The herald., 1894-10-21

The fall announcement of new books
is bewildsring. Counting the output of
40 publishing houses we find an aggre-
gate OF full thousand new publications
and new editions OF old ones. McMil-
Ian & Co. lead in the length OF Lists.
closely followed by the Appletons.
Charles Scribner's Sons. Harper & Bros,
Longmans, Green & Co., Lippincott
and Houghton, Mifflin & Co. These 40
DO the bulk of general publishing,
though there are many others who
might have place in the line. Surely
one may feel that nothing will be want
ing this winter in the line Of book buy
ing except the money to enable one to
stock or replenish the household lib.
rary.
We sre further told that the promise
OF good trade is on oil hands, and the
quantity OF literature cent out Is the
best evidence of this belief. Beaides,
the word has gone forth that even in
society there is to be an intellectu al
winter, and amusements OF light
order are not to be encouraged as they
have been for two or three seasons.
One publisher declares that books are
now necessities and no longer luxuries.
II this be so-and it looks like it-then
the publisher is becoming more and
more a merchant instead of literary
purveyor. He must have the CONNER
l.x.r Ill 81. .4o<.s i
whether a MS. will be required for in
tellectual food. A Boston publisher
once told the writer that literary taste
was out OF place in most publishing
houses. 1t led to expensive booke, and
those of doubtful market value, and
declared that Fields, the Ticknors, Os-
good and others of the literary men who
make books fsiled to get profit and
wealth because their standard of excel
lsnce was too high. They paid too much
for real merit. and they risked too much
in the way OF fine binding. One who
looks over the publishing field for the
last quarter OF u century must be i'm.
pressed with the truth of this mans
words. We have timely books, with
taking titles and dainty makeup; but
the old. time scholar, who made books
because he loved them, has small place
in the world OF publishers today. The
successful bookmaker and seller these
days is not hampered by literary taste
or tendency.
Not few OF the most salable books
now made ready for the fell and winter
trade relate to what is called-for lack
of better name-the socialist question.
They are not on lines laid down by eco
nomics or philosophy. but belong largely
to the empirical. Never was such stress
OF purpose az now to find ideals, as il
these authors had not seen or cannot
heed the blessed refrain of the sweetest
book of the year just gone: Tho ideals
ere not mountain heights. Go back, ye
toilers and atrivers. and tell the DWELL
ers below that the ideals are on the
level plains and tho temple of knowl-
edge is in the midst thereof, whore men
and women are toiling-some in Joy and
eome in Horrow."
A BRILLIANT woMAN's SORROW.
A pitiful story is that Of Sophie Kova.
levsky, Mathematician. Born in Mos
cow in 1850, she died in 1891. The most
brilliant career ever accorded to woman.
in her line, was hers. In tho midHt of
her successes, in 1885, when the sCien-
tific schools of Europe were prRising
her she wrote
Scientific work gives no happiness
and does not advance the cause OF hp-
manity. 1t is folly to use ones youth
in pursuit OF science; it is great mic
fortune to have a talent for science
specially for woman, who is forcibly
drawn into sphere of action where she
cannot find happiness.
Gov ha lan oil
tween herself and love too marked an
individuality and the work of man.
Her work is constantly between her and
him on whom all her thoughts should
be concentrated. In spite OF
many successes l have been defeated in
my battle for happiness"
When she was dying in the struggle,
having refused to marry the man she
loved because OF what che felt was O
scholars dnty, she writes:
Il am as wretched as a dog-indeed, l
think dogs, luckily for them, cannot be
az wretched as people. and especially
women, are capable OF being" She
says: II have had everything in life,
except that which wes absolutely neces-
sary to me. Some other human being
must have received the part of hap2i.
ness that longed for and dreamed Of
The distribution must be badly made at
the great banquet of life. for 30 many OF
the guests take the part 6o.tined for
Others"
Does all this mean that human love
and happiness are more than honors
And, if so, is it any new lesson? And
does it not often happen that women,
Whatever we shall cay OF men cannot find
fame end domestic peace and happiness
to dwell together in unity? How many
women who have dedicated themselves
to what makes home lie impossible
have said in their hearts, II have had
everything in life except that which was
absolutely necessary to me?n
DIR. HOLMES AND OLD AGE.
Exactly one month before his death,
DR.. Holmes submitted to o long inter
view by newspaper man, to whom,
among other things. he said-and these
were hio last references to his sge and
growing infrmities:
"The burden oil years sts lightly upon
me, as compared with the weight it
seems to many less advanced in age
than myself. But. sitter three.ecore
years and 20. the eDcroachments OF time
make themselves felt with rapidly in-
creasing progress. When one can no
longer hear the lark. when he can no
longer recognize the faces he pasaas in
the street, when be has to watch his
steps. when it becomes more and more
difficult for him to recall names, he is
reminded, at every movement, that he