joshua Fitch has merely at-| tempted to bring into special prominence | Dr. Arnold’s character interest and are | gsketch is furnished of the | “Arnold’s great | ! | “payment by results,” i e., awarding a is | of the public school to procduce a healthy | animal, to supply him with pleasant com- panions and faithful frierds, to foster in | him courage and truthfulness, and for the | rest to teach as much as the regulations of the school enforce, but no more.” One ] should, of course, take into consideration the fact that it an 1nspceior of schoois | Who is writing, but we ask if this Is not a rather auster: way of regarding “Tom | we look askance at the convenient “crib” | and “vulgus,” is not their improper use | quite outbalanced by the code of schooj- | boy ethics enforced, and that strictly, in | other directions? Lot it be granted that the schoolboy possesses a rooted abhor- rence of construing, and that, as in the case of several of the young gentlemen in Tom Brown,” Cewar and Xenophon’s Anabasis are less attraciive than robbing farmyards and orcharls; has he no: pre- cedent upon which to fall back in justifi- cation of his predatory pursuits? We ask it in all seriousness and with due appre- | ciation of the acts of the ciassical writers | mentioned. From the standpoint of the schoolboy, using the moral code peculiar to him, let a word of protest be entered; | | have we not a proverb rezarding the im- | practicability of placing old heads upon | young shoulders? | With Thomas Arnold’s extra-scholastic interests we have nothing to do, content- | | ing ourselves with viewing him as a man | | ! proval of the scheme, thus courageously | | that makes the expenditure of time more | d1sagreeable to me.” on error and harmful in practice. To Matthew Arnold’s credit be it recorded that in a report to the Committee of Coun- cil on Eaucation he expressed his disap- placing himself in opposition to so pow- | erful un antagonist as tine Duke of New- | castle. Engaged for two vears in the service of the London school board, the writer of this notice is enabled to speak from personal experience and notes it as a gratifying fact that thus far the objec- tionable system has failed to find a foot- ing in the United States. The letters of Matthew Arnold which have been given to the world, while not placing him in the first rank of those whose correspondence has enriched our literature, nevertheiess indicate to a re- markable degree the difference between father and son in temperament and char- acteristics. Tne Master of Rugby was serious—almost austere; his son was playful and trifled with the superficial as- pects of important events. When Arnold the elder took occasion to speak of his | work it was in ‘erms of enthusiasm, and the language was that of a man inspired. Note the difference in the case of his son: “It is a’ long, tedious business hearing the students give specimen lessons at the training-schools. There is littl= real util- ity in it and a great deal of claptrap, and And again, later: | “I must go back to my charming occupa- tion of hearing students give lessons. Here is my programe for this afternoon: THOMAS TO MAKE YOU MERRY. MANY CARGOES—By W. W, Jacobs. New York: Frederick A. stokes. For sale in this city by W. Doxey, ¢ alace Hotel. Price $1. It is written thata merry heart doeth good like a medicine, ana for this reason the peru- sal of “Muan. Cargoes’” may be recommended as health promoting. The book consists of & number of laughter-producing s'ories of ships and seamen. They are of most convenient length to fllL in short intervals of leisure, and prove to the mind a delightful rest from serious thought. The faculty of telling amusing stories is in- deed & rare one. In fact the futile attempt to succeed at it 1s so frequent in literature that | readers grow weary of being oiten cheated of the laugh they expected might follow a peru- sal of the story. For a writer to try to be funny and fail 18 apt to make the reader even more solemn than if he had never sought di- version. It is this rarity of truly humorous stories that makes this little volume by Mr. Jacobs a special treat to readers of all moods. Any one willing to abandon himself for & space to the spirit of fun will be able to get his heart well exercised with shaking chuckles by reading his yarns. Contrary to common custom, Mr. Jacobs does not put his best story in the lead. Who- ever tries the first story, and finds it fairly g00d, may read on in confidence of something cofing that will we!l repay perusal. The story called A Love Passage'’ tells of how the captain of a vessel carried his spirited daugh- ter off to sea in order to cure her of a fancy | he supposes’ she had for a clerk. Thisgiri, | Heuty, who is what is popularly known as ‘a case,” soon finds & friend in the first mate, and together they conc.¢ & schem: to defeat the captain’s dea of giving his daughter toa | rich merchant whom she did not like. The mate reasons thet il the capiain took her to sea (o cure her of one love all she has to do is to fall in love with some one on the ship in order to be sent ashore. therefore agree to put on the semblance of ardent love for each other. This leads to many amusing schemes and successful coun- ters between the three. The love-acting is done so well that it turns to earrest in the | eud, and all readers will feel that the maie fuily deserves his triumph. “‘The Skipver of the Ospreéy” is another love story which com- bines humor with & fouch of pathos. A Black ARNOLD e Rugby School. K‘& She and the mate | a God whom he does not know and does not expect ever to know. This God is at once too near and too far to be known. Watson puis in his mouth the mythical language of one of the recently discovered Logia: Raise thou the stone and find me thers, Cleave thou the wood and there am L. Watson does not know whether this God notes the good or ill in man or not, neither doeshe know whether it is in man’s powet to pleise or to vex him. He is quite sure, how- ever, that to praise him (with hymuos, for in- stance) is to profane nim, and that prayer (any prayer—all prayer) is an idle waste of breath. “Lest we forget,” says Kipling. William Watson. agnostic, cannot sit quiet under that. He says: Best, by remembering God, say some, We keep our high imperial lot. For:une, I fear, has oftener come When we forgot—when we forgot ! A lovelier faith their happler crown, But biftory laughs and weeps It down! We are compelled to say that, considered simply as poetry, William Watson’s contribu- tion to Harper’s Weekly and to theological controversy is not in the same class with the hymn of Rudyard Kipling. IN PATROON DAYS. | BEYOND THE CIT Campbeil Waison. Co. Price $1 50. A delightful story of the Dutch settlers in the early days ot New York is here told by one who has evidently studied her subject thor- ouzhly, and who presents a picture of the peo- ple and the manner of life of the time that will impress iiself upon the memory. The little Dutci girl, Freida Van Dycke, will be | sure to lead into captivity the heart of every GATES — By Augusta New York: E. P. Dutton & give for what it is worth a story once current in France in regard to these two men. When “L’Ami Fritz” was finiched and still in manu- scriot, Erckmann read it to Cnatrian. Then Chatrian, moved to tears, threw his arms around Erckmann, kissed him, and said: “Emile, my dear Emile, this is the most beau- | tiful thing you ever wrote.” “Nonsense, cher Alexandre,” saia Erckmann, blubbering, “it is you, dear fellow, who wrote it; realiy ana truly, [ have only been your automaton, your machine. To you naturally belong all the honors. Any idiot can write—turn phrases. It | is only genfus which invents.” It is justas well for the world that Dickens and Colinsdid not hitch their horses. Any- how,1n the work of getting out the English publication Collins seems to have been a very useful man. Manuscripts were referred to him, and Collins returned one to Wills, finding it “wushy to a degree.” “Wushy,” by the way, is an invaluable word. The positive is “wishy, the comparative “washy,” and the superla- tive must be “‘wusny.” At one time House- | hold Words became messy, and the result was | &n uncommoniy ‘“wushy” number. Then | Wills writes: “To-morrow the Chief will go | to work again,” Avalanches of manuseript came to the office, and, following Dickens' orders, when they were not available they were returned, Wilis using the phrase, “agreeable to my instruc- tions.” That “agreeable” was probably not agreeable to the writers. To a general man of all work in the office Dickens must have written many aline. He is “'pleased to see” that the blinds in the pri- vate drawing-room at the office are pulied down; “otherwise my new carpet will get | faded.” This man attended to the mailing of books to Dickens when the Chiet was away | from home—in Paris or elsewhere. It was to Holsworth that Charles Dickens Jr. sent a dis- MATTH EW ARNOLD whose influence upon English education was strong and far-reaching. Interesting data are given in the work under review, which throw light upon actions ques- tioned during his lifetime and upon which authorities are scarcely agreed to day. Of fauits he had few, and such errors as he made during his life can, at this writing, be safely set down to early training and a desire to fulfil to the letter the Solomonic injunction regarding the use of correc- tives, For a further estimate of Dr. Ar- nold’s character we quote the following from the recently published “Life and Letters of Benjamin Jowett”: *“His pe- culiar danger was not knowing the world and character—not knowing where his ideas would take o her people and ought to take himself. Yet, haa he been living, how we would have nestied unaer his wings!” In treating the life of Matthew Arnold, 8ir Joshua Fitch, while taking occasion to pay him tribute upon the fact that **ne is known to the world as a litterateur of singular charm and insight, as a poet of unquestioned genins and as one who criticiz d with keenness, but with a deli- cate and playful humor all his own, the literature, the social life, the religious world and the political events of hisday,” yet scarcely handles the man in quite as sympathetic manner as one would expect from a colleague and personal friend of thirty years’ standirg. This may be at- tributed to a lack of agreemnent with him on matters of educational policy, but it seems regrettable that so capable a biog- rapher as Sir Joshua Fitch should be un- avle to disassociate himself for one moment from his official position, to lay aside official prejudices and to assume | the role of a writer pure and simple. It is no exaggeration to say that were we unacquainted with the profession of the writer of the book before us, satistactory iasit isin mahy respects, we could have placed it at once as the work of a gentle- man who is entitled to write the letters H. M. L (Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools) after his name. Sir Joshua’s | view of Matthew Arnold is to» confined, lacking the breadth which would have been contributed 10 it by a writer viewing him from the outside. Here is an instance ilinstrating our point: “From the official point of view | It he saw little children looking good and happy and under the care of a kindly and sympathetic teacher He would give a favorable report without inquiring too curiously into the percent- age of scholars who could pass the ‘stand- ard’ examination.”” No one should know better than an English school inspector theevil effect of what is called.in England Government grant to such schools as could show a certain number of ‘‘passes’ in the three primary educational subjects, and it is surprising to note Sir Joshua | the disinterested endeavor to learn ana Avalanches, the BSteam Engine, the Thames, India Rubber, Bricks, the Battle of Poictiers, Subtraction, the Reindeer, the Gunpowder Plot, the Jordan. Alluring, is it not? Twenty minutes each, and the days of one’s life are only threescore years and ten!” Considerations of space forbid the mak- | ing of more than passing reference to numerous thoughtful remarks of Mat- thew Arnold upon such matters as re- ligions instruction in the school, and the general scove of elementary schools, and to certain comparisons instituted by him between Hnglish, French and German methods ot instruction. These will be | found worthy of careful study by every teacher ambitious of brosdening his methods with the ultimate idea of con- verting his charges into educated men and women. We have already quoted Sir Jo<hua Fitch’s opinion of his colleague as a litterateur. Here is an additional one that might with propriety be taken to heart by those literary logrollers whose effusions find place 1n the reviews of our day: “Criticism,” he (Arnold) said, ‘18 propagate the best that is known or thought in the world. It is the busi- ness of a critic to detect and to expose insincerity, vulgarity, the mere watch- words of parties and cliques, und in par- ticular the sioveniy and pretentious use of terms and pnrases which were only half understood.” Notable, too, was the judgment he passed upon America and the Ameri- cans: “His first impressions before visit- ing that country were gathered from books and newspapers alone and were not favor- able. (Was it not Arnold who remarked concerning our supposed lack of rever- ence: The average Ydnkee would address a king as *‘Mister’ and ask the price of the throne be sat on?) He said: Whereas our society in England distributes itself into Barbarians, Philistines and Populace, America is just ourselves, with the Bar- barians quite left out, and the Populace neariy.” To sum up in a few words the work which Bir Joshua Fitch has ably done, we may repeat that the latest contripbution to Arnoldian literature is worthy of being ac- counted of prime importance. Despite several disfigurements wholly due to prejudice, and however one may occa- sionally disagree with the writer’s point of view, let it be said that in the main he has been loyal to his idea, and the book is a step ahead in the direction of rendering credit to the two foremost English educa- tors of this century. The epitaph written on Matthew Arnold could with equal jus. tice have been inscribed upon the tomo of his father: There s sprung up a light for the right- eous and joyful gladness for such as are true-hearted. » And tne Psalmist’s words fitly express the recognition that has tardily followed " Enaxvet, Evzas } be content with the compiler’s judgment. Affair” is a story of two black cats and a super- stitious captain, which deserves to become famous. There are a :core and one of the varns, and (0 sample any at random witl ex- cfte a desire tosread the whele bunch. WIT AND PATHOS. AUTHORS’ READINGS—Arthur H. Young. York: Frederick A.Stokes Company. For by Will am Doxey. Paluce Hotel. book consists of a series of readin, from the works of James Whitcomo H gene Field, Bill e, Ella Wheeler ew ¥ Wilcox, Hamiin Gariand, Mary Hartwell Catherwood, Wiil Carleton, M. Quad and Opie Re d. The greatest cere has been used in tne selection of the different pieces, and the reader will surely In the majority of cases each one of the above well-known authors is represented by three pieces. The more humorous of the whole col- lection 1s undoubtediy Bill Nye's “*A Blasted | Snore’.” Every one who has traveled will ap- preciate the delicious description of the sleep- ing passenger and the demoniacal brakeman. It took Bill Nye to tell of such things. Mr. Young’s illustrations are charming. The sketches are lifelike, and show the respective authors in muny of their characteristic atti- tudes. People who want little thumbnail drawings of these favorite authors cannot do better than secure the book. They will get themand much good reading matter besides. At the end of tbe volume the biographies of the different writers appear, and afford most interesting and instructive reading. The book is handsomely printed. WATSON VS. KIPLING. All readers of THE CALL have read Rudyard Kipling's sonorous and majestic jubilee hymn, God of our fathers, known. of old— Lord of our far-flung battle line— Beaeath whose awfnl hand we hold Dominion over puim and pine— Lord God of Hosts, be wi h us yet, Les: we forget—lest we forget! Hundreds of them have, we hope, cut it out and pasted it in their scrapbooks. They will be interesied in the news that William Wat- son has been moved to roply to it William Watson is at least as fond of polem- iesas of tne art poetic. His duel with the poet laureaie over the Armenian question— wWeapons, sonnets—is still fresh in the public memory. This time he does not employ the sonnet. He slashes uway at Kipling ia the meter of the jubilee hymn. His controversial verses appenr in Harper's Weekly under the caption, #The Unknowa God,” and under the protection of coprright. It 1s the sentimentof the hymn that has stirred Watson to wrath and protest, not the artstic setting. He is much too old and clever a versifier himselfl not to feel the excel- lence of Kipling’s work. But Kipling wrote like an orttodox Christian genmileman, and Watson, it appears, is & militant agnostic. The first part of his poem might easily pass for a portion of one of Bob Ingersoll’s lectures done into rhyme. Waison announces that he caunot worship the Deity. Not him that with fantastic boasts A sombe: peopl - dreamed they knew: The mere barbaric kod of hosts “That edsed their sword and braced their ther A Gol they pitted 'gains. a swarm Of nelchbor gods less vast of arm. Watson then proceeds to expound his own theological system. The God he believes in is reader, even as she did the hearts of all by whom her life was surrounded. She was the only child of a beloved wife who died in giv- ing birth to her, and sne grew up the idol of the household. severe trials and great unhappiness. Her love for the son of a wealthy patroon, who, with all his love for Freias, loved the power of wealth more, and aiso added dishonor to seliisaness, cast a heavy shadow over her life. There is a deep pathos in the story, and, with thatliterary skill which surely can only be born of true feeling, the reader is made to sympathize with the sufferings of the fair girl. Aside from the main interest of the tale the sketches of the sturdy and honest Dutch characters will be found entertaining. Inci- dentaliy the famous pirate, Captain Kidd, is brought into the narrativ Y OF THIE EARTH'S ATMOS- By Dougias Archibald. D. Appletor For sale {n (his city by Willlam Doxey, Palace Hotel. Price 40 cents. This is one book of the series *“ihe Library of Useful Knowledge,” and tha suthor is a Fellow and was formerly vice-president of the Royal Meteorological Society. He is & writer of authority in his sphere, and treats, in lan- guage as free as possible from technical words and phrases, of the conditions which prevail in the atmosphere as understood by the science of to-day. The book isnot a mere collection of facts, but tells the why and wherefore of phenomena. DICKENS AND WILKIE COLLINS. According to the Pall Mall Gazette, & num- ber oi letters having to do with the editorship and management of Household Words and All the Year Round have come to light. Charles Dickens’ factotum was W. H.Wilis, and through nim came instructions to contributors from “the Chicl." Insome ot Mr. Wills' memoranda are sentences which repeat Dickens' dicta. There. was a great deal of preparation for the Christmas numbers and the plans were laid long inadvance. We do precisely the same thing to-day, and the holiday numbers of the New York magazines might be deemed ready, 50 far as text and illustrations go, during the month of September, and possibly some print- ing has been done earlier. Wilkie Collins was the man of promise in Household Words. The Chief had written this about him: *‘He and I have talked so much of late years about fiction writing and I see him soready to catch at what I have tried to prove right and avoid what I have thought wrong, and altogether to go at it in the spirit I have fired him with.”” It seems thatatsome time Dickens entertained the idea of taking Wilkie Collins into collaboration, for he sald to him: “Leave me this character or situation and let me give you such adviee about that” That givesa'stranze idea of the freedom Wilkie Col- lins was to inaulge in in the joint literary job. In fact, it amounted to little or nothing. Dickens was to be always in control. In collaboration the master mind invariably asserts itself. Maybe the most perfect colia- bo ation known was the union of Erckman and Chatrian. If there is any credence to be placed in the story of these two it was Chat. rian, the railroaa employe, who made the plots, and Erckmann who filled them up. This seems likely, pecause Erckmann’s debut in literature had taken place before he became acquainted with Chatrian (1847). This mar- riage brought about absolute perfection. We Reigning “as queen in the | home, however, did not save her from very | parch, biddins him send down certain distin- | guished London doctors to “Gaa’s” for a con- sultation. The date was June 9, and the dis- patch read: “Mr. Dickens very ill. Most ur- gent.”” And urgent was it, for on that 9th day of June, 1870, Charles Dickens died. DUMAS FILS ON STAGE LIFE. The late Alexandre Dumas fils wrote for the | stage, but he did not recommend it. In June, | 1892, a society girl wrote him and asked him | to help her get on the stage. The letter he | wrote in repiy has been recently published in | the Puris Figaro. It ran as foliows: Madame: Whenever a girl who syrings from the lowest classes of society shall come to me to ask | for my assistanoe to secure her admission to the | stage, If she is pretiy and gifted, I will give her the aid she asks for, but I shall always refuse my as- sistance to any young girl who declares that she | is of good family, respectabie, and of independent I beiieve tor & girl brought up under fons, anyihing, even death, is betier | than that abominable existence. Respectfully, A. DUMAS. This is strong language indeed from one whose opinion Is entitled to respect. And yet, in justice to the theatrical profession, it must be admitted that there are two sides to this, s to other questions. If Dumas’ word | were law, the stage would find its recruits | only among the hopeless and the destitute. | Of course, there was a time when all plarers, men and women, were ‘‘rogues and vaga- bonds” by law. But nous avons change tout cela, William Winter, the doyen of American crities, holds that one of Sir Henry Irvin greatest claims to consideration is the fact that he has done so much to elevate the stage that av present the profession of player is one offering inducements to men and women of | the very highest standing. I think most people will agree that M. | Dumas’ ideas are those of the long agoand not particularly applicable to present condi- tions. AN ECCENTRIC GIRL. THE FOLLY OF PE Jullan Sturgls sew York: Paper, 50 cents. A most enteriaining story of a wealthy and clever girl in London who postponed marriage till late in life, and who gathered around her acompany of devoted friends, calling them- selves “Pen’s Clique.” The heroine, Penelove, was the int mate friend alike of duchesses and | danecing girls, and as her adnereuts, ahe com- pelled them to meet in her house on termsof | equality. She made afad of se:king the ac- quaintance of people noted for their achieve- ments or talents. In this pursuit she captured | an_African explorer who, atier somewhat sulkily consenting to be liorized by Penelope, turned the tables, captured his captor, and carried her off to Africa. ADVENTURES AT SEA. A FREE LANCE OF COLONIAL DAYS—By Chauncey C. Hoichkiss. New Yoik: D, Apple- ton & Co. Price 50 ceuts. A sea captain who had been engaged in smuggling in the days when the nnjust com- | mercial laws passed by the British Parliament had sooppressed the American colonists that the name of smuggler lost its opprobrium herein tells his ndventures during the Revolu- tionary War,when he sailed the seas witn con- traband cargoes. Itis a well-written story of the hairbreadth escapes of & man with a $trong arm, quick wits and unhesitating cour- age. HARRINGTON — By D. Appleton & Co. | Def ie’s “Robinson Crusoe, LITERARY .NOTES. Within a fortnight H. C. Chatfield-Taylors new novel will be ready. Its title is to be | “The Vice of Fools.” Mrs. James T. Fields has completed her bie ography of Mrs Stowe, and her publishers are Ppreparing to issue it in October. Mrs. Craigie (Johu Oliver Hobbes) has fin ished her novel, *‘A school for Saints.”” It will wake its appearance this autumn. Mesars. Laird & Lee ot Chicago will publish this month Opie Read’s new novel, “‘Old Ebe- nezer,” and somewhat later “The Jucklins.” George Meredith has written a long poem on the French Revolution, which will probably be published very s00n in a volume by itself. The Seribuers are tv follow up their special uniform editions of Stevenson, Barrie and | Kipling with a set of the works of James White comb Riley. Herbert 8. Stone & have almost ready “For the Love of Tonita and Other Tales From the Mesas,” by Charles Fleming Embree, a new writer. The memoir of the late Sir Henry Rawlin- son, written by his brotner, Canon Rawlin- son, will be issued shortly by the Messrs. Longmans & Some of Oliver Schreiner's studies of South Africa have already attracted attention. These essays are pe collected and will be printed in a single volume, “Phyllis in Bohemia’ is the title of a fanci- ful story by L. H. Bickford and Richard Still. maun Poweil, which will be published immedi~ ately by H. S. Stone & Co. of Chicago. “The Bookman” announces that “the title of Mr. Barrie’s o will probably clusion of ‘Sentimental be ‘The Celebrated So we are 10 have “Tammas” as & man after ali! A new edition of “Verdant Green” is always something to be thankful for, and Messrs. Little, Brown & Co. are the benefactors who announce such a volume. It is to have an etched frontispiece, and ail of the author's engaging pictures—neariy 200—are to be ine cluded. “Wellington—His Comrades, His Contempo- raries,” is the title of Major Ar:hur Griffith’s new volume. It is a compenion volume to Professor Laughton’s “Nelson and His Come panions in Arms.” The “Wellington,” to be published by Mr. George Allen, will be hand- omely fllustrated. Laird & Lee announce the immediate publi- cation of ““Herrmann :he Magician; His Lif His Seercts,” by H. J. Burlingnme, and “Hours With the Ghosts. or Nineteenth Century Witeh craft,” by H. R. Evans. The authors are men versed in the subjects treated, and the vole umes are to be properiy iilusira.ed. A new book by Pierre Lot will make its ap- pearance in October. It wiil consistof & num- ber of short stories, articles already published in perioaicals and newspapers, and several new essays. The collection will be cailed “:Souvenirs d’Annam.” The author is now correcting the last proofs at Hendaye, where he is epending the summer. The memoirs of Tennyson, written by his son, which the Macmillan Company wilt pub- 1ish in October, will comprise two volumes, and besides photogravure portraits will have numerous other illusirations. A note from the publishers says that “the insertion of poemsnever before published and of letters to iriends of the poct, to which & less closely re- lated biographer could not have access, will meke this life of Lord Tennyson finally authori tative.” The interesting announcement is made by the Macmillan Company that in October they will publith two volumes containing the lete ters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, with por- traits and other illustrations. The earliest part of the correspondence took place when the writer was a youne girl, but every period of her life is represented in the letters. The author was in Paris during the coup d’etat in 1851, and made her home in Florence during a time o1 greatexcitement in Italy. She gives a sketch of George Sand, whom she metsev- eral times. E. P. Dutton & Co. will publish in book form “Perpetus, a Tale of Nimes in A. D. 213,” by 8. Baring-Gould, now running in the Churchman us a serial. The same publishers announce “Baby Days,” a book for records in a baby’s life, iilustrated in color. The pub- lishers also promise & two-volume biography of Phillips Brooks, written by A. V. G. Allen. It will include considerable correspondenca and will be illustrated. They will also bring out, urder the title of *“The New Book of the Fairies,” & collection of fairy-tales by Beatrica Harraden, published in England some fiva years ago. There has been a funny little tempest ina teapot in Englaud over the manner in which the publishers recently brought out Mrs, Steele’s novelette, “In the Tideway.” It is not a very long story, only 26,000 words, it seems, but it has been printed in England as a si. shilling volume, and there have been bitter words on the subject. Just why is a mystery. 1f the story is a good one does it make any dif- ference whether it has 26.000 or 26,000,000 words, or whether it is sold at 6 shillings or 16? Is the public defrauded because it gets only 26,000 words for its money? This sheds | anew light on the modern book market. Tne University Publishing Company, Chis cago, have justadded to their Standard Liter- ature Series Longfellow’s ‘‘Evangeline,” ed- ited by Edward Everett Hale Jr., with hise torical and eritical introduction and sugges- tions for study of the characters and for textual study, and also giving nccurate maps of Nova Scotia and Louisiana. Other volumes in this excellent series just issued include Scott’s “Ivanhoe” and “Poems of Kuightly Adventure,” includ- ing Tennyson’s “Gareth and Lynette,” Mac- aulay’s “Horatius,” Lowell's “Vision of Sir Launfal” and Matthew Arnold’s “Sohrab ana Rustum.” The articles and poems in the September | Quartier Latin are of finer quality than those generaily to be found in’ the smaller maga- zines. “Till the Night Pass.” & short story by Samuel Reid, is well told and shows that, though lovers may be parted by fate and even married to people they do not care for, they will ultimately find happiness in one an- other's arms. The descriptive article by L. Herbert, entitled “‘A French Holiday,” is in- teresting to people who know what a fair at St. Cloud is like, and will also be enjoyed by others who are strangers to such sights. The litile rondeau by Si. George Best, called “O Mistress Fair,” is the most charming thing in the magazine. The Frederick A. Stokes Company announces “Love Affairs of Some Famous Men.” by the Rev. E. J. Hardy; “The Son of the Czars.” by James Graham; “Lying Prophets,” by Eden Phillpotts, and *‘Wolfville,” by Henry Lewis. “The Skipper's Wooing,” by Mr. Jacobs, au. thor of that most amusing book “Many Car- goes,” will be published by the same house. The other volumes annouuced area collection of Thomas Dunn Euglish’s stories, Mr. Hope's “Phroso” and “The Heart of Princess Osra’ in grand style, fully iliustrated; Sir Walter Be- sant’s “A Fountain Sealed,” Guy Boothby's “Sheilah McLeod,” Lord Lytton’s “Lucile,’* with fac-similes of water colors by Mme. Le- mare, and John Mackie’s “They That Sitin Darkness. ’ . The New Amsterdam Book Company have in press an interesting compllation entitied “The Actor’s Art; Theatrical Reminiscences and Metheds of Study.” containing chavters by Sir Henry Irving, Ellen Terry, Madge Ken- dal, Beerbonm Tree and twenty-three other leading actors of the day. *The Sixties; the Golden Age of English Illustration,” is the title of a book by Gleason White, in press with the same company. Its purpose is to review the great English illustrators from 1855 to 1870, and it will contain numerous iilustra- tons in etching and photogravure. The book will be got up in handsome form, printed on hand-made paper ahd richly printed. Among the celebrated artists whose work will be rep= resented iu its pages are: J. MacNeill Whiste ler, Edward Burne Jomes, Sir Johu Millais, D. G. Rossetti, E. J. Poynter, Lord Leighton ana Du Maurier.