New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-14

authOr-friends.
Unfortunate as was Poe In most Of his literary
ventures. few OF his contemporaries looked into the
future OF American letters with clear vision as
ne. Before quitting the Messenger he wrote
TO Anthem In 1874. Il saw or fanced saw, through
n long and dim vista. the brilliant field for ambition
which a magazine OF bod and noble aims presented
him who should successfully establish II in Amer
tea. I perceived that the country. from Its very
constitution. could not fail Of anording In few
years larger proportlonate amount OF readers than
any upon the earth perceived that the whole
ergetic. busy spirit OF the age tended wholly TO
magazine erature-to the curt. the terse. the we'll
timed AM khe readily dinused In preference to the
old forms OF the verbose and ponderous and the in
accessible" In the years which have followed the
death OF Poe we have seen striking testimony to the
sharpness OF his perceptions in this matter
In the current Century appear some OF the most
unpleasant-ano a the most important-let-
ters found among the Griswod papers and fur
nished for publication by that bographer's son In
defence OF his fathers book Poe. II Is to be
doubted whether the ptiess exhibition OF Poe's in
rmties OF character ill be Of any great service to
mankind. While careful and just biography Is
desirable. It seems hardly worth while to hold up
for comment every minute detail OF the unhappy
mans weakness. Poe gave TO the world living.
much more than he received from IT, and apparently
the debt is not TO be lessened.
volume OF hitherto uncollected papers BY Wal
Pater will appear. The title OF the volume.
Greek Studies" indicates the subject OF these
papers. The authors uncollected writings. 1t Is
said. would MI scarce more than volumes
Concerning Mr.. Pater's work. Mr.. Lionel Johnson
recently penned these felcitous phrases: Lover Of
words that he was OF words for their souls sake.
he sought out exact correspondence between
the word and the thing; valung truth OF expression
to the utmost and confident that such truth. really
foun q
His desire was ascertain through socitous
expense OF pondering. just how things works OF
art. or periods OF time modes OF thought. or
ways of life. looked to him. he dsencumbered
them from their superlu.ties. and obtained an ulti-
mate vision OF them. before the minds eye. clear
and clean. He held that II the virtue Of crti-
cism to purge away the cloudiness Of sight which
makes apprehend things In q twilight or
mist: to discern them In their true proportions
and values not In the confused obscurity OF a gen
eral impression.
Mr.. Thomas Hardy is making his debut
poet in Mr. Johnson's new book. discussing him In
his character OF novelist. The verse there printed
In full Is a Wessex ballad called The Fire at Tran
ter Sweatley's." Mr. Hardy's novel, THE Sim
pistons," is to run a serial in Harper in 1906
Those who have theories about the necessity OF
beginning a literary career In early youth will IND
no convenient Illustration in the biography OF Mr.
Du Maurer. When Peter Ibbetson'' published
the author already ffty-seven Years have not
destroyed his freshness OF feeling. One OF the most
delightful things In 'Trilby" is It's atmosphere OF
vital energy. Would that he could so writing
such novels for the next half century! The papers
social matters which he Is preparing for "Har-
eer's Magazine" will be admirable no doubt and all
his readers will wait for them eagerly; yet can
but regret that he should not give the time to
more important work In fiction
There Is a hope that another volume OF Edward
Fitzgerads delightful letters may be given to the
word. A London publisher has In his posse sion a
collection OF about 100 letters addressed by the
translator OF Omar Khayxam'' to Fanny Kemb.e
sentimental Tommy Is the queer title OF Mr..
J. NJ. Barrie's new novel. He will finish this book
during the coming winter. and will begin work
on his proposed edition OF the waverley Novels
Several additions to the charming little set OF
books Of THE Eisa5ethan Library" are announced
for publication this autumn by A. C. McClurg s.
Co. They include these volumes: Green Pastures
Being Choice Extracts from the Works Of Robert
Green. A. NJ. Of both Universities. 1850 % 1892:
The Poet Of Poets" the love-verss from the