The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-26

getting to be great force In bookmak-
ing, as it should be. 1t affects, the bind
Ing, the size, the margins, the titles, as
well as the type page. 1t 10 surprising
that 1t did not more vigorously assert
itself before it did, considering the ad-
vance in the art Of printing; and 1t Is
astonishing that some publishers continue
to issue books whose form and print rasp
artistic sensibilities SO sharply as to very
seriously limit their usefulness. look
for recognition OF this essential
element by critics, ere long, and
the expression of the demand for adher-
ance to the canons OF good taste in the
form of book as second only
to the substance OF what Is
therein treated In all attempts to digest
or criticise literature. The impor-
tance OF this matter can scarcely be over
estimated, though IL Is easy to perceive
that form might easily be given too much
prominence. That is already evident by
some few publishers who have happily
conceived very artistic printing and have
apparently fallen into the error that artis-
tic printing may be made to justify the
issuance of very dubious literature.
The editors of The Century Magazine
seem to feel the necessity of apologizing
for Mr.. Crawford's novel. "Casa Braccio,"
which Is appearing serially in The Gen.
tury, as they send out this note:
Readers Of Marion Crawford's novel "Casa
Braccio," now appearing in The Century, will
be interested la knowing that the story, as
printed 80 far, Is true, except that the
scene of actual occurrence was In
South America instead of in Italy. The
lfnR soAllt "a
convent with Scotch surgeon, was the niece
OF a bishop. A skeleton was placed In her
bed. when IL was fired. instead OF a body as In
Mr.. Crawford's story. After much suffering
the surgeon and his wife reached the sea
coast, and were taken aboard an English
vessel, whence they sailed 20 Scotland aud
lived for many years in Edinburgh. The part
OF Mr.. Crawford's story still to appear, por-
traying the punishment visited upon the pair
for their sin, is imaginary.
This story has excited the ire OF the
Catholics, and not without cause. 1t
deals with q sort of moral pitch that is
defiling, and there Is no sufficient excuse.
The latter part of the story may condone
the shocking character OF the first part,
but it can scarcely excuse it-much
less justify it-ss. Mr.. Crawford seems
suddenly to have awakened to belief that
his well-won fame warrants the publica-
tion OF any sort of stuff, even those trans
parent pot boilers, Glove in Idleness,"
katherine Lsuderdale" ana "The Raj
stons." II is too bad that he does not
edit his work as well as he did when he
was winning fame.
"The Honor OF saveili," by s. Levett
Yeats, is "a romance" which, the author
h. 10 MT
and it surely does not point one. Savelli
is accused OF theft by jealous rival, who
is in fact the husband OF a woman who
has fallen in love with Savelli, and
the story shows how a series
OF military adventures restores him
TO honor. The action is In the 10th CEN
tury and the scene is laid In Italy. Sa-
velli is dismissed from the army in dis
grace by the duke, but the famons
Chevelier Bayard was at the trial, and
seems 10 have believed in his innocence.
He stumbles upon an opportunity to res
cue M ,chiavelli from the swords of a band
OF braves, and then his fortune was made.
The secretary employed him, he fell in
with the faction plotting to overthrow
Alexander Borgia, the Pope, and he was
emp Dyed in many rattling adventures.
He did not prove his innocence OF the
theits he was charged with, but the
duke forgave him because he succeeded in
stealing money sent TO pay troops fight
ing against him. 1t Is good story
though poor ''romance"-even if the
moral is not pointed. Appletons, New
York; Gregory, Providence.
"Gallia +" is understood TO b. the first
fiction venture Of its author, Mrs. Monie
Muriel Dowie, though not ner first book.
She wrote that enjoyable book, the
"Girl in the Karpat hans" which really
gave "tillip 10 tastes jaded by con-
ventional books of adventure" as
the publishers claim. This novel has a
moral which is not altogether moral. 1t
Is announced to 'astonish even those
who gauged the authors power from her
first book" 1t sets forth the modern
view OF tho elective affinities in q frank
spirit which is never didactic enough
to hinder the development of stunning"
characters and an unconventional plot.
This 10 not meant to imply that the book
is salacious, or that II stirs up roily
waters. Probably many readers will ex-
perlence a sense Of combative loss when
they reach he finale, and thereafter look
with a mental questioning at future stor-
ries by he same author. Lippincott, Phil
adelphla; Gregory, Providence.
s. Barring Gould's "Noemi" was first
printed in The London illustrated
News, where it had the advantage
OF pictures to emphasize its tragic
adventures. 1t Is tale OF terrible
and bloody work, with sweet
romance running through 1t, like CLEAN
OF golden sunlight In a charnel house.
1t forms NO. 100 in Appletons' "Town
and Country Library" G. +.
Both OF Mr.. w. ID. Howelrs children, a
son and n daughter, are literary. The
daughter is artistic as we'll as literary, and
makes pictures for things she writes.
Mr. Howells Is said TO be proud and hap
by in the thought that he has produced
authors, as we'll as qualified for fame him
self.
"a -. 4.