The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-01
LITERARY CHIT-CHAT.

Mr.. ADAM BLACK, sometime Lord Provost OF
Edinburg, and noted publisher, Is writing
memoirs OF his life and times.
ANTHONY TRoLLOPE was at last accounts among
the miners in New South Wales. His lives in the
mining district near Sidney.
The LITERARY JOURNALS are COMP aiming, and
with some reason, OF the almost unparalleled dui
ness OF the book publishing market IN the United
States at present Hardly single notable book in
literature has recently appeared and what Is worse
none are promised for speedy issue.
Mr.. WILLIAM CHAMBERS will publish In February
his memoir OF his brother the late eminent Robert
Chambers.
SUPPLEMENT TO THE "VILLAGE BUILDER
containing eighteen modern designs for country
and SUBURBAN houses, with elevations, plans,
sections and variety Of interesting de-
tails drawn to scale, has been published
by A. J. Bicknell & Co., OF New York, Each
design is accompanied by full specifications and
estimates OF cost, which gives the work real
value to such as desire to build.
NEW PUBLISHING UNDERTAKING, with several
features OF interest both to authors and the public,
Is announced by d. Appleton h Co. Professor +. l..
Youmans VINO has been IN Europe for several
months past has made arrangements for bringing
out series Of monographs, or compressed hand
books, on wide range OF topics, to be prepared
by the most eminent scientific men OF different
scientific SERIES" The topics treated In this series
will be those of equal interest 10 all reading COM
munities; It's general aim being to give authentic
yet popular expression to the latest and growing
thought on the leading subjects OF progressive In
quiry. The various branches OF physical, biological
psychological and social science, which have under
gone marked revision wfthin.a recent period, Will
be so presented as to help to better understanding
OF the phenomena of human nature and the econO-
arranging this series to give 1t an authentic char
acter. Each book will be from q recognized master
Of his theme. To secure this object committee OF
three OF the most eminent scientific men or London
will decide upon the English contributions TO the
series, and corresponding committees have been
formed In Paris ana Berlin TO determine upon the
French ana German contributions.
ELI PERKINS, OF the Commercial, ADVERTISER,
whose real name is M. D. Landon, Is about to pub
lish his biography OF ARENAS Ward" through
Messrs Carleton g. Co., Of New York.
NEW AMERICAN MONTHLY IL announced under
the title OF The Fine Arts" which Will be devoted
to art in all ts branches, but WIN embrace the
whole field Of Intellectual culture Especial atten-
ton Is promised to art criticisms There Is plenty
of room for such work, but In view OF the rivalry
It will have 10 sustain with the English art journals
behooves the publishers to secure the best talent
within reach for the various departments This Is
the only condition upon which the enterprise can
be successful.
THE JANUARY NUMBER OF ART has remarkable
| article ON "The Vague Notions People Have About
Progress, - in which Mr.. Charles Burton undertakes
to prove that the vulgar notion OF indefinite prog
ress is incorrect, and that tits questionable whether
or not the increased development OF the knowledge
| Of physical science Is making mankind generally
either better or WISER Everything essential to the
moral and physical (evelopment OF man was known
before the engine, and, as the writer justly
remarks, modern progress has not yet been able to
| produce Shakespeare a Titan or an Angelo. The
Illustrations by the neOtype process are rem arka
| bly, beautiful. They include "Nadonna and
Chd,n alter COrregiO ''By the Sea Shore" after j.
ID. Crlttenden, one Of the rising En- gsh scuptors.
ana line portrait or Prince Rupert, from paint.
Ing attributed 10 Velasquez.