New-York tribune., 1893-10-02
LITERARY NOTES.

The new Riverside Edition Of Thoreaus Works Is
TO be complete In ten volumes. A limited number
of copies will be printed on large paper.
Are the public libraries OF America doing better
work than those of England? An English literary off,
cial who lately paid visit to this country says that
they are not. though they worked at greater
cost than the English He comedies that the
American libraries have minor advantages. among
which he notes the system of giving readers ac-
cess to the reference shelves instead of invariably
compelling them to make applications in writing for
each book to be consulted. The British Museum
permits this freedom. but II is not allowed In most
Of the smaller public libraries of England
The electric-light experiment at the British Mu-
scum. by the way. is reported to be notable sue
cess: Scholars will now be enabled TO disregard
the foggy winter weather OF London which gave
them 40 few hours of daylight for their library
work; and they may now use the long winter eve-
nings at the Museum.
Mr.. Howellss new novel, 1.-The Coas, of Bohemia" "
Is nearly ready for publication in book form.
The French Revolution. in its influence upon
Europe and Napoleons career as reformer
rather than as a conqueror have been treated in
Forthcoming book by MIR. Moore Stephens. The
work will bear the title of "A History of Europe
from l7S9-lSl5."
Tom Sawyer has again appeared in the world OF
books. This time Mark Twain has taken him into
strange countries on flying machine; and his al
ventures under the title OF Tom Sawyer Abroad
will first appear in serial form in "St. Nicholas"
The forthcoming volume in Mr.. Henry Nor
iey's series of English Writer'S will deal with
Shakespeare and his time
Mr. Richard Harding Davis's book THE
Rulers OF the Mediterranean will be published
oo0n hv fhe HarOprS
the young mans observations in Spain. Africa and
other interesting regions.
Professor a. 3. Hart. of Harvard. contributes to
the October "Chautauqua' an interesting article on
the study of history. He advises the reader to
of universal history 1.-The nebulae Of hu-
man events in which sparkle the stars OF human
character" Let us avoid wars and rumors or
wars" he adds. "Of all subjects upon which the
human intellect be employed military history
Is one of the least profitable. To follow campaigns
on the map teaches military science. but it does
not teach history. To know the names OF battles
and of commanders and the numbers of their troops
Is TO follow the method of a worthy but wrong
headed teacher of art in young ladies' seminary
In Massachusetts
".What is this picture" she asked at exam
tnaton.
"It is picture of the Apollo Belvidere.'
"'Where is that statue"
"In Rome
"Tn what part of Rome?'
"In the Vatican.
In what part Of the Vatican"
"Tn the eastern corridor. the third alcove to the
right
THAT will do.
"The description Of museum is as valuable as
the description of battle, except in so far as
either puts us in the place of artists or OF the
commanders troops and enables us to share their
spirit and to sympathze with their purpose Hence
let us choose no period simply because 1t is studded
with wars.
John Strange Winters novel is to wear the
pdd title of 1.-The Soul of the Bishop Mrs Ken
pard the feminine novelist who delights in writing
about horses. is bringing out a story TO be calieo
1.-THE Hunting Girl
Professor MacLean, of the University of Mime
sota has been at work for some years upon the
vocabulary of edition of Zupitzas "Old ana
Middle English Reader" and the edition will soon
be published by the Macmillans.
One of the young women who won prizes In the
recent English contest for the best essays written
by women Byron, Shelley and Keats is said 10
be grandnece of Ralph Waldo Emerson
A new work by Mr. Stanley LanePoole is COM
ing out in London under the title of "The Moham-
MADAM Dynastes" 1t is TO contain tables ana pedi-
grees of the Khalfs and princes of Islam from the
seventh to the nineteenth century. with historical
introductions and ndices.
A particularly handsome holiday volume which
is now the Harper press is work on the his
tory Of the art of engraving. Its author is Mr.
w O. Chaplin. 1t is contain sixty engravings
and heogravures, chiefly reproductions Of represen-
tative works of masters of the art.