New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-23

made bis proposal He is, however, writer on
leading Conservative Journal and able to secure al
tention for whatever views he holds.
Mr. +. Marion CrawforPs new novel, 10 Lee
wardD appears to-day in two crown Svo, yolumes
with the imprint Of Chapman IL Hall, Limited,
and the extremely misleading date 1854. TIC haolt
of ante-dating books is one which seems 10 DO IN
ereasing among publishers and one against winch
vetybody with a pen III his hand shoulu protest.
So NAV he against that other habit. also exempned
here of printing advertisements on the oahk page
fronting the title of the book; winch II dshgures
and from which it nevertheless cannot be torn out
hocopee tbe Avtitle is on the same side Mr.. Craw-
ford dedicates his present story afeetonately To
nv uncle Samuel Ward, Of New-fork"
asked bookseller lately, the most intelligent
and honest of his profession, how the so-caed ed,t
ions DE- lure were prospecting. "Well" said he, 81
shoud he glad 10 sell yon the Fielding at cost price;
any of the Others at half price" What this means
may be seen from a cursOry comparison OF nominal
and real prices The Dickens for instance, was
uublshcd al $50. IL was quoted at $22o IL cost
the bookseller think, little over 800. And he
is now rcady-nay he would be ado sell IL lor
little over $50 And comes to an end several Ill
judged bookmaking speculations
Apropos of prices, ! see NJ Gonse's "IArt Jap
onais advertised in NewYork at $50 for copies on
ordinary paper 1920 for copies on japanese paper
of which latter the French publisher gives his Gus
TONERS 10 understand that but 100 copies III All
have been printed for sale. The price Oh thlS DOOR
in Paris is 900 francs With the discount the new
York importer pays certainly not more thah PloV
fro,cs ar $40 The duty il % per cent making the
cost 1897 so; leaving to him pr0ht Oh w oo' oi'
il we deduct freight and other expenses, OF SZo OF
some 10 ner cent. On the Japanese paper copies 1t
a., l,tgi Of
nortipc, IN New.York is one of those that leads tn
fortune il not TO fame. still more striking III
stance Is perhaps supplied by the American importer
of Sir William Stirling Maxwells " Don John OF
| AustrioD Messrs Longnans publish this book at
two puineas 1t costs the importer IN London
about 81 DUTY and expenses would hardly brlhs
the cost up to $40 but see it advertised IN New
| York at $50. II the American buyer likes 10 pay
| such prices have not a word to say. Bnt 90 as
| snre him that by sending to an agent III London ho
| can get books mucn cheaper Only he would have
| to choose his agent with discretion.
The sale of the Rockford Library came TO close
Yesterday. the final portion having taken but four
| DAVIS 10 dispose Of and realizing t6,sl3. The sum
received for the whole Is E73,jjl Interest IN the
sale has been kept mp throughout, but there was
nothing in this last portion To rival the attractions
of the earlier divisions. Fine bindings and the hne
| condition of most of the books Wcr" IthdIkhnl''
lint few great prices for single volumes were obtain
! cd The highest have noticed was c3i5 for the
"Vioillcs drs Morris one of NeTard's books printed
an yellum. without date hut before 1900, lllnm-
mated with thirty brilliant full-pagc miniatures and
| hound. or said to be bound. by Deromc.
Mr. Pincro. I hear. feels himself much age
prieycd by Mr.. Iabouchercs criticism IN Itut. on
his new uav that he intends 10 bring action Of
libel against him. If le is wise he will do nothing oil
the kind. hut he is probably too angry to be wise.
Mr. Laboucherc's language is certainly not wanting
! in plaluncss He heads his article Comedy oi
! Cabs" and speaks of Mr. pincro as " having been
! recently detected in an act Of unblnshing plagar-
ism and painfully brought 10 book fer pilicring tn"
! wares OF brother tradesman.' THIS is hbcous
enough in the legal sense Of tho word. Bat what pIct
f. scene there would les IN court If Mr.. Labouchere
should undertake n he certainly would. To justify
hi. charge! ~ for the criticism on Lords and
! Co,nmous" il is of the kind known rs slasllug
| Whenever Mr. Pmcro has bored the audience TO
death with his character sketches he calls on Mrs
Bernard Bccrc to bit. and 50 pull down the Cur
tain with effect" And the critic winds up with the
remark which ono hears all sides. that If the play
succeeds IL will be- due to the actress. who by sheer
courage forces 10 the front of the least sympa-
| tb,tic characters IN a wholly uusympathctic play"
Mr. Pncro may like this kind of criticism, nor
| can hc bo pleased at hearing hiss from the stalls
| But is "a man who misses To be sued for hbclf And
! if lac is will it make Mr. PnerO's play more popn-
| lnrf o. w =