The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-20

received advance sheets of the preface
to a booklet soon to be issued by Her.
bert Spencer on 1.-THE Land Question"
In this preface he modifies certain
views relative to the ownership of land
originally expressed in Justice and So
cial States. AS will no doubt be
readily recalled, Mr.. Spencer originally
contended that land could not right
fully become individual property but
should be the property of the commun-
ity. This opinion has been eagerly ex-
plotted by economists of the Henry
George school in support of their prin-
ciple Of a single tax. Mr.. Spencer
now, after longer study of actual condi-
tions, while adhering to his former
opinions in relation to their abstract
justice. questions whether resumption
of the land by the community would,
after its cost had been paid. leave a
balance OF benefit to the community.
Upon this point he says: 1T is clear
that If had thought that the change.
though equitable, would entail loss
on the community. l should not have
held that the community ought to
bring this loss upon itself, but should
have held that though. as a matter of
abstract equity, it might properly re-
take possession of the land, 1t would
be impolitic to do this if the burden
of compensation would outweigh the
benefit of possession. But of late years,
on thinking over the matter, it has be-
come clear to me that the burden of
compensation would outweigh the ben
eft of possession, If the compensation
TO IA in,
Hence l have come to the conclusion
that the change of tenure from private
to public would be impolitic."
l.. S. r.
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS:
"Fords Literary Shop" is in its second
edition.
Five French dramatlsts are at present
engaged on plays dealing with Louis
XVII'-Sardou, Pierre Decourcelle. Henri
Ceard, Henri de Weindel and Charles
Buet.
The Scotch school of fiction has caused
the English worm to turn at last. w. f..
Henley's New Review" contains slash
ing attack upon 1.-The Literature OF the
Jailyard." .-. .. .....
A paper on ''Tammany' in the May
number of McClure's Magazine will de-
scribe the high-handed rule of Marshal
Rynders and the Bowery "Plug-uglies" in
New York city fifty years ago. 1t will he
fully illustrated.
S. r. Crockett's new book, bog Myrtle
and Peat" is said to contain many of the
best and most characteristic stories the
author ever wrote, the first collection of
tales by Mr.. Crockett which has appeared
since his "Stickit Minister
plain Tales From the Hills is in it's
twenty-siXth thousand "The Light That
Failed" in its fifteenth; "Life's Handicap
in its twentieth 1.-The jungle Book"
should outstrip them all. 1t is the best
thing Kipling has ever done.
Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan, the COM
poser Of "Pinafore" and THE Mikado," is
now SO years old. Spohr and Rossini both
hailed the young musician when he first
came into notice through his overture
'"rhe Light of the Harem," and the Incl
dental music for Shakespeares ITEM
pest" =
The smallest English dictionary in the
world is the Mite Dictionary" published
by Frederick A. Stokes company, New
York. 1t contains 3Si pages, 1900 words,
weighs A grains, and the print is so
small that it cannot be read without the
aid of microscope. An edition of this
dictionary has also been published in Eng
land. where it has an immense popularity
$4,000 copies of it having been sold within
Ia la G