New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-25
ls69.-TRIPLE SHEET.
riyiDr a, usual a. the las, moment Mrs stoves book

OF recent years OF Issuing big douDe suppiemens ""
Christmas morning largely made up Of original matter
and somewhat resembling the holiday number OF Lon
don magazine, without the illustrations IL has hitherto
held the invaluable cooperation OF the Rev. Edward
Everett Hale but his magazine, added 10 MS otner
ayocatons makes impossible for him to contribute TINS
year. The venerable paper will issue bright, livery
sheet however, spite Of his absence from Its columns
Our eclectic weekly. Erery Saturday. has experienced
complete transformation since my last letter. taxing
with very brief warning the form which seems TO De es
senal for illustrated papers, and blooming out with
few rstcass engravngs in each number The pictures
well literary contents still Of foreign origin
the publishers importing the eectroype plates from such
papers the and brilliant weekly, The Graphic and
The Illustrated London Hetrs though IN some cases the
pictures viii be reGngraved here. Every Saturday owes
great part OF its thus far to the sful editing
Of Mr. T. b. Adrch the editorial talent being quite as
strongly required In eclectic as In an original pubca
ton The character the selections Is not TO be changed
with the Introduction Of the pictorial feature
Messrs Brothers rejoicing in the happy hit
Of their silhouette Midsummer Nights Dream TO wnich
the dealers give precedence the leading book OF the
season. As the holiday hustle clears away they
will issue the books which they have been obliged to put
over-Morris's Earthly Paradise Autumn PERIOD the
English edition Of which is already out Leigh Hunts
"Day by the Fire." and George Sands Mauprat"
Little Brown Co. are issuing editions Of Prof s.
G. Browns Life of Rufus ChOate," and Mr.. Robert c.
Winhrop's Lite and Letters OF Robert c. winthrop
addtionaleters being Incorporated with the latter
The statement floating about in the atmosphere of
rumor that Miss Abigail Dodge Of Hamilton, better
known to the world as Gail Hamilton, having made q
treaty with o powerful NewYOrk publishing house. Ia
about make vigorous attack upon her former Boston
publishers, with whom she had fangout several
years ago. Her onslaught is to take the form OF book,
telling side Of the story under assumed names, and
accusing the late house OF cknor Fields Of all sorts Of
bad faith and evil treatment OF unsophiscated and
unsuspcous authOress As the house has been In thrV
ing existence than quarter Of a century, and
has before quarreled with auhoror more cor
rectly speaking never had author quarrel with it
there will be general disposition to receive the angry
ladys charges with caution. The determination to
which she has cung persisteny to assai her enemy
with book cannot but be learned with regret by both
her friends and these OF the firm and Its execution
especially surprising since it supposed that
the matter had been closed by arbitration The writer
the publishers each appointed referee. the two
chose third, and the board went carefully over the
business questions in controversy and made award
which was understood be final All these arbitrators
gentlemen Of the highest character, and one OF
them II remember rightly, is now Speaker Of the ma
tional House OF Representatives.
SOCIAL SCIENCE MATTERS.
The Social Science Association will early in jan
uary second number OF their Journal filed mainly
with the papers read the meeting in New York early
in the Fall IL Will contain about hundred pages
than predecessor The Association has received let
from Mr.. John Stuart MILL as one OF committee
OF gentlemen in England asking for some expression OF
the views OF leading this country on the practical
working OF thebalot Measures have been taken to pro-
cure pretty general expression this subject circulars
having been sent to a large number OF prominent poll
cians and editors with such inquiries Will draw out
the needed facts and opinions The information is TO be
used In discussion OF the matter which will naturally
OF the next steps in the progress of English poll
tlcal reform. Mr. Mill is himself opposed 10 the ballot
but being philosopher and not partisan he Is open to
receive light from any The suggestions made by
Mr. Horace Greeley at one Of the earlier meetings OF the
Association as TO the enterprise OF issuing cheap tracts
for the people subjects with scientific bearing such
ventilation, drainage, sexual morality and kindred
matters be acted upon at The essays will be
prepared by gentlemen recognized the best authorizes
on respective subjects, and will be circulated by
thousands the nominal prices Of five and ten cents
each Another excellent work upon which the Associa
ton is entering in hard earnest, is the preparation
library catalogues aid those interested in establish
ing public libraries in smaller cities and towns.
These catalogues will give the most desirable and essen
tal books for library Of five hundred volumes, and
mp with lists OF different grades to the number Of five
thousand books Beyond this suppose, 1t is presumed
libraries will be able to command the services Of
experts in choosing purchases for them With the
catalogues given the rules esteemed and proved
the best for the management Of libraries for public USE
aud suggestions TO methods OF founding them. The
work will under the immediate supervision of Messrs.
j. Elliot Cabot and justin wnsor but the best authOri
ties everywhere the subjects involved will be
suited
Surely the striking out OF new profession in these
days OF overclouding deserves mention achieve
ment in social science. The discovery is due to the
originality OF Mr. William f. Poole and profession
ito invent a name) is that OF librarian ut large Mr..
Poole was formerly manager of the library the Boston
.,l., hi,
having quilted it and begun to undertake commissions
for various institutions which applied to him, he has
gradually struck out his present unique occupation.
lie still resides in Boston suburb but he is director OF
libraries in different parts Of the country, serving them
all well and not the less efficiently from the facilities
which his travelling about and large acquaintance give
him He knows what books to buy, and how TO buy them
cheaply; what agencies TO employ in Europe; how 10
make card catalogues and all the various kinds Of in
dexes what regulations 10 establish for combining the
largest liberty with the most complete security; and
forth The profession is likely to give places 10 any
large number of men, since precisely such life
long experience as Mr. Pooe's in the atmosphere OF
books Is essential publication for 1t.
AMUSEMENT MATTERS.
Our Handel and Haydn Society give us their usual
Christmas eve and Christmas night oratouos, giving
1.-THE Messiah" and "Naaman, the latter for the
second time in this country Miss Adelaide Phillips sings
in both The Society will give more public perform
ances till about Easter, when they will present TO the
public after careful rehearsal Bachslst. Matthew Pas
sion Music" The ParepaRosa troupe will entertain the
musical public In January, and Mr.. Maretzeks Italians
later in the season. After you to have Mr. Fech
ter; and the spectacular " Midsummer Nights Dream"
beginning somewhat hard Mr. Selwyn purposes to
bring out the Little Emily" version OF David Copper
field" which you have already seen.
ANOTHER OF WoGAN's FOOLS
TO me Editor Of The Tribune