The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-11

liarity Hes In the fact that its twenty-four
chapters are written each by different
person, who knew nothing Of what any OF
the others was writing.
M. de Heredia, whose reception into the
French Academy has been already long
delayed, on account. 1t Is said, OF the fas-
tidious care which he has been bestowlng
on his discourse, will not be receive till tho
fall, owing to the illness Of Francois Cop
pee, who is to make the reply to his au-
dress.
The emperor of Germany Is said to be
writing an elabarate box on n military
subject. 1t is to be published in the au-
tumn, on the anniversary of Sedan Re-
port says also that the first volume of the
Archduke Ferdinand's "Diary of My Voy-
age Round the World" Is to be published
Immediately.
r. X. Munkittrick, who began life as a
writer of humorous paragraphs, and Is
now devOting himself almost entirely to
writing serious verse, celebrated his AID
birthday anniversary last month Mr..
Munkittrick lives at Summit. N. j., not
far from Hamilton Mabie. Frank X.
Stockton and A. Is. Frost live but short
distance above him at Convent Station.
Joseqh O'Connor, editor of the Rochester
Post Express, 1t Is rumored. has in prepa-
ration "A volume of verse which has been
written In the leisure hours of busy life
in journalism. The collection will include
melodious lyrics, few of them the work
of college days, and a selection from nu-
merous occasional poems, one of the latest
of which was written for one Of the New
York ceremonies at the Columbian Exhi-
bition.
A new edition of Balzac Is announced
by the Macmillans. 1t will be published
in admirable crown octave form, In about
forty volumes, and will be absolutely COM
plete. Various translators are engaged
upon the work. but they will all be under
the supervision of George Saintsbury, who
will not only edit the volumes, but write
PREDATORY chapter for each one, besides
contributing a general introduction OF
some length to the first volume.
Richard Realfs poems are to be pub
lished in the early fall by New York
publisher 1t will be limited subscrp-
ton edition, numbered and only those
volumes previously subscribed for Will
come to the Eastern states The work will
contain 16O poems. three pictures Of Realf,
and a sketch of the authors life. one
knows little of Richard Realf except that
he was brave Union soldier. that he
wrote in his poem "IndirectiOn' one of the
loveliest lyrics in our language, and that
he committed suicide in San Francisco In
1879.
The prospectus of the English Dialect
Dictionary to be edited by Prof. Joseph
Wright, secretary and literary director of
the English Dialect society, Is now pub
lished. This great work will be issued by
annual subs1iption-two parts-during
1885, and the remaining parts at half-yearly
intervals. Eight years will be required
for completion, and 1000 subscribers are
needed to launch the enterprise. The vo-
cabulary will embrace all dialect words
still in use or known to have been in use
in the past 200 years in Great Britain and
Ireland, together with all American dia-
lect words still in use In the British Isles.
Geographical area, pronunciation. and
immediate etymology will all be shown.
Another firm has been founded for the
publication Of well-made books after the
fashion set by Stone & Kimball. The
name of the firm is Lamson, Wolfe &
Co., and 1t is said that they will bring out
chiefly books of poetry, essays and fiction.
Our New York namesake is moved to
offer 1t some excellent advice 1.-THE thing
to be remembered" 1t observes, sis that
while u few enthusiasts may for time
buy those dainty editions of poetry and
amateurish essays which look so attract
i've to the dilettante's eye, the serious
buyer of books wants good reading as well
as good print and binding, and he will not
support the shallow, affected ephemerae
which a taste initiative Of the worst Lon
don faddsts may chose to offer. Uncut
edges, thick paper, fine type and adorable
covers will do nothing in the long run to
preserve trash from oblivion and its pub
fishers from a loss of prestige. The press
work of these new houses is often beyond
reproach. Its discrimination in the matter
of the contents of a book and in connec-
tion with its make up as the printers
say, is often beneath contempt. Title
pages go mad with affectation, you feel
that everyone concerned In the printing Of
the book would kill an Idea for the sake of
a colophon-and, in short, the impression
given Is of men playing at the production
of literature. 1t is literature that Is want
ed, not the bleatings Of young versiflers
or the essaylets Of jejune prosers.