480
NOTES AND QUERIES. [9 th s. x. DEC. 13, 1902.
direct pecuniary relations with the press." It has
been the practice of some from whom we might
have hoped for better things to blame the
Edinburgh in its youth for its errors regarding
imaginative literature; but it should be borne in
mind that when new things relating to what is
beyond the senses burst 'on the world they are
commonly not appreciated quite so readily as a
discovery in mechanics. The young men were, with-
out doubt, mistaken when they roughly criticized
Byron and Wordsworth, and, in a less degree, Scott ;
but let us remember that even Shakespeare was not
fully appreciated until a hundred years after his
death ; refined and educated men and women of
the seventeenth century certainly preferred Ben
Jonson. One of the chief merits of the Edinburgh
has been the loyalty with which from first to last it
has opposed obscurantism, and fought on behalf of
those who have striven to enlarge our conceptions
of the physical universe. For many years it had
the world against it, and that most foolish of all
questions, "What is the good of all this?" was
constantly asked of young men who, on the spur of
the moment, were not supplied with a ready answer.
' The Rise and Influence of Darwinism ' is excellent.
To anyone who reads it carefully it will become more
evident than it has been before that it is utterly
impossible for the wisest of us to make up his mind
beforehand what facts are of even utilitarian value
to beings such as we are. The teachings of Darwin
and various schools of thinkers that have built on
his foundation have given an immense stimulus not
only to the physical sciences, but to history also,
and even to those things which the antiquary
delights to contemplate. Darwin may, perhaps,
never have thought of this. It has been the function
of his followers to guide observation in many direc-
tions untravelled by himself. The paper on the
poetry of the nineteenth century is by one who has
evidently read nearly everything worth study in the
poetic literature of the time of which he treats.
With by far the greater part of what he says we are
in full agreement, but in some cases we dissent
strongly, and should endeavour to hold our own
against all comers. To say that " the lowest depths
beneath style were plumbed by Wordsworth " is
surely wild talking. Helen of Troy, Brynhild, and
Sita, the wife of Rama, the much-suffering heroine
of the great Indian epic 'Ramayana,' are contrasted
in ' Three Race Heroines of Epic Story.' The
contrasts are well worked out. We ought, we
suppose, to love Sita far more than the others, but
we must confess that the savagery of our Northern
nature compels our heart to turn to Brynhild, or
even to the frail Helen, rather than to her gentler
sister. We are pleased by ' The English Novel of
the Nineteenth Century.' There is none of that
unctuous flattery or savage blame we so often meet
with in criticisms of the novels of the past. The
writer remembers, what some people seem to forget,
that personal predilection is an unsafe guide in
the criticism or works of a time that has become
historic.
BOOKSELLERS and their assistants will be in- terested in a booklet just issued by the Booksellers' Provident Institution. It contains full particulars as to the advantages offered. The society, founded sixty-five years ago, has distributed over 72.00W., and no application within the rules has been refused. An assistant subscribing at the age of eighteen can secure a life membership by the payment in one
instalment of 161. 6s. IQd., or by an annual payment
of 13s. lid., while those joining later in life can do
so on equally favourable terms. If a member
should go out of the trade he still retains his claim
on the Institution. The booklet contains a portrait
of Mr. Thomas Brown and several views of the
Retreat, including its interesting library. Any one
looking at the figures given in this little book can
see at a glance the "important facts and striking
figures " it contains, and it should be largely helpful
in bringing in new members. The permanent fund
amounts to 30,OOOZ., and it is provided that this
shall in no circumstances be reduced. The booklet
can be obtained of Mr. George Lamer.
MESSRS. PHILLIMORE & Co. have issued a list of their genealogical and antiquarian publica- tions issued at 124, Chancery Lane. These include Mr. W. P. W. Phillimore's 'How to Write the History of a Family ' ; ' Pedigree Work ' ; ' The Lord Mayors and Sheriff's of London,' by Claren- ceux King of Arms ; Mr. Gaskell's ' Portfolio of Royal Descents,' and innumerable other works of highest importance to genealogists and antiquaries, including various parish registers and family histories.
MR. T. FISHER UNWIN is about to issue a mono- graph on Lady Diana Beauclerk by Mr. Stewart ErsKine, which he asks us to bring to the notice of our readers. Any one possessing letters or diaries relating to her or her husband, or pictures or drawings of hers, who is willing to allow such material to be used, is asked to communicate with Mr. Unwin at 11, Paternoster Buildings Every care will be taken, and drawings or sketches will be returned as soon as possible.
|tntias to
We rmist call special attention to the following notices :
ON all communications must be written the name and address of the sender, not necessarily for pub- lication, but as a guarantee of good faith.
WE cannot undertake to answer queries privately.
To secure insertion of communications corre- spondents must observe the following rules. Let each note, query, or reply be written on a separate slip of paper, with the signature of the writer and such address as he wishes to appear. When answer- ing queries, or making notes with regard to previous entries in the paper, contributors are requested to put in parentheses, immediately after the exact heading, the series, volume, and page or pages to which they refer. Correspondents who repeat queries are requested to head the second com- munication " Duplicate."
J. PLATT, Jun. Many thanks for newspaper con- taining your reply concerning " Nark."
E. P. W. See Hood's 'Miss Kilmansegg.'
NOTICE.
Editorial communications should be addressed to "The Editor of 'Notes and Queries'" Adver- tisements and Business Letters to " The Pub- lisher" at the Office, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane, E.C.
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