The Republican journal., 1892-03-24
Literary News and Notes.

Tales From Town Topics, No. 3 MarcD
Il hcW issue ot the quarterly publication of
tlIat name, has appeared, and proves to
be as Jolly a collection Of bright literary
productions as Were its two predecessors.
Town Topics, y West 23d street, New
iolk.
Ex-Postmaster-G General James has writ
ten an article ON The Ocean Postal Ser
vice for the April Century. Mr.. James
advocates a letter-rate of two cents an
ounce ion ocean postage, and reduction
III the rate on international money ORDERS
He thinks this reform more needed than
chat OF lower rate OF postage on domes-
tic letters.
The American Ship builder, New York,
says; Lovers of good sea narratives will
be glad to learn that John W. Lowell d
Co., of 142 Worth street, New York. will
re-publish the world renowned sea stories
of the late Herman Melville, which have
been out OF print for the last ten years.
''Typee, real romance of the South
seas, will be ready March -, and "Omoo''
Gts sequeD may be expected a month
later: to be followed by The White Jacket,
etc.
Wolthington & Co., al Broadway, New
\ ork, have published as No II in their
Rose Library, "Some Children of Adam,
10y r. NJ. Marley, a well-developed story,
easily winning and retaining the reader S
attention to the end. 1t is a vital contri-
button to the social study of New y ork
society, for it presents a picture of Amer
lean life that is most captivating to the
thoughtful reader. There is such an at
mosphere of the reality over the uncom-
,a,,1lh How Of 4
tive shows such careful study and shrcwd
observation Of metropolitan life, that
those who viii notice the types, distinct
and interesting in their personality, will
at once recognize the veracity of the re-
presentation. Fol this reason it will pro-
duce profound impression wherever
New ork influence is predominant.
Price, cloth GllustrateD 81; paper 80
cents.
The Century has taken up the campaign
ion good roads The April number CON
tains suggestive article on ''Our Com
mon Roads by Isaac B. Potter editor
of Good Roads and practical engineer
The author points out the enormous loss
to this country through the present gen
eral condition of American roads, a loss
which falls not only upon the farmer but
upon city people as well, who are com
PEELED to pay unnecessary prices for hav-
ing produce brought to them. An Amer
lean consul in France reports that the
road system of that country (the most
perfect system in the world) ''has been of
greater value to the country as means of
raising the value of lands than have the
railways" In France every market-c cart,
with its broad tire, is a road maker. Mr.
Potter article is full of practical sugges-
tions for the betterment of American roads,
and it is fully illustrated
William Morris, Poet, Artist, Socialist.
A Selection from his Writings, together
with a Sketch of the Man.-Edited by
Francis Watts Lee. No. ) of The Social
Science Library. The often quoted genius
who declared that it was immaterial to
him who made a country's laws, so long
as he might frame its songs, uttered what
is, at least, considerable part of truth
He pointed to the dictionary and remind
ed us that the poet is the "maker''
and that the untold generations who slow
ly nodded the English tongue agreed in
adopting the Greek conception that the
man who put the thought and life of his
people into verse was essentially the one
who ''made' his time. The great claim
of William Morris-who is poet alike in
prose and verse-upon the English speak
ing race, is that he has given us the imag-
inings and aspirations that, under all its
sordid dress, pant in the Anglo Saxon