New-York tribune., 1873-07-24
FOREIGN LITERARY TOPICS.


d. CONWAY ENGAGED on NEW BooK-hR'
JOAQUIN AIIIERs LIFE AMONG THE MoDocS'-
MR.. GERALD MASSEY TO LECTURE IN AMERICA
irRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRlBUFB'l
LONDON, July 9.-At last Mr.. Ruskln mas
permited a new edition of his "MOdorn Painters 10
appear in the same size type and with all the Illus
traons of the last The book had become 80 scarce-
rather two volumes OF had-that Of late years IL mas
been difficult to get really good copy at any price, IL
fetched on one occasion s25 in cloth, at auction hough
its market price when atainable has been about 80 or
doube the publication price. But the demand ior the
book has been out Of all proportion to the supply why
Mr. Rusn objected to its repubhcationls Is explained III
his Preface 70 the new edition, whchis an autoDOgaph
ica curiosity, like most recent writings OF MT husn
He has yielded, he says with some violence 10 MS own
feelings "for many parts Of the first and second VOL
umes are written in enthusiasm and the SUD
stance OF their metaphysical and religious speculation is
only ustaabe on the ground OF its absolute honesty
THIS alusion seems to make it proper to say-What Is
certainly no among careful readers OF Mr. huS
kns later wrngs-tbat his theological opinions nave
undergone d complete change since his younger days.
The relgous-profoundy religious-element in bis ma
ture remains and must always remain the same but he
would not now make Biblical phraseOlogy the basis OF
such arguments as arc scattered throughout his works
in the famous Lectures on Architecture and Painting
for example. The preface proceeds
OF the third fourth and nth volumes indeed mean
eventually to realrauge what think OF permanent IN
ercst. the complete edition OF my works Out WIN
fewer and less elaborate illustrations nor nave ave- @ anS
appear the irregular form which 1t took rs ~ was
wren since OF the teaching and landscape descrp-
tion have little 70 retrcnch and nothing 10
reract This final edition must however be limited 70
thousand copies, for some OF the more delcaG pdCs
are already won, that Of the Mill stream in the hftn
volume and Of the Lore SIDE very lLJurlousy WINE
that of the shores OF Whar had 10 be retoucbed by an
encravcr the removal OF the mezIount Tor reprint
ing. But Mr.. mytascs, Mr. Cousen's, and Mr.. Guns
magnificent plates stl ~ good state ana my own
etchgs though injured arc stu good enough 70 answer
their purpose sign WIN 10y own % ,'5 ne 6t inv NJ
prossious Of the original plates now produceabc ana
belonging to the last edition OF the book ~ us e0mpee
! FORM JOHN RUskN'
The wording Of the last sentence might leave ques-
ton open whether Mr. Ruskn signs the preface once for
all signs each copy lie Is not the man TO take refuge
| IN an ambiguity from little fatigue. But If anybody
should he ncreduous, comparison Of different copies
will show that the signature varies and that each buyer
gets an actual autograph Of the great writer.
A new book 10y Matthew Arnold is always an event.
The criticisms Literature and Dogma" have hardly
died away, yet another and very different work is an
nouneed by Macmillan nearly ready-the " Higher
Schools and Universities Of Germany" Few English
men have studied the subject Of education more closely
than MI Arnold; fewer still have had occasion to make
special inquiry into continental systems, as hc has
The present book contains the results Of years
work, and spite Of the reverence hc must have for the
English high school system which his fathers name
lends such luster hr. Arnods views are not likely 70
err from too great conservatism. IL may be assumed
that the present book is critical well as historical
Tnc same publishers promise Nj p. G. Hamertons
Thoughts about Art shortly; also book on which
the critics will fasten Toe volume OF their we'll
known Globe Library" is translation Of Horace into
English prose with introdueons running analysis, notes.
sc. This is by no means meant what English
boys call q "crD" and Americans more expressyey
"pony, ;" but If anything like the Virgil Of the
series 1t is a book which even good scholars may be
glad to own Anything that brings Horace to us
really nearer and not merely makes him easy reading
is thing TO be thankful for III this practical age.
Mr.. NJ D. Conway is at work a book shortly TO be
published, entitled "The Sacred Anthology, Book of
Ethulcal Scriptures" and described collection and
methodical classification OF the finest passages from the
Bibles and cherished volumes Of all and past ages,
including selections from tie Old and New Tesaments,
IN carefully revised versions Mr. COnway's studies
have long been OF a kind 70 ht him for making such
compilation He began By experiencing the need of it
in his own work, and ends by supplying it for others
not bad genesis for a book Of any kind. MI Emerson
and Prof Max Miller have both interested themselves
in the present endcavOr aud both given hints and help
Of various and valuable kinds. Messrs Trbner publish
it, but the publication is be by subscription and the
names OF subscribers may DC sent direct to Mr. Conway
the price in such being Gd-about s. % in
] reDcy.
MI joaquin Millers " Life Among the Modocs" was
TO have ready to-day but is delayed and will not
be out till week He styles it unwriIten history"
and it is presume, secret that Mr.. Mlers views OF
Indian life and of the Indian himself very unlike
those which prevail among the generality Of white men
at the West The book defense Of the Indians. and
as defense Of the Indians implies pretty strong cen
sure on those who attack them there is prospect OF
lively discussion ahead. Bentley Son bring it out in
an octave volume IA shlings. doubt whether such
an enterprise would pay If the author not Joaquin
Miller British interest in the Modocs cannot be very
great but in MI Miller 1t is considerable There is s
however Society the Protection Of the AOorgines
lust as there Society for the Cow eIsion OF the jews
aud believe the former has made rather more headway
than the latter. In Anenca, where Mr. Miller has, OF
course. copyright, his book will be published little
later than in England
The sale Of Mr. Macreadys library which occurred on
Tuesday hardly deserves notice except for the contrast
IL offered TO the Perkins sale. The rich brewer formed
collection Of literary brcaDrac Just had his tastes
turned that way, he might have formed collection Of
old china. II is sad TO have cost him about s0 and
II sold for 22OO much TO the delight OF his heirs
Mr. Macready had a working dramatic and miscel-
laueous library-boOks TO USE and used them and he
and not his heirs got the benefit OF them and they sold
for a few hundred pounds One book and only one,
fetched as much R25, EgertOns Theatrical ReDem-
brances with notes OF John Philip Kemble hear that
the vellum Mazarn Bible which fetched $500 at the
Perkins sale was bought for Lord Ashburnham.
Among the Engishmen who 30 TO America this year Is
MI Gerald Massey tho poet who has engagement with
the American Literary Bureau. Mr.. Massey was once
and I presume still is-well known in the United
States by his poems especially by the volume in which
the Ballad Of Babe Chrystabe appeared. He is one OF
the sefmade Of tins country, where such men are
less than with and where 10 be born OF poor
parents Gerald Massey was, means usually life OF
hard work with little pay or success
Of any kind. He worked in silk mill. then
as straw-paitcr. then got q little teaching In
tiona school, enough TO read the Bible Pilgrims Pro-
gress and Robinson Crusoe. Then he dred TO London,
where he found some sort Of mercantile employment
In ls6 then l8 years Old he published his first book OF