The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-19


tion in The Herald, the price paid
will be none too large. II one OF
the serial stories proves to be popu-
lar 1t wiljss pay for all the expen-
diture OF the whole scheme several /
times over. 1t is scarcely to be presumed
that authors whose names assure the
success of their books will enter this
competition. But, assuming that Mr.. |
+. Marion Crawford should, for ex- |
ample, write story and submit IT,
The Herald would be able TO re-
coup itself easily and quickly by |
publishing 1t In book form after the |
unique competition Is concluded. There |
is no pledge that this will not be done, |
and the supposition is that 1t will be done.
The fact that the prizes are to be awarded
upon the judgment OF such Of The Herald
readers as choose to vote destroys
every vestige OF merit the scheme
might possess, as such verdict would
have no literary value W hatever. Looking
at the matter candidly, it must be per-
ceved that The Herald has provided Tor
itself with q liberality that has always
been a leading trait of the Bennetts'
character, and that IL reputable authors
enter the composition it will be matter
OF surprise, as well as a revelation OF their
lack Of good business sense.
The noted-or notorious-Mrs. Mary +.
Lease, of the Wild and Woody West, has
written lot of hystericky stuff that has
been printed and bound into the
form OF book. 1t is called "The
Problems OF Civilization Solved" Why
ii is not called "'The Vague Vagaries of
Mind Astray," or "The Ramblings OF
Crank, )" cannot be even imagined by who
ever reads the conglomerate with a sane
apprehension.
have read Mr.. William w. Wheel
er's "Life" (Arena Publishing Company,
and am heartily sorry for having so wan
tonly squandered an evenings time. i
might have slept, or played solitaire, with
very much more profit. The book Is
called novel on the title page, but
1T is neither novel nor yet novel. 1t is
conglomeyate of profitless and baseiess
speculation about hypnotism, second
sight, psychology, spiritualism, atheism,
agnosticism, Christian science, spooks,
and other unhealthy speculative
subjects that we know little about.
While 1t is proper TO study
all these things, that is not what Mr..
Wheeler has done. Another book OF this
writer's is called "Rest." ] did not read
that one, but 1t tells about Adam and Eve
returned to earth in 1901, and
how they could wish anything
they chose into existence and
could divide their time beween the earth
and heaven-or, more strictly speaking,
between the here and the hereafter, since
-heaven is described as mere change OF
the conditions of life These books nr
sublimated trash-too dull 10 be dangerou.
| nd tnn nuru MID Glv 80 ha ipto ft..y
G. F.
A new departure will be made by Mac
milan q Co. in the field book soon to be
published by them, entitled Birdcratt''
; and written by Mabel Osgood Wright
Mrs. James Osborne Wright, the author
of The Friendship OF Nature" 1t is the
only book of its kind TO be illustrated by
plates giving in the natural colors an ac-
curate view of the birds described in the
text.
"The Story OF the Stars" by g. F,
Chambers, is q compact and convenient
outline OF astronomy for popular reading
which is to be publis he'd shortly by ID.
Appleton d Co. as the first volume in a
new series of "Useful Stories.n
Among the most interesting of Mac
milan & Co.'s announcements is that OF
their ILLUSTRATED Standard Noveis''-a
series of reprints OF famous English
works of fiction. An introduction by
critic of acknowledged competence will
be contributed TO each, and they will be
fully illustrated by the most prominent
artists of the day. The first volume, con-
tanning Castle Rackrent and "The
Absentee " by Maria Edgeworth, the in
PRODUCTION by Anne Thackeray Ritchie,
and the charming Illustrations by Miss
Hammond, Is now ready, and it will be
followed, at Intervals OF a month, by others
that have Been selected for the series.
ID. Appleton q Co. announce the follow
ing books for early publication:
"History OF the People of the United
States" volume ~, by Prof. John
Bach McMaster; "Degeneracy," by
Prof. Max Nordau; Evolution and
Effort" by Edmond Kelly; "rhe WISH"
by Hermann Sudermapn; "Majesty," by
Louis Couperus; "Tho Honor OF Savelli,"
by S. Levett Yeats; "Kitty's Engage
ment," by Florence Warden.
Macmillan & Co. are to reissue the en-
tire series of English Men OF Letters"
in 13 monthly volumes, each containing
three of the original books. The first
volume of the new issue will include
Professor Wards "Cbaucer," Dean
bury's Dryden"
During July, 1894, there was delivered,
before the American Institute OF Chris
tian Philosophy, at Chautauqua, a series
OF lectures on he Uniiication of Christen-
dom, subject which has recently attract
ed much attention. These lectures have been
collected, and after careful revision by
their authors will be published by the
Fleming III. Revell Company under the
title OF "Christ and the Church."
DIR. Ernst Won Halle, Of Berlin, who has
been deyoting the last two years TO a
careful study OF American industrial and
social conditions, is about 10 publish,
through Macmillan, a translation, thor
oughly revised and enlarged, of his report
on Trusts TO the Verein fur Social Politik.
Captain Charles King has finished new
novel, which he calls "A Tame Surren-
der" 1t Is story of the famous Chicago