LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2612, 6 November 1915, Page 9

LIBER'S NOTE BOOK

'the Lost Library of Louvaln.

Not long ago an interesting and admirable project was started by the Trustees of the famous John Rylands Library at Manchester, namely, to make a world-wide appeal for raro and valuable books, which, after the war, should be given to the University of Louvain as the nucleus of a- new library to replace that so ruthlessly destroyed .by the apostles of "Kuitur." Already, so I understand, some three to four thousand volumes, sorao ,of them of great value, have been presented by English book-collectors. In the last number of the Bulletin of the Rylands Library, the editor is careful to point out that the action of his library must not be taken as relieving Germany of her obligations. "On the contrary," he says, "we believe that our action will probably do more than anything else to keep the attention of the,public, and also of the 'authorities, alivo to the justice of insisting, when the' time is ripe, that Germany shall not only;disgorge'everything she has looted, in defiance of the rules of civilised warfare, but that slio shall re r ' place, from German libraries, the equivalent "of the treasures she has so deliberately and senselessly destroyed." (Hear, hear!)' ' Frank Harris, Renegade. Methuens announce, I.notice, a volume of "Contemporary Portraits," by Frank Harris, the brilliant, but, alas, nowadays renegade, Englishman, who from New York pelts his countrymen with abuse and plays the Bernstorffian game with as much misguided zeal as even the notorious Kuuo Meyer, for thirty years resident in Great Britain, and admittedly one of the best authorities on Irish folk lore. Professor Meyer has at least the excuse that he is a German, but for an Englishman of Prank Harris's ability—he was at one time editor of the "Fortnightly Review"—to "turn dog" on the land of his birth is unpardonable lam sorry that Methuens should have thought fit to publish Mr. Harris's new book. Perhaps, however, it was arranged for before the war. Let us hope so. It includes sketches of Carlyle, Whistler, Oscar Wilde, Anatole, France, and Maeterlinck. Anatole France in English. Anatole France's amusing story, "Crainquebille," has been translated by Miss Winifred Stephens, and is to to be added to Mr. John Lar.e's handsome edition of the great Frenchman's works. "L'Anneau d'Amethyste" ("The Amethyst King"), also by Anatole France, has been translated by B. Drillien, and issued in the same series. Mr. Lane also announces "The Path of Glory," by Frances, the French text with ■ a translation by A. R. Atkinson! This last work of tho modern Voltairo ( is published) for the benefit of the French Disabled Soldiers' Fund. ■' Henry James, Englishman! , Henry James, tha'wellrknowirJAmen•oan. novelist, who shares'with Mr.'W. I). Howclls the 'honour of being the doyen of Amorican letters, has long 'resided in England—at the quiet little' decayed seaport of Rye. In his 73rd year, Mr. James has now bebecomo a.naturalised .British subject, his reasons for this being -"because of his having • livod 'and worked in England for the best part of forty years, because <-f his attachment to tho country, and his sympathy with it and its people, because of the long friendships and. associations he has formed here."

. . . All of which things have brought to a head his desire to throw his moral weight and personal' allegiance, for whatever they may be worth, into the scalo of the contending nations' present and future fortunes." Verily, a naturalised Briton of whom Britain may well be proud. One_ English literary paper, while welcoming 31*. James as an Englishman, suggests, I notice, "as a Roland deserves an Oliver, Mr. George Bernard Shaw should now take stops to make a present of himself to the citizenship of the United Statesof America." Tho "Pshaw person never would be missed" by loyal Englishmen! Stray Leaves. Reviews ot that much-discussed hook "J'Accuse," and of new novels by Rex Beach, Gene Stratton Porter, and others will appear next week. Maurioo Drake, tho author of that capital novel, "The Salving of a Derelict," has had a new story, "Tho Ocean .Sleuth,'' published by Methuens. Mr. Drake is one of our fighting authors, being a lieutenant in Kitchener's Army.

Tho Baroness Orczy has utilised the Napoleonic legend lin her new novel, •'The Bronze Eagle," the period of which is the Hundred Days after Napoleon's return from Elba.

Amongst ■ coining Constable novels I notice "Eltham House," by Mrs. Humphrey Ward, and "Rose of Youth," by. that clever and wonderfully versatile writer,. Elinor Mordaunt.

Stanley Paul announces a new story, "Upsidonia," by Archibald Marshall, whose stories have been so frequently compared with those of AiitTiony Trollope. , There is probably no other novelist who gives us such excellent pictures of English county society lifo as does the author of "Exton Manor" and "The Honour of the Clintons."

A recent addition to Nesbit's "Writers of tho Day" series (Is. 3d.) is a little book on "Anatole Franco," by W. L. George, the author of "The Making of an Englishman" slid "The Second Blooming." It is rather disappointing as a .crtical appreciation of this great Frenchman's .work, but it gives a helpful sumary of some of M. Thiband's most famous books.

Scotsmen, especially Aberdonians, should make a note of a littlo shilling book, "The Nor'-East," by W. S. Bruce (Hodder and Stoughton). It is a collection of sayings and anecdotes, of and about tho small farmers of Aberdeenshire. It is more a book of homely wisdom—there is a special chapter on tho virtues of thrift —and.curious folk lore than a collection of humorous stories, such as thoso gathered by Dean Bamsay and James Inglis.

Apropos to my note on the poems of "A.E." -.(George Bussell), a correspondent, ("D.!"') writos me from Trentjiam Camp to say that Macmillans published a collected edition of "A.E.'s" jxvems last year, and that this edition contains all tho work of the poet which lie considers worthy of preservation. I see, also, that a new Collected Edition is announced by Maunsells, of Dublin, vrho will also publish an appreciation of "A.E.'s" work from tho pen of that ex-, celleut ofitic, Mr. Dareli Figgis.

Some of rn.v readers niay recollcct Mr. C. E. Rousden's clover and interesting book "The lliddlo of Mars." Tho same author, who is a member of tlio British Astronomical Association, has now written a similar entitled "JLp. J?eims luliabitfidi"