New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-17

Mrs Stannard wrote pretty and amusing little
book "Bootless Baby" but are unable TO fini
much that Is valuable and interesting In her later
volumes II she is remembered at all, 1t VIII De as
the author Of that first book though other stories
are ground forth by her, year after year. She was
once introduced Sir Morell Mackenzie at a Lon
don entertainment by her writing name OF 'JoAn
Strange Winter" The DOCTOR who did not keep up
with current fiction. looked somewhat dazed ana
repeated the wonderingly. whereupon the an-
thor remarked: "Oh yes I'm Bootles's 8aoy Sir
Morell retreated marveil!ng still more and. draw
ing friend aside. conhded to him that nc had just
met poor demented lady. who was introduced as a
man and thought herself baby"
Or. Max Nordau. having gene up like rocket. has
coma down as ingoriously as the proverbial stick.
In truth men are tired of this gentleman. who GER
tainly described himself in mentioning MicheIet an
"a fiery and enthusiastic but superficial author' III
his latest work he drops into prophecy, forecast
ing time when ali the races Of color VIII perish OFT
the face Of the earth which will then be owned en-
tirely by white Europeans and their descendants
In period the orrid Will have become tenn
perate and all culture and civilization Will be con-
centrated at the equator-in the opinion OF Dr. Max
NOrdau.
One OF those sapient Shadows who from time 10
time appear be controlling the destines or Eng
lish literary Journalism. has delivered himself OF an
observation two about Mark Twa'n's personal
ought to take unending delight. The English re-
viewer had misgvings when he saw the name on the
title page. He has now and again treated poeu-
cal legend and a cherished sentiment with a
facetiousness which revolted sensitive minds' ana
here might be another Of the same disagree
able thing But he quickly treasures us.
His duty has been to write preface to very free
translation Of the S.eur Louis de Contes personal
r.collections / am not sure that Mark
Twain is an ideal editor for such a book
civ
of the story" Oh charming proficiency OF the
British mind. Oh deep and solemn wisdom or the
British reviewer! And "the translator has given
q very readable version OF the story. Better and
better The doubts OF that sensitive mind are
we'll enough. but TO talk about the doings OF the
'transator'' shows penetration. indeed
1an-Maclaren has Just been chased7all around the
bonnie briar-bush by that lively excoriator. The
Saturday Review" 1t is little unfair. perhaps
but II Is amusing and here is its conclusion:
'It may seem exceedingly simple 10 do this sort OF
thing the babblirg o; green fields and 'mithers on
deathbeds the impossible seltsacrifices. the nose
blowings and spectacle wipings the faithful beast
business and the sentimental addresses 10 the I'M
known reader bu. the point is that everybody does
not do It, and Mr. Maclaren does. Since It pays re-
markaby WELL and since people do not seem to OBJ
feet to doing great many other tawdry things that
pay well. It follows that everybody cannot do this
kind of thing 1t follows, further. that MI Mac
laren deserves the he has won both In kind
and quantity 1t does not follow. because he Is con-
temptibe literary artist and because he can
not write English. that he is to be despised 1t is
good thing to touch the Great Heart perhaps even
IN the eternal balances IT is better thing than to
have testified to the truth in the details of char
scter. At any rate we wish him we'll The Ameri-
can trip his preface foreshadows VIII inevitably
succeed and the stimulus sales will receive by that
face-to-face encounter should carry him past
Messrs. Caine and Croc6ett to the very summit of
successful fiction writers. 1t is only a snowy
but an influential position
s. ~. s- -
Books sometimes bought in ways that startle
the lover OF such treasures. 1t Is recorded OF an
excellent butcher in certain Pennsylvania town
that he became extremely successful In business ana
was disposed to indulge the longings OF his wife
and daughters to enter society" In fitting up the
new house II was decided in family council that
imposing library must be one Of the chief features
of the new habitation The head of the house could
neither read write. but he had accumulated
nearly a million dollars by sound business methods,
and ne insisted that he should buy the books so
ne 10 the bookseller and made his wants
known. The bookseller produced a number Of
catalogues and requested his customer TO designate
the books that he wished The butcher looked blank
~ at the catalogue a minute and then said with
the air Of a who could not be bothered with
such small details "Oh. send some blue books some
green books some black books and few red ones.'
The Putnams announce book by Mr. Walter
D. Wilcox. Camping in the Canadian Rockies. 4"
1t is devoted to a region Of which there is always
something to learn. and since II gives a careful
account OF the geology. botany, fauna and climate
Of the country Banf and Lake Louise. and In
the Selkirk range. 1t ought to earn welcome.
The Irish Literary Society OF London has begun
important work OF compilation. 1t will deal
with the authorities Irish history, that history
being divided into eight sections. and each section
embracing "(a) the contemporary sources (b) the
later writer's who had documents
lost, anc who may be assumed TO have had other
trustworthy sources of informatlon (c) the chief
modern writers. An account of each writer Will be
given. with clear and unbiased statement OF the
point OF view from which he considered the events
OF which he wrote" The projectors OF this vast
work OF reference will no, stop short at any labor
involved in the prosecution of their scheme. 1t Is
proposed to include ali the authorities on Irish his
tory from the Pagan era 10 the rejection by the
House OF Lords Of the Home Rule biz Of 1892
The Macm.lans have begun publication Of new
and interesting series OF historical monographs
called the Foreign Statesmen Series Mr. Frederic
Harrison Is write william the Silent. Pro-
fessor Prothero Louis XI. Mr.. Arthur Hassall
on Mazarn. DR.. J. F. Bright on Maria Theresa. the
Countess Martinengo Cesaresco Cavour. Mr.. f.
Armstrong Ferdinand the Catholic. Mr.. p. F.
Willert on Mirabeau, and PROFESSOR Bury on
:. Catherine II. There will be additions TO this list.
. The series is under the general editorship Of
Professor Bury the scholar who Is bringing out the
new edition o. Gbbon.
Mr., James Payn's retirement from the editorial
chair OF tho 'Cornhill Magazine" having become
an accomplished fact Mr.. j. st. Loe Strachey his
successor, Is preparing to bring out his first num-
Der with a flourish In July. The flourish ought 10
be interesting II Tor no other reason than that 1t
will consist chiefly OF Introductory paper on The
Old Cornhn.' by Anne Thackeray-Mrs. Richmond
Richie She should know. in ways better
than any ory else living. the things that are most
ahn old hill"-Thnck