Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 7.djvu/388

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NOTES AND QUERIES.

vn. MAY n, 1901.

has been neglected is, it is stated, because the world in which he lived has passed away. We still tjhirik Trollope will be revived. Once more, with becom- ing humility, we own to having no great familiarity with prose fiction. One of the best scholars we knew in early life, a man of finest taste, said that he could conceive of no pleasanter occupation than lying on a sofa and reading endless new novels of Trollope, the original of which saying is, we fancy, to be found in an assertion of Gray concerning the graceless Crebillon Jils. Stress is once more laid on the photographic nature of the observation of Trollope, whose mind, incapable of distortion or exaggeration, "lacked the necessary originality." Of the type of clergymen whom he depicted, or of the best, it is said, " And what a type it was ! For learning, devout life, knowledge of men, charm of manners, and commanding character it was pro- bably unrivalled in history." Mr. Frank R. Benson, known for his experiments in the production of Shakespeare, writes in advocacy of a ' National Theatre.' Mr. J. D. Rees, C.I.E., writes on 'The Native Indian Press,' and gives an interesting account of some of its utterances. He assumes on the part of his readers a knowledge such as few of us possess. We should have been glad of more general information concerning the character of those to whom the Indian press is due. An essay by Mr. G. F. Watts, R. A., on ' Our Race as Pioneers' is'likely to arrest and repay attention. In the Pall Mall Mr. A. H. Malan gives a good account of Dunvegan Castle, which has been described as the oldest inhabited private house in Scotland. This feudal seat of the McLeod is at least a superbly seated and most picturesque edifice, the views of which, from photographs by the author, inspire a strong desire to see it. Especially fine is the view from the drawing-room down to the sea gate. We notice some grim illustrations of ' The Earth's Earliest Inhabitants,' creatures worse and more gruesome than Milton's

Harpies and Hydras and Chimeras dire. Mrs. E. T. Cook utters a protest against ' Street Nuisances and Noises,' which we echo. The Countess of Cork writes a very interesting article on ' Etiquette,' and misquotes with an audacity worthy of the youngest of modern journalists. She owns, indeed, that she has altered Pope's famous couplet concerning "Narcissa's nature tolerably mild." Perhaps the strange substitution of ' Nar- cissus'" for Narcisisa's is due to the printer. On second thoughts we are disposed to believe it is. Mr. Archer's ' Real Conversation ' is with John Oliver Hobbes. Mr. Leslie Stephen writes in his best style on ' Romance and Science.' The most interesting portion of tic.rihntr'x consists of illus- trated descriptions of travel, all of which arc more or less stimulating. Mrs. Mary de Peixotto describes 'A Summer in Sabots,' which is descriptive of a residence in Holland. The title as printed is not too easily intelligible. 'St. Pierre Miquelon' gives an appetizing account of life on an island off the coast of Newfoundland. It has some good illus- trations of the Corpus Christ! procession. 'The Southern Mountaineer ' gives a vivid picture of life in Kentucky. ' Passages from a Diary in the Pacific ' is also agreeable reading. ' Saloons,' by R. A. Stevenson, deals with drinking places and not with haunts of the literary or the fashionable. The Corn- hill opens with Mr. Leslie Stephen's affectionate and admiring tribute to the late Mr. George M

Smith. The most important paper in the number consists of Mr. Sidney Lee's admirable article on 'Shakespeare and Patriotism.' This, which is of course equally thoughtful and erudite, maintains the thesis that Shakespeare's is the true patriotism, consisting of a frank criticism of the policy of the nation and those who initiate it, and of a censure of English extravagances or weaknesses as earnest as his admiration for English virtue. ' Provincial Letters from Lichfield ' is sparkling. A further con- tribution to the history of the Indian Mutiny by Dr. Fitchett is almost too harrowing. It is well, how- ever, if only for the sake of the future, to bear in mind the past that is depicted. ' The Conscience of Murderers' opens out some curious speculations. Dr. Garnett's ' Alms for Oblivion ' is specially learned. Mr. Herbert M. Sanders sends to the Gentleman's a paper on Sir Robert Howard, a well- known Restoration dramatist whose plays are now rather rare. Mr. H. Schiitz Wilson has a capital account of Rachel, the great actress. Miss Geor- giana Hill describes Baron Malmesbury, and Col. Trevor a remarkable Indian trial. Mr. Andrew Lang occupies almost the whole of ' At the Sign of the Ship ' in Longman's with a protest against the recent utterances of Mr. Churton Collins. He has also something to say which deserves to be said in defence of what is called "log-rolling." Mr. Bruce-Angier describes the card-playing lives of our ancestors, of which memoirs are full. Mr. W. H. Hudson has a brilliant piece of painting of ' A Summer's End on the Itchen. 3 Among much stirring fiction the Idler has some articles of serious interest, first among which is an admirable account by Commander J. C. Gillmore, of the U.S. Navy, oi an imprisonment among the Filipinos.

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