II
Of and Aboaat
Makers; of Books,:
Notices of Recent Interesting Volumes and
Chats Concerning Literary Men and Women.
RECENT T1CT1QN.
"HE DAYS OP AULD-LANO SYNE.
Being Further Sketches of Drumtoehty
Scenes and Folk. By lan Mac.aren.
Cloth, 12 mo., si.za. new mri; uouu,
Mead & Co.; Scranton, (or sal. by H.
Howard BeJdleman.
Ninety-nine times out of one hundred,
If not oftener, the experiment of a
clersrvman entering the field of let
ters as a writer of Action will fail, and
fall disastrously. Apart from the in
stance before ua I do not now recall a
single case wherein It has succeeded to
the extent which would doubtless have
been realized had the author been freed
from the homlletlo environment. The
business of a preacher being to preach,
It is natural that he should. In the over
whelming majority of instances, con'
tlnue to perform this edifying; but not
always entertaining function in the
novel as well as In the pulpit. Now, the
preachy novel has Its admirers, and in
Its wav I dare say It deserves them.
The utilisation of romance as a kind of
hand-maid to theology, the shifting of
scenes on an Imaginary canvass for the
purpose of giving the worthy lecturer
at the stereoptlcon a chance to indulge
In highly praiseworthy pi'-oppts tnis
sort of thing, I say, has educational
value, but it is generally conceded to
belong to the primary grade, it sul
fites admirably In the Sunday school
libraries and Is of charming availability
at me nouaay xime wnen grwiuiiiamu
wishes to give to young America a
Christmas t 1 'n at once readable and
safe. Bui . nil this, the hortatory
novel Is ..lly ignored, and art,
very fortur.au for all concerned, is
permitted to txirt in its own person,
sovereign and supreme.
I count it as the chief merit of the
Rev. John Watson, otherwise "Ian
Maclaren," that having only Just left
tue pulpit of a church by trauuton se
vere In Its manners and almost for
bidding In Its morals, he should have
given to the world a series of rwrtnder
rnllv human sketches In which, with all
their purity of inspiration and their
tonlomoral properties, mere is noi, irom
cover to cover, one single precept. I
ran rnncelvo of no field more barren
that that to which he withdrew for his
subjects and his atmosphere. Of all the
human beings Inhabiting that portion of
the sphere whlcn is regaraea as civil
ised, it occurs to me that the Scottish
neasant farmer is probably the least In
teresting, the least picturesque; being
In these respects second only to the
laroron which distinguishes nis speecn,
Yet the genius of this Scottish minister
of a year or so ago, bursting suddenly
UDon the world or art, nas gripped
whole millions by the heartstrings and
literally led them captive to urura
tochty. Touched by that genius, the
waste places of the Olen bloom with the
richest and rarest flowers or. lancy; De-
neath the rugged ways of Drums-
heua-h. Burnbrae and Jamie ho
tar, those types of the great mass of the
Scottish middle and lower classes rwnom
he has drawn seemingly with so much
ease, yet with a thoroughness wnicn
bespeaks the inimitable artist, we soon
discern the movings of emotions and
Imnulses common to all manklr and
even the dialect, harsh, dlscordu..; and
severe, mellows in his use Into a kind of
fascinating cadence which blends with
the general effect and perceptibly aug
ments Its total charm.
This newest Maclaren book keeps be
fore us the same characters, the same
surroundings, and the same atmosphere
that gave and Is yet giving to its pred
ecessor volume.: "Beside the. Bonnie
Brier Bush," Its phenomenal popularity,
tt treats of the crude, simple Scottish
peasant folk, canny in the craft of busi
ness, stubborn in the traditions of their
faith and kirk and yet, withal, true as
steel in friendship, loyal to the death In
patriotism and firm as the very hills
about them when it comes to matters of
principle and conscience. There are. in
all, ten sketches, of which we specially
sommend the one in five chapters called
"For Conscience Sake," In which It
seems to us that the art of this wonder
ful writer has reached a degree of
achievement beyond any previously re
corded to its credit. It makes no dif
ference who the reader is, what his
tastes or predilections are, or whence
his literary Instincts were derived. If he
. be equal to the average In intelligence
and not deficient In the normal sus
ceptibility to pathos, Maclaren's
ketches In this book will fasten their
pell upon him, send the blood beating
In rapid currents through his system
and, at Its climaxes so easily reached
yet to tens with scarcely revealed
power and force suffuse his eyes with
the moisture of fairly conquered sym
pathy. The man who cannot be made
to cry by Maclaren ,1s unfit for a posi
tion of public or private trust, and
hould be put under espionage lest he
loot a bank or wreck a tran. L. S. It.
:o:
a SHERBURNE ROMAXCK. By Aman
da M. Douglas, author of "The Sher
burne Series." Cloth, 12 mo, 11.60. New
York: Dodd, Mead ft Co.
Miss Douglas' skill In the Interpre
tation of youthful charcter and her
sympathetic understanding of the
thoughts and emotions of young people
were so pleasantly exhibited In the first
story of the Sherburne series that she
has not yet been able to bring that
charming series to a close, so great has
been the public demand for its contin
uance. In deference to many written
requests that the heroine nf the first
volume, Lyndell Sherburne, have a love
affair and be safely ensconced in do
mestic felicity at the last chapter, Miss
Douglas has In the present book pilot
ed Lyndell through the various epi
sodes of a cardiac adventure. The deli
cacy with which this romance has been
unfolded and the general brightness,
purity and grace of the tale will com
mend It to all admirers of good Juvenile
literature.
:o:
FETTERED YET FREE. A Study In
Heredity. By Annie S. Swan fMre. Bur
nett Smith). Cloth, 12 mo, 11.25. New,
York: Dodd, Mead Co.
There la this agreeable virtue about
Mrs. Smith's book: the problem In It Is
kept well In the back ground, while the
trm, Haalf .n.l,t!.i n nr1 Malt,, 4
ward Its end. She has called It a "study
In heredity;" and so far as that goes
the book may be said to be a warning? to
parents that wrong-living on their part
i certain to outcrop In the lives of their
children, causing them anguish and
humiliation. But this feature of the
work Is by no means delineated aggres
sively. It Is at all times subordinated
to the main story, which Is a brisk and
SI6'" melodrama of life among the
.ngiish middle classes, replete with in
c dents of a natural tenor and yet suffi
ciently varied and dramatic to sustain
the readers Interest. Mrs. Smith has
been likened as a writer to the late 03.
P; u f' .and there 8een,B ,n th effort
or ner s to be good ground for the com
pari son.
:o:
NOWBIRD AND THK WATER-TIGER,
AND OTHER TALES, By Margaret
' Fompton. WHh frontloplee.Vi cofofaSd
full-page Illustrations and decorative
SSTfr .7,,n T, W,lt"r C- Gresnough.
M d Jco?' W Tol! Dod'
This Is happy collection of fairy
tales founded on the folk-lore of , the
American Indians, as disclosed by the
government records of early Indian life
and by the traditions still current
among surviving tribes. The author
has faithfully reproduced the spirit and
color, of the Indian Imagination, and
has been materially aided by -the apt
genlss of the artist which Is In evi
dence with several admirable sketches.
o far as w. know this Is an entrance
B. a new literary domain. In which
... t Ul-s Ccmpton is to be congratu
the
i' ; :i
lated for her successful start and urged
to pursue the quest to yet more com
prehensive results. .u..
:0: r . "
HADASSAH, or Ksther. Queen to Ahasue-
rus. An historical novel by Mrs. T. F.
Black. Cloth. 11! mo, with illustrations.
Chicago: Laird A Lee.
To reproduce with anything like sat
isfactory results the language, man'
nera and local color of the Jewish race
during the supremacy of the Persian
empire, or to be exact, during the year
or the world 3531 ana nereaDouis. re
quires patient scholarship and pains
taking care. Mrs. Black has succeed
ed milte well In this, her first attempt.
The lines of her story closely follow
the Tithllral record, yet diverge sum
oiently to enable the author to indulge
her fancy and also to picture for us
scones and social conditions ascertain
able from nrofane rather than sacred
writ. It will not be pretended that she
has been historically exact, but In the
sense In which she clothes dry facts
with living and breathing interest, ana
draws near to us, as through a tele
scope, the activities of a generation
thn two thousand years dead
her work is historical in the highest
form. Like "Ben Hur,' which It sug
gests, if it does not equal, "Hadassah"
is an excellent aid to a correct under
standing of the Old Bible times, and the
atmosphere of it Is clean and pure.
:o:
PRIVATE TINKER, AND OTHER
8TORIKS, by John Strange Winter,
with a frontispiece by William A. Mc
Cullouirh. Uuckram, SI mo. New York:
Frederick A. Stokes company. For Rale
In Scranton by M. Norton.
Here are ten bright, snappy stories of
barrack life, each with a smile and a
tear in it. The author of "Bootle's
Baby" Is at her best In the short story.
Like Kipling she surcharges it with a
verve and a swing that carry one to
the end In a kind of delirium of Interest.
This little volume, handsome in me
chanical execution and exquisite in ar
rangement, Is Just the book to take
with one on a journey or to read in a
leisure hour. It Is like a tonic in its
refreshment and like a magical spell in
Its quick and potent charm.
MISCELLANEOUS.
A DAILY STAFF FOR LIFE'S PATH
WAY. Selected and Arranged by Mrs.
C. 8. Derose; Illustrated by Izora C.
Chandler. Cloth, 10 mo. Published by
Frederick A. Stokes Co., New York and
JxmIon. Received through M. Norton,
Scranton.
We have here a compilation of gems
of thought, sentiment and fancy, culled
from the writings of the world's great
authors, and arranged for dally read
ing. In diary fashion. The first selec
tion on every page is taken from the
Bible; but few of the great uninspired
sources of counsel and guidance are
missed In this handy volume. The book
Is admirably suited to holiday presen
tation purposes.
:o:
WEBSTER'S TP - TO - DATE VEST-
POCKKT DICTIONARY. A Collection
of Words Such as Are Frequently Mis
spelled and Mispronounced. .ILeather,
2.i cents. Received from M. Norton,
ticranton.
This is a notably compact and con
venient grouping of words. There are
25,000' of them altogether, beside a table
of translated foreign words and
phrases; but these 25,000 words really
serve for double their number, inas
much as all commonplace words, repeti
tions, compound words and those with
well-known prefixes and suffixes are
purposely omitted. Many new words
appear In this dictionary for the first
time, and altogether the volume Is a
most timely and convenient one for the
pocket of the writer or speaker of
English whose spelling or pronuncia
tion needs occasional coaching.
:o:
THE ELVES' CALENDAR FOR 1835.
New York: Frederick A. Stokes Co.;
Scranton: For sale by M. Norton.
Price, CO cents.
Of the numerous unique designs de
vised by this progressive firm of art
publishers, its Elves' Calendar Is one of
the most attractive. It comes In folded
pasteboard, with four faces, each giv
ing three months. The first elf, having
to typify January.February and March,
naturally provides himself with a snow
shovel; the second, a spring-time type,
appears carrying a basketful of tulips
and other early flowers; the third Ba
lutes us with a sack of apples tempting
ly thrown open to Indicate the season
of harvests;' and the last one stands
with woeful face behind a pumpkin
which bears upon its ample exterior
the scars of autumnal frosts. The ef
fect as a whole Is quaintly charming.
YELLOW BEAUTY. By Marion Mar
tin. Illustrations Reproduced from
1'alntlngs by Henrietta Ronner, of the
Belgian Royal Academy, the Colebrated
Painter of Cats. Beautiful Cover In
Four Colors and Title in Gold. Chicago:
Laird A.Lee. ,
This is one of the most satisfactory
of the season's holiday juveniles. It
Is meant for children of from three
years to six, but many older folk will
also find more than passing pleasure
In the marvelous accuracy of the pro
ductions of Mme. Bonner's cat faces.
Every one of the score or more of pussy
countenances pictured in this pretty
Volume Is as characteristic and as thor
oughly distinct from every other face
as would be the case If the subjects had
been men Instead. Miss Martin's ac
companying story Is chic and clever;
and the boy or girl who shall not take
delight in this book will need to be sent
to the doctor for medical examination.
WASHINGTON: OR, THE REVOLU
TION, a Drama Founded Upon the His.
torical Events of the War for American
Independence. By Ethan Allen. Paper,
12 mo, 50 cents. New York and Chicago:
F. Tennyson Neely.
The author of this historical drama Is
a descendant of Colonel Ethan Allen
of Fort Tlconderoga fame,, and has
been, In his day, one Of the foremost
practitioners at the New York bar. He
has made American history a life
study, and especially the history of the
great struggle In which his ancestors
took so prominent a part The present
drama is In two parts, each of five acts.
Part one carries the tragedy of the
revolution from the Boston massacre to
the surrender of Burgoyne; part two,
from Valley Forge to Washington's In
auguration. From the nature of the
subject the drama Is not fitted for pres
entation on the stage, but as a theme of
study In the library It possesses merit
apart from Its conscientious adher
ence to the facts of history and Its
scrupulous endeavor to be a truthful
representation of the subject. It might
well be Introduced Into the public
schools.
:o:
AMERICAN CATHOLICS AND THE A;
P. A. A Complete History of American
Catholics in Their Relations to the Gov
ernment of the United States: and a Re
view of the Meaning,-.Methods and Men
of the American Protective Association,
By Patrick Honry Winston. Paper. 12
mo, 16 cents: Chicago: Charles H. Kerr
Co., 175 Monroe st.
The burden of Mr. Winston's argu
ment Js that there Is nothing In the
Catholic religion or In any of the vows
or obligations of the Catholic faith
prejudicial to complete loyalty to
American Institutions and that, as a
matter of record, many of our best and
bravest cltliens . and . truest patriots
have been members of the Cathollo
church. On the other - hand, the au
thor's Inquiry Into the character of the
leaders . In the American Protective as
sociation convinces him that the over
whelmlag proportion ot them art ex
citable, narrowmlnded men, who by
reason of their peculiar mental equip
ment and undue susceptibility to alarm
form a dangerous element in the com
munity. The' authors argument is
not dispassionate, but It Is forceful and
to the point
THE MAGAZINES.
In the American Historical Register
for November, the serial description of
Lafayette's last visit to the United
States Is brought down as far as his ar
rival at Holmesburg. near Philadelphia,
on the morning of Sept 25, 1826. The
Instalment In this number of Mrs. Mary
B. J. Richart's Interesting traditions
of Fort Jenkins treats of a piiase of
Arilerican history In which residents of
Scranton and Its vicinity naturally feel
a deep concern. In addition to these
two commanding special features the
November Register has several reada
ble historical contributions of a general
character, and much detailed Informa
tion pertaining to the patrlotlo heredi
tary societies, ot which It Is the official
organ.
:o:
The Progress of the World, an "Il
lustrated monthly summary of the
leading facts In current history ana
achievement." Is a new maaaatne which
has just made its appearance on the
editor's table. It Is published by the
Progress of the World company at 158
Fifth avenue. New York, at 10 cents a
copy or $1 a year, and is, as its sub-title
implies, a digest or current news ar
ranged with a view to permanency,
Sublects of live Interest are treated In
telligently and at sufficient length to
tmnart the necessary Information, ana
the judgment shown In the selection of
topics appears to be excellent.
The MetaDhyslcal Magaslne has evl
dently found a field of its own, for It
continues to give evidences of Increai
Ing prosperity. The November number
of this highly Interesting magazine
marks something of a departure from
tradition In that It contains, amidst
several Berlous and even somewhat pe
dantic articles relating to occult
themes, a capital "story of latter-day
realism" by Frances Albert Doughty,
treating of the vain attempt of a colony
of advanced men and women near lios
ton to eliminate from their social prob
lem the factor of age. This story Is
well worth reading.
The Black Cat, which prides Itself on
containing the choicest nlckle's vortn
of reading to be found in print, ap
pears for November with an attractive
cover, backed up by eight swinging.
nerve-tlngllng stories. The publishers
of It have declared war on dullness In
the short story line, and they seem to be
pushing their campaign to a satlsfac
tory success. At all events, their maga
slne is unlikely to be laid down before
the purchaser of It has read every tale
In It (Received from M. Norton.)
:o:
That exceedingly well-ed1' organ
or the American Society for t::e exten
sion of University Teaching, the Citi
zen (published at 1U South Fifteenth
street, Philadelphia), has among Its
November features a paper by Henry
C. Adams on "The Statistical Division
of the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion" which will enlighten those who
wonder what that commission Is In ex
istence for. There Is also an Interest
lng study, under the heading "Old Au
thors," of the too often forgotten "poet
or blood and passion," Thomas Otway.
:o:
If anything In Chips for Nov. 9 (re
ceived from M. Norton) deserves men
tion, apart from u. li. coley's humor
ous black-and-white drawing of "an
other new woman." It probably is
Franklin E. Denton's sonnet entitled
"What Is It to Be Dead?" That is as
follows:
What is It to he dead? Who, who can tell
The awful verity of mortal fate.
Beyond the portals of that sable gate
Through which the race has passed since
Adam fell,
Toward which the cruel years our' steps
impel?
When, in his serious hours, that problem
great
Presses upon the heart, with mountain
weight,
Who can the mob of his misgivings quell?
Does being end with this terrestrial scene?
Are we extinguished when the bolt shall
smite?
Or, shall our footsteps thread eternal
ways, ...
Where the Inexorable guillotine
Of darkness cleaves not the continuous
llBht
Into gad pieces by the name of days I
LITERARY GOSSIP.
The Putnams have Just brought out
a volume of humorous verse by the late
Francis S. Saltus from which we make
the following brief quotation, which ex
hibits the author's skill in the handling
of the comic vein:
A KIND OF CRITIC.
With pompous mien and all-Important air.
He'll say your views are premature and
rash,
And with a grave grandiloquence declare
That all the verse of later years is trash.
To satisfy his most aesthetic mind.
In all the modern work he labors
through,
He grieves to state he really cannot find
One worthy line, one thought supremely
new.
You ask: "And Swinburne?" Well, be
has some Are,
He will alk-w; "but then so very crude."
Browning? "Bah! verbose, ot his style
you tire."
Hugo? "A bard of second magnitude."
Longfellow? "Dabbles In all kinds of
i verse." '
. Lowell? "A fraud, and so was Bryant,
too.
They do not write," he cries, "in language
terse,
As real and god-born poets always do."
And as you gasp and dare not add a word,
This critlo gently smiles and says to you:
"I wrote a poem that you never heard, '.
I think you will admire It, it is new.", s
And he will read to you, unhappy friend.
Lines that begin "How lovely is the
night,"
And which I know invariably will end
With something , like "Beneath the
Moon's pale light."
By a lucky accident trie writer of these
lints recently got possession of the first
number of a new magazine, which does
not seem yet to have made the complete
acquaintance of the public. It Is entitled
"The Looker-On,1' (published at 8 Broad
street, New York) and is devoted, quite
conscientiously, to musical, dramatlo and
literary news and criticism. In the num
ber In mind that for October Henry T.
Flnck had an appreciative review of the
virtuoso Pederewskl and his art; William
H. Fleming contributed an exceedingly
readable paper, with illustrations, upon
"The Boards Shakespeare Trod," being a
description of the earliest Elizabethan
theaters; Paul and Vaughn Kester were
jointly represented by the first half of a
two-act comedy of delicate conception en
titled "La Fleur de Lis;" William Foster
Apthorp gave a bright paper lamenting
the decline of Italian opera, Mr. Krehblel
contributed a paper on "Singers Then
and Now," being a comparison of the
lyric artists of today with those of an
earlier generation; and Louis C. Elson
ended the special contents with a read
able article on the "Beginnings of Music."
In addition to these features there were
several departments, one of current dram
atic news, In Mr. Fleming's charge; one of
muBical news, presidod over by Mr. Flnck;
some bright book reviews and, last but not
least, a department called "Friendly Ob
servations," In which there appeared some
of the best-worded common sense that we
have lately been privileged to read. In
deed, some of these "observations" are so
apt, fair and truthful that we are moved
to present a few quotations.
The theme of the first series or these
"observations" Is the scope and obliga
tions of criticism, concerning which the
author remarks: "There are at least three
schools of current criticism which demand
small effort and make large promise of
Immediate remuneration. The first of
these may be called the thud-and-blunder
school. The easiest way la the world to
attract popular notice Is to set out upon a
career of Indiscriminate abuse, It Is said
that the late Lord Randolph Churchill first
gained the public ear by the vivacity and
violence with which he boxed It The old
comedian's recipe forkeeplng the attention
of the audience Was very simple: 'When
you are at a lorn what to do, smash the
china.' Preacher, even, do not disdain
the path to fame by war of vituperation.
And critics, from Jeff revs down, have
bees prone to follow it- These, who adept
toil method otllfht la ae thing elM to
much as In flaying a new poet, or beating
down a new musician, or in driving a new
aotor off the state with verbal cabbage
stalks and the stale eggs ot ridicule, or,
best of ail, In drawing a fierce Indictment
of imbecility and immorality against the
present generation of mankind. There is
a twist in unregenerate human nature
toward this kind of work, at least In cer
tain moods. I suppose the mildest-mannered
of men has moments in which he
would like to cut a throat, or scuttle a
ship. The ability to inflict pain gives a
sense of power. But then, I am sure, no
one will maintain that this is a healthy
state of mind, or calculated to foster clear
perceptions and sound judgment
"At' the other extreme Is the puff-and-plunder
school of criticism. This also
has an easy method and some attraction.
It deals in unqualified praise for certain
qualified performers. It revels in the dis
covery and announcement of new 8hake
speares, Thackerays, Uarncks, Titlans,
Keethovens, and Jenny Linda but always
within the boundaries of the family circle
or stock company to which the critics be
long. Their polnt-of-vlew is, that appre
ciation, like charity, begins at home and
ends there. Verily they have their re
ward. They usually make a contract for
It. They resemble the hero ot Lowell's
'Fable for Critics:'
'Not a deed would he do, nor a word
would he utter,
Till he'd weighed Its relation to plain
bread and butter.'
I would be understood as speaking now
only of those who profess to be Impartial
and unbiased observers. For writers who
are openly employed In the service of pub
lishing houses, or art firms, or dramatic
enterprises, to draw favorable attention to
their productions, we should have noth
ing but respect. Theirs is an honorablo
business, and One that offers opportunity
for the exercise of a very fine skill. There
Is no branch of commerce which has been
more Improved in modern times. I know
an. advance at?ent whose conversation is
as brilliant and engaging as that of Syd
ney Smith, and a book-announcer who
writes his notices in the purest English,
sparkling with wit and full of illustra
tions. The advertising pages In the backs
of the magazines are as entertaining to
me as the earlier columns of reading mat
ter, which are treated with more consid
eration and cost less money. But then, 1
like to know, and to remember, the differ
ence between the two kinds of pages; and
I cannot help thinking critic are some
times tempted, by various considerations,
to forget or to obscure it. The Looker-On,
In these days of universal advertlsment,
must be on his guard against the peril of
being transformed into a sandwich man
or a bill-poster.
"There is another school of criticism,
midway between the thud-nnil-blunder
and the puff-and-plunder, which muy bo
called the gush-nnd-wonder bcIiooI. It Is
the literary representative of those fami
liar people who say, 'I don't know any
thing about music or painting, or books,
but I know what I like,' and then they
proceed to tell you at great length and
with much enthusiasm the story of their
confessedly unreasonable likings. In pri
vate life they are often amusing and some
times profitable. It Is pleasant to obperve
the transparent revelation of character in
their unstudied admirations. I have sel
dom spent a more diverting half-hour than
at a New England tea party, where the
dear old ladles of the sewing circle were
raving over 'Trilby,' and declaring that
they would all be perfectly delighted to
go and live In the Latin Quarter of Purls!
But it is worth remembering that a taste
which Is not based upon knowledge, and
backed, up by good reasons, Is better
adapted to private enjoyment than to pub
lic expression. The critlo who is forever
telling the world what he likes, without
pains to explain and Justify his liking on
good and sufficient grounds. Is not mu"h
of a critic after nil. He Is only an excla
mation point. Real criticism criticism
that Is worth the nninunt of human Inbor
that Is needed to produce a page of print,
and of human patience that is required to
read it, is something more than the ex
pression of personal prejudice and prepos
sesions. It is the discovery of principles
and the illustration or laws and the con
sequent Illumination of life and art. The
art of music and painting and sculpture,
and poetry and fiction, and acting are not
affairs of chnnce; they are products of
skill; and skill always has an Idea behind
It and an aim In front of It. The critic's
business Is to apprehend the idea, and to
appreciate the aim and measure the means
which have been used to bring them to
gether. Take, for example, the art of
story-telling. The short stories of Miss
Wllkins and MIbs Jewitt and Mrs. Blos
son are better than the tedious tales which
are printed In tho Weekly Wrnpplng-Pa-per,
not merely because you and I like
them better the sentence must be re
versed we like them better because thry
are better. And the question that the
Looker-On has to answer is. Why? Their
excellence Is very different. Miss Wllkins
Is dramatic; her stories always have a
situation and an epigram. Miss Jewitt is
Idyllic; sho makes a little picture, and
the figures and the landscape belong to
gether. Mrs. Slosson Is sympathetic; she
has the faculty of putting herself In the
place of the quaintest, remotest charac
ters, and making you feel the pathos and
the humor of their polnt-of-vlew. In all
of these writers there Is a quality of dis
tinction, a choice of method, and an artis
tic perfection of result, which the critic
ought to consider, if he Intends to write
about them, and of which he must be able
to give some intelligent account, If he
wishes thoughtful readers to have any re
spect for his observations.
II II II
"I do not mean by this that the Looker
On should divest himself of all personal
likings in regard to art or literature, and
look on at the passing show as coldly as
at the progress of an experiment In chem
istry. To do that would be to yield to
one of his perils and not tho least of
them. The gusto of criticism comes from
cmcUon and enthusiasm, even at Its
nutritive quality comes from Intelligence
and reason. I would not choose to live
upon spicy salads, nor upon unsalted por
ridge, but upon wholesome dishes well
flavored. How admirable In this respect
Is the book which W. D. Howells has
lately given us with the title 'My Literary
Passions.' It la full of generous admira
tions, expressed with piquancy and vigor;
but they are by no means blind. He nevor
forgets, nor fears, to give a reason for
tho faith that is In him; and the story of
his love for books, interwoven with story
of his life, Is an instruction In living, as
well as a guide to reading. But the dan
ger of Indulging too strong predilections
in the matter of art Is that they have a
tendency to become exclusive and narrow.
Because Abana and Pharpar are beauti
ful rivers it does not follow that the Jor
dan Is a mere mud-puddle. Miranda sings
the part of Marguerite to perfection; and
Rublo plays tho nocturnes of Chopin
magically; and Antonlus is a wonderful
interpreter of Wagner's music; but shall
we therefore refuse to listen to all other
musicians? Let us avoid provincialism,
and keep an open mind. It takes all sorts
to make a world, and there are varieties
of excellence."
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS:.
The widow of the late Philip Gilbert
Hamerton Is writing a biography of her
nuaband.
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe's new book Is
to be called "Is Polite Society Polite?" It
Is a collection of essays on social ques
tions. Only one novel will appear from Mr.
Howells' pen during 1896. and this will not
be seen until July, when it will be pub
lished as a summer serial, dealing, 89 it
does, with American summer hotel life.
The new novel which Maria Louise Pool
has Just finished is called "Mrs. Gerald."
It Is said to surpass In interest and
strength anything which Mrs. Pool has
heretofore written.
T. B. Aldrich's forthcoming volume,
"Later Lyrics," Is to be uniform in Its
guise with his little volume of "XXXVI
Lyrics and XII Sonnets," and Is to con
tain his own selection of songs from his
recent larger works.
Mrs. Burton Harrison has chosen the
struggles of a young married couple who
wish to entertain socially and yet have
not the means to do so for the theme of
her new novelette. It has for its title
','A Young Couple."
Hamlin Garland's long expected novel Is
at last announced for Immediate publica
tion by Stone & Kimball. It Is confidently
aserted that this new story Is by far his
most important piece of work. It is, as
the title Implies, a tale of western life, be
lng called ''Rose of Dutcher's Coolly."
Some new poems of Robert Burns and
many new readings have been discov
ered by Messrs. W7 B. Henley and T. F,
Henderson, who are editing the "Century
Burns." They were found among some
Burn MSB. collections net open to earlier
editors. Mr. Henley is preparing an es
say on the life and genius of Burns.
A curious condition of affairs In the
Autumn publishing trade I the relative
importance of memoirs, and books of let
ters. The supremacy of the novel la of
course In no. wise threatened. Yet It Is
probable that dtevonson's "Vslllma Let
ters" will this year assume the Impor
tance of a new novel by the same hand.
Indeed to a true lover of Stevenson noth
ing could be more fascinating than a
study of the well-beloved Louis himself.
Stone Kimball announce a novel by
H. B. Marriott Watson, entitled "Gallop
ing Dick being Chapters from the Life
and Fortunes of Richard Ryder, otherwise
Galloolng Dfok, sometime Gentleman of
the Road." Some of these chapters came
at in the Chap-Bonk sad- were full of
elttment and color; highwayman of
the Restoration period Is as picturesque
a character as a novelist has ever had, and
Marriott Watson has proved his ability
to handle the material.
Justin McCarthy does not care for books
of the "Yellow Aster" type. "Women we
have had always with ua," he says, "and
we have known her a long time. We can
not change her much, nor she us. an,
therefore I'm Inclined to think the modern
roblem novel a waste of power." Mr.
IcCarthy throws down the gauntlet to
several people In the statement that there
Is no single novelist of today who can
be called great as Thackeray was great
and Dickons was great
THE STORY WRITER:
His story had a plot, no doubt.
But then, he didn't need It;
He had to go and take It out
Before they'd even read it
Washington Btar.
EUGENE FIELD'S VEBSE.
With Trumpet and Drum.
With big tin trumpet and little red drum.
Marching like soldiers, the children comet
It's this way sad that way they circle
and file
My! but that muslo of theirs Is fine!
This way and that way, and after awnlle
They inarch straight li4o this heart of
mine!
A sturdy old heart, but It has to succumb
To the blare of that trumpet and beat of
that drum I
Come on, little people, from cot and from
hall-
Thls heart It hath welcome and room for
you ail!
It will sing you lis songs and warm you
with love.
As your dear little arms with my arms
Intertwl ne;
It will rock you away to the dreamland
"above
Oh. a jolly old heart Is this old heart ot
mine,
And jollier still is it bound to become
When you blow that big trumpet and beat
that red drum!
So come; though I see not his dear llt:le
face
And hear not his voice in this jubilant
place,
I know he were happy to bid me en
shrine His memory deep in my heart with
your play
Ah met but a love that Is sweeter than
mine
Holdeth my boy In Its keeping today!
And my heart it Is lonely so, little folk,
come,
March In and make merry with trumpet
and drum!
Some Tlino.
Last night, my darling, as you slept
I 'thought I heard you sigh.
And to your crib I crept.
And watched a spaco thereby;
And then I stooped and kissed your brow,
For oh! I love you so
You are too young to know It now,
But sometime you shall knowl
Some time when. In 'a. darkened place
Where others come to weep.
Your eyes shall look upon a face
Calm in eternal sleep;
The voiceless lips, tho wrinkled brow,
The patient smile shall show
You are too young to know It now.
But some time you may knowl
Look bacward, then. Into the years,
And see me here tonight
Bee, O my darling! how my tears
Are falling as I write;
And feel once more upon your brow
The kiss of long ago
You are too young to know It now,
But some time you shall know.
Norso Lullaby.
The sky Is dark and tho hills are white
As the storm king speeds from the north
tonight,
And this Is the song the storm king slnga,
As over the world his cloak he flings:
"Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;"
He rustics his wings and gruffly sings:
"Sleep, little one, sleep."
On yonder mountain-side a vine
Clings at the foot ot a mother pine;
The tree bends over the trembling thing,
And only the vine can hear her sing:
"Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;
What shall you fear when I am here?
Sleep, little one, sleep."
The king may sing In -his bitter flight.
The tree may croon to the vine tonight
But tho little snowflake at my breast
Llketh tho song I sing the best
Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;
Weary thou art, anext my heart
Sleep, little one, sleep. '
At the Boor.
I thought myself Indeed secure.
So fast the door, so firm the lock;
But, lol he toddling comes to lure
My parent ear with timorous knock.
My heart were stone could It withstand
The sweetness of my baby's plea
That timorous, baby knocking and
"Please let me In It's only me."
I threw aside the unfinished book.
Regardless of Its tempting charms,
And, opening wkl? 'he door, I took
My laughing da,..ng in my arms.
Who knows but In Eternity,
I, like a truant child, shall wait
The glories of a life to be.
Beyond the Heavenly Father's gate?
And will that Heavenly Father heed
The truant's supplicating cry,
As at the outer door I plead,
" 'TIs I, O Father! only I?"
Wonts Tt Prt k"tri!et.
. He was saying all sorts of soft things to
her.
"Sir!" she exclaimed, with sudden In
dignation. "Oh, I beg your pardon," he replied has
tily, "I meant nothing by"
"That's Just what I don't like, sir.
What I want to hear Is something you
mean." Detroit Free Press.
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Cure
Sick Headache,
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Constipation
Piles
AND
All Liver Disorders.
MOMMY'S PIUS are purely vegetable, mild
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S eta a Vox. At Drug .lists, or by null
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RADWAY A CO.,
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A BROAD MINDED PHYSICIAN
WITH PROGRESSIVE IDEAS.
Believes in Recommending Any Medicine That He
Knows Will Cure His Patients. Thinks
Br. Williams' Pink Pills a Great
Discovery. He Sites Some
Marvelous Cures.
Prom (h Examiner, Lanratter, Pa.
" Acnox, Fa., AprU 2Mb, D5.
Br. Williams' Medicine Co.t
Gentlemen While it Js entirely contrary to
tho custom of the medical profession to en
dorse or recommend any of tho so-culled pro
prietary preparations, I shall, nevertheless,
five you an account of some of my wonderful
txperiences with your preparation, Dr. Wil
liams' Fink Pills for Falo People. The fact
U well-known that medical practitioners do
iiot as a rule, recognize, much less, uso pre
paratlons of this kind, consequently the body
bf them have no dufinito knowledge of their
virtue or lack of it, but soundly condemn
them all without atrial. Such a course is
manifestly absurd and unjust, and I, for one,
tropnse to give my patients the best treatment
nown to me, fur the particular disease with
Which they are suffering, no matter what it is,
where or how obtained. I was lirst brought
to prescribe Dr. Williams' Pink Pills about
two years ago, after having seen some remark
able results from their use. Reuben Hoover,
tiow of Heading. Pa,, was a prominent eon
tractor and builder. While superintending
the work of erecting a largo building during
cold weather, he contracted what wns thought
to be sciatica. He having first noticed it one
morning in not being able to arise from his
bed. After the usual treatment for this dis
ease he failed to improve, but on the contrary
Crew rapidly worse, tho case developing into
Slemiphlegin, or partial paralysis ot the entire
right side of the body. Electricity, tonics
and massage, etc., were all given a trial, but
toothing gave any benefit, and the paralysis
continued. In despair he was compelled to
jhcar his physician announce that his case was
hopeless. About that time his wife noticed
'one of yonr ailvertisemeuU aud. concluded to
try jour Fink Fills.
i " lie had riven tip hope and it required a
'Hreni ucui ui urnix m 'iiri ui 111. wiiv
to oersuade bim to take them remilarlv.
rtHe, however, did as she desired, and if
appearances indicate ncaitn in tnis man, one
would think ho was better than before his
paralysis.
' Why,' says he, I began to improve In two
days, and in four or five week I was entirely
well and at work.'
. "Having seen these remits I concluded
that such a remedy is snrely worth a trial at
Ithe hands of any physician, and consequently
'.when a short time Inter I was called upon to
'treat a lady sulleriug with palpitation of the
WEAK QUI
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Victims of Last Manhood should send at
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altering from
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ford to Ignore this
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Hook tells how
fnll utrrnoth. dn.
veiopmeas and tone are imparted to every
portion of the body. Sent with positive
proof s (sealed)re to any man on application.
ERIE MEDICAL CO., OUFFALO.N.Y.
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heart and prefft tierrofli prntfrailon, after fh
usual remedies failed to relieve, I ordered Dr.
Williams' Pink Fills. The result was simply
astonishing. Her attacks became less frequent
and also less in severity, until by their use for
a period of only two months, sbe was the
picture of health., rosy-cheeked and bright,
eyed, its well as ever, and she has continued
so until to-duv, more than one year siuce she
took uinr medicine. I have found these pill,
a specific fur chorea, tr as more commonly
known, St. Vitus' dance, as beneficial results
have in all cases marked their use. As a
spring tonio any one who, from overwork or
nervous strain during a long winter has be.
come pale and languid, the Fink Pills will do
wonders in brightening the countenance and
in buoying the spirits, bringing roses to the
pallidlipsaud renewing the fountain of youth.
Yours respectfully,
J. . Albbioht, M. D."
IVOCOSIOTOIt ATAXIA IVCCESSFULLY
TREATED.
From lh Oswtgo, N. Y. Palladium
T. D. McCarthy, of this place yesterday
told a Palladium reporter his experience with
Locomotor Ataxia. The account is of interest
because Locomotor Ataxia is supposed to be
incurable and yet Mr. McCarthy is cored
He said :
" In October, 1892, I was working at my
trade, that of a machinist, in the Eames Vacuum
F-ake Works, at Watertown, N. Y. I had
been sick several weeks before I gave up and
quit work. A tired feeling seemed to have
taken possession of me, and rest as long and
as well as I might I could not get rid of it. I
took tonics and other medicines prescribed by
the physicians there but kept getting worse
all the time. Finally I became so bad that I
could only walk a short distance, and that
witn the greatest exertion, iiy nmDs seemea
to me like so much lead, and there wns
hitch in my walk. While walking I couldn't
think of anything, not even the name of an
acquaintance whom I might happen to meet
in the street Dr. Stevens, of Watertown.
was my physician, and he it was who informed
me that 1 suffered from locomotor ataxia, and
advised me to go to my home. In the spring
of 1892 I came to my father's home, 80 Vuriek
Street. Osweeo. I had about eiven op all
hope of ever being anything but a helpless
iuvalid. I couldn't sleep at night, and the
physicians who attended dosed me with mor.
phlne and other opiates. Every day I tried
to walk, aud every day I appeared to be less
able than the day before. I was about the
worst looking wreck of a young man that
you could imagine. It was in June, e
that I began taking Dr. Williams' Pink Pills
for Pale People. I hadn't used the first box
when I began to feel beneficial etl'ects. My
limbs appeared to be stronger and better able
to sustain me. Urnduully this feeling in
creased until finnlly I was able to lay aside
my crutch and cane. Kow I can walk or run
as well as ever. I have for sometime past en
gaged myself in light work. I can't say too
much for the Pink Pills. I hope every ui'
fcrer will try them."
Dr. Williams' Pink Pills for Pale Fenpla
are now given to the public as an unfailing
hl,mH limlifor find nprrA rMtnror fiirinir nil
forms of weakness arising from a watery con
diliouof the blood or shattered nerves. The
pills arc sold by all dealers, or will be sent
pott paid on receipt of price, CO cents a box,
or six boxes for $2.S0 (thev nre never sold in
bulk or by the 100), by undressing Dr. Wil.
1 lianu' Medicine Company, Schenectady, N.Y.
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