LITERARY NOTES. (BY OUR LONDON CORRRESPONDENT.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 392, 10 August 1889, Page 3

LITERARY NOTES. (BY OUR LONDON CORRRESPONDENT. )

London, .1 nnc 7. Srvkral novelists havo of lato adopted bho dubious device ot introducing living Royalties and politicians into their stories, under obvious pseudonyms, and making them play prominent parts in the plot. The most glaring instance of this was, of course, " The Rebel Rose," in which Air Gladstone was lepresented a 5 * a widow ci, and an old flame of Lord Harbington's adventuress wife, and Mr Chamberlain and Lord Randolph Churchill assisted materially in working out a questionable lore affair. Mr Fraser-Rae, too, takes pretty considerable liberties with the Prince ot Wale? and the Duke of Manchester, in "Miss Bayle's Romance" (of which a 2^ 6d edition is just out). Both Mr Kae and the author of "The Rebel Rose must, however, take a back seat} fj to Mr Brinsley Richard?, whoso new novel, ''Prince Roderick," i^ neither more nor less than an imaginative vurs-ion ot poor Prince Rudolph of Austria* .sad soory. The book i? thoroughly well written, and Mr Richards •seems perfectly familiar with the ins and outs, the plots and counfcer-plots of German Court life. The pseudonyms given of many of the Austrian and English notabilities in this story are so transput ent the veriest child will recognise them. " Darell Blake " is, 1 learn, the title of Lady Colin Campbells forthcoming Work to be published by Tu^chler. Jn " Bench and Bar," Mi Sergeant Kobinsou traverses much of the ground Serjeant Ballantine covered in his "*' Reminiscences," and without adding a grear. deal thereto. One ot the best stories he tells is about the •>oi-dhcmt " Sir Roger *' Tich borne and Brother Ballantine. During the tirst trial , Sir Roger complained that his counsel was too deferential, and accepted tho Lord Chiet Justice's decisions ngainst him without offering sufficiently vigorous resistance. Ballantine explained that the relations between Bench and Bar, in fact, legal etiquette, required this. *' But,*' he added, as if an after-thought, '"there can be no harm in jour abusing His Lordship a bit, Sir Roger. If you are lound guilty of perjury they can't give you more than seven years, and — well — I don't, suppose you < >■- pect /<?-*."

( The idea of a cumulative sentence had not then entered Ballantine's head. Anothevqnainfc yarn of Sergeant Robinson relate% how the Old Bailey advocate Carwood,' dn* being appointed to somo oHice, found iL wa«* essential he should cake the Sacrament. He put the matter ofVas long as he could, but at last one day seeing several persons entering a church, followed them, thinking he might as well acquit himself of the obligation. He entered a pew, and paying no attention whatever to the service, began to read a brief he had with him. When the service was over he went into the vestry and asked for a certificate. " A certificate of what, fcir ?" queried the clerk. Cur wood explained the situation His new appointment required that ho should have taken the Sacrament. " Saci*ament ! ' exclaimed the clerk ; " wbv. Lord love .you, sir, yoxCvc /».s/> hicn churched !" The chief feature of the second number of Blackwood's " Travel, Sport and Adventure i&Ueneial Wofaeley's account of '' The Ked River Expedition ' which appeared in "Maga' 5 in 1871. The number also contains "A Hide to Bab} lon,"' and two other shoi b- papers. The fine of £500 and term of three months' imprisonmont inflicted on .Henry Vi^etelly tor persisting (after having been once let oft) in publishing and circulating indifferent translations of obscene and sorofulous French novels-, was thoroughly well deserved. I don't think " The Soil " (" Night-Port " would have been a more appropriate name) and kindred works did much harm among grown - up persons. They were too dull. But boys. &Ob hold of them and circulated them secretly at school. Very Pt,rong measures bad indeed to be taken to keep Eton, If arrow and Rugby clear ot the pernicious stutt. At any school now the penalty <■>!:" being discovered in possession ofawcuk by Zola or one of his disciples is very properly expulsion. A new story by James L'ayn, called "The Burnt Million," will be commenced in next month's "Corn hill." Edna LyalJ's short tale, " Derrick Vaughan, Novelist," con-; eludes rather abruptly in "Murray's" for June. The character of the loyal, unselfish, eensifciv and imaginative young novelist who sacrifices himself without a murmur to his drunken, sneering, ungrateful old rip of a father is one of the finest AJis.s Lyall has drawn, and a highly creditable piece of I work.