LITERARY NOTES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 459, 2 April 1890, Page 3

LITERARY NOTES.

(From Our London Corres von dent.)

London, January 17. The latest freak of the Sage of Hawarden |s to renew memories of his youth by going into residence for a time at Oxford. To this end a most comfortable set of rooms at All Souls’ College have been placed at Mr Gladstone’s disposal, and bo intends to occupy them eu f/arcon forthwith. One result of this period of academical seclusion will certainly be a rich crop of articles in the reviews and magazines. Wilkie Collins’ library, which was sold at Puttick's on Monday, contained nothing of any interest or value, save a copy of the rare 3-volume edition of “Great Expectations.” A seedier collection of fusty presentation copies and E’rench yellow-backs I have seldom seen. Evidently, the great novelist cared little for reading. There was, for example, not a single volume of poetry in the collection. Jessie Fothergill’s new novel, “ A March in the Ranks,” will sadly disappoint those who take it up with the expectation of enjoying a treat like “Kith and Kin ” or “The First Violin.” The scene is partly laid at a Yorkshire hydropathic establishment, and partly at the country house of the villain of the story. The latter is not a very appalling person, though Miss Fobhergill tries hard to induce the reader to think the young man so. He makes the fact of suffering from heart disease an excuse to separate himself from a low-born wife, whose vulgarities annoy him, and then proceeds to flirt scandalously with his sister’s friend. This lady (a highly-educated but incredibly naive and innocent young woman) lias no notion the wicked husband is making love to her until he proposes an elopement, when she nearly expires with horror. The most amusing part of the story, however, relates the experiences of the young doctor hero at the hydropathic establishment of which he is temporary head.

The second-hand bookseller who gave £45 for a copy of Lamb’s “ Prince Dorus ” at the Mackenzie sale last year, under.the impression that it was the rare first edition, finds out too late it was the second, and is worth perhaps a sovereign. The first edition of “Prince Dorus ” should be dated 1811, and not 1818, as incorrect bibliographies state. As the book was distinctly catalogued a first edition, the buyer intends trying to recover from the auctioneer?.

In the course of the past week it has transpired that the lady who so generously transferred her pension from the literary fund to the late Dr. Westland Marston was Miss Muloch, better known as Mrs Craik, the author of “John Halifax, Gentleman,” etc., etc. When she died the pension was, through the unobtrusive generosity of Henry Irving, still continued to Dr. Marston. Mr William Westall and Mr Clark Russell are tho last writers engaged to do novelettes for “ Lippineotb’s Magazines.” Mr Russell’s latest sea-story, “ An Ocean Tragedy,” will be published in three volumes to-morrow. It is a rather gruesome description of an injured husband's pursuit of his runaway wife and her lover. The wicked pair make for the Cape in a large pleasure yacht which has been lent them. The husband discovers this, and, accompanied by his sister-in-law and an old sailor-cousin (who tells the story), resolves to chase the yacht with a fast-sailing schoone.'. After all sorts of adventures the runaways are captured, and lover and husband fight a duel on the deck of the schooner. The lover is shot dead, and the husband incontinently goes mad. How the tale ends it would not be fair to say. Longmans have just published a new edition of “Macaulay’s Essays,” which fills a distinct want. It is in two volumes, and printed in large, clear type on good paper, and with sufficient margin for notes—-uni-form, in fact, with life of the historian. This, no doubt, explains the christening of tho edition the “ Trevelyan.” Thirty-seven thousand copies of_ Mr Jerome K. Jerome’s “Three Men in a Boat ” have, the publishers tell us, been sold since September last. The same author’s “ Stageland ” has also been phenomenally successful, He is not writing anything at present, but will set to work at once on a new series of semi-humorous essays like the “ Idle Thoughts*” should his forthcoming dramatic venture at Terry’s Theatre hit the mark. Mr Jerome occupied the chair at the Playgoers’ Club last Saturday evening, and made a characteristically witty speech on what he termed the “ invalid drama.” The new novels of the week include “ Suspense,” by Mr H. J. Merriman, author of “i'oung Mistley” and “The Phantom Future;” “In Satan’s Bonds,” by Fredk. Eastwood ; and “ The Bull I’ the Thorn,” by Paul Cushing, whose “ Blacksmith of Yoe ” did fairly well two years ago. Lady Florence Dixie hopes to set the Thames on tire in about two months’ time with a work entitled “Gloriana, or the Revolution of 1900.” The Revolution of 1900 is to result in the complete concession of women’s rights.

In an interview with the correspondent of a French paper at Cairo, Stanley confirmed the extraordinary statement that he is to receive £40,000 for his new book. Of course, this means for the American a 3 well as English editions, and there are said to be at least two newspaper syndicates concerned.

In addition to Hall Caine’s “ The Bondman,” which is a story on much the same lines as Buchanan s “ God and the Man,” Mr William Heineman announces that he will shortly publish “ Come Forth,” a tale of Jewish life at the time of Christ by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, and “A Very Strange Family,” by T. W. Robinsor. Mr W. S. Gilbert, having seen ~ The Gondoliers ” floated on a long career of prosperity, starts early next month for a tour of India, Australia and possibly New Zealand. The Australian portion of the tour is not, however, absolutely settled, but will depend on how much or how little the King of Whimsies likes India. To show what a successful play is worth now adays, 1 may mention that on Saturday evening last the sum of £25,000 was offerod and refusod for “ all rights ” (outside the Savoy Theatre) in “The Gondoliers.” Though this sounds a large sum, the purchaser would have made, a bargain. “ All rights,” remember, signifies fees for performances in the provinces of America, Australia, etc., and also the profits from sales of music, songs, books of words. The great risk one would run would be the chance of the opera failing, like “ Ruddigore” and the “ The Yeomen,” to catch on in the States.

Letters from Mr David Christie Murray himself confirm the iil-news that his lectures which began so well in Melbourne have since proved complete financial failures. Stuart Cumberland, who should know something of your part of the world from an entertainers point of view, explains this phenomenon by alleging that the days for lectures to make money in Australia are over. The late R. A. Proctor did well with his magic-lantern shows, pocketing (so R. L. Smythe says) a clear profit of £4,000 (much of which was sunk in “ Knowledge”). Forbes also did well, but Sala (though G. A. S. will never admit it) failed dismally. “ The Australians,” alleges Cumberland, “prefer a bad play to a good lecture nowadays. Lectures are too slow for them.” If this be true I fear a sad awakening lies in store for ray friend the author of “ Ginx’s Baby,” whose hopes seem in no way dashed by Christie Murray’s failure. “Our lines are so different,” says Mr Jenkins. To which, recalling the two men’s speeches at the Murray valedictory banquet, one felt inclined to reply fervently, “ Indeed they are.' 1