New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-08


Another work IL coming just now from the pen Of
Mr. H. c. Lea an historian whose researches nave
always been carried on In out-of-the-way helds OF
literature. but whose books have nevertheless
proven as interesting as they are learned The new
work. which Is published by Mr. Lea himself. In
Philadelphia is to be in two volumes. OF which the
first has appeared. 1t is "A History OF Auricular
Confession ana Indulgences In the Latin church."
The subject Is for specialists or Tor students
with a within for ecclesiastical history. yet Mr.. Lea
has faculty for making such q theme attractive
to more than a professional circle HIS history OF
the Inquisition in the Middle Ages. ouiKy work
In three volumes. 10 portentous In Its promise Of
erudtion. but while there is plenty OF the latter
within Its pages this IS one OF the i"oS' ieao"'e VI
recent histories.
Izaak Walton. who through all the two hundred
yeap Of his literary existence. has been the pecu-
liar property Of the reader with feenhs ior the
mellow good old things OF literature is at last fallen
into the hands Of the dilettante. Mr. Richard L.
CaIiienne IL to edit new serial edition OF "Ihe
Compleat Angler" and bring out the WORK IN twelve
parts from the London press which mas done 30
much In the decorative publication OF ms own
achievements in poetry and prose The edition v
n he topoera phical, too Mr.. Edmund H. New hav-
- room commissioned to go over the footsteps Of
walton and Cotton and draw pictures OF the places
thew visited This pictorial side OF the publication
promlses WELL but Mr.. lie Caffeine seems hardy
the man to edit Walton.
u 10 said that Mr.. Crocketts new novel opens
rnon n new scene and In its celebration OF "Cleg
Kelly. Arab of the City: His Progress ana ADVENT
,,ros +" depar,s 10 q considerable extent from the
coIors and moods which have been most iamhler
in his work The Appletons. who publish tne DOCK.
announce also Green Gates" story by Katherine
Meredith. a new American writer; and Sir Mark"
Ieoho ar
American.
There will be published next month the nrst VOL
ume of a work by Mr. George Haven Putnam en-
titled Books and Their Makers During the Mid
die Apes" second and concluding volume will
soon follow Mr. Putnam takes up IN this work
tho thread laid down at the eid OF MS carrier 'oume
on Authors and Their Public in Ancient Times
and he carries his Investigations down to l1n tho
date Of the passage Of the first copyright statute In
Europe The book vii! De puphsneo ny 'He Iu"
mans.
It is one OF the ills OF the time that persons OF no
importance will insist upon publishing their
memoirs" and that II they omit to do so their lit.
erary executors" will attend to the matter for
them. The abuse of the public patience mas grown
to be go that three-fourths OF the hograpn-
ical literature published nowadays is scanned with
skeot.oal and cautious eye. For this reason, II for
no other there is delight In the news that MI BIZ
rell Is preparing for publication the autobographca
fragment left by Frederick Locker. The sketch o.
the latter which Mr.. Birrell recently printed u
.'Scr!bner's Magazine" gave a hint as to how re
would do his share O. the work In this forthcoming
book He has tact worthy OF Lockers own. and
20 possess that is to be well armed against tho
temptations which beset the ind!screet writer.
Locker was the incarnation OF tact. He could b
caustlc II ne chose. His wit was not allowed to
rust in spite Of his modes.y and his deep eolcituds
for the feelings Of others. But that socitude never
forsook him. and though the new autobiography 10
10 be called my Condolences" there is no possible
ity OF It's giving offence to single soul. in London
or anywhere else What It does promise is a fascl.
Mating record OF personal experiences which In
voved some Of the most interesting men In the era
OF man who himself a constant source OK
Meas ire 10 his friends Locker loved anecdote. and
was a connoisseur in the specially, just as ne was
in light verse and Old books. His stories. his sos-
sip will be dIsnguished-or the testimony OF cur
rent history goes for nought.
Ruskin's authority as n critic has been Challenged
so many times and in so many places that the In
trlnsic value OF his work is admitted TO be Tar less
firmly fixed than 1t was ten or fifteen years ago. fes
the public interest In his writings does not seem 10
diminish In the least. Some one has been making
the investigations so common nowadays and finding
out exactly what Mr. Rusk!ns books bring him in
cash Details % this sort are not often OF any
earthly consequence to any one but the author ana
his publisher. yet Il is interesting TO know that
the authors profit alone on a years sale or Ruskins
books amounts to nearly four thousand pounds II Is
interesting for the light II sheds on the circulation
Of his books showing that though abooed by artists
and art critics his hold upon the great reading pub
lie Is strong as ever.
Miss Alice Iongfellow has written an interesting
article about her father for the March number Of
~, ,hrliv Ma 1in mo lis Ions
low In Home Life" and gives many details OF his
personal character. but perhaps the most striking
note is that which refers 10 his feeling on point
which affects many authors and poets In different
ways. Whatever attitude he may have held about
newspaper talk concerning himself. Re was not In
the least opposed 70 Il general principles as Is
the with many poets. Whenever ne saw IN
q newspaper any pleasant notice OF friends ac-
quantances. review OF a book. or subject In
which they interested. he cut |. out and kept
the scraps In an envelope addressed 10 the person.
and mailed them when several had accumulated"
Germany Is claiming that she has produced
"Deutsche Sappho'' in the person OF Johanna Am
brosus peasant. who has spent her life amid the
poorest surroundings. year - ago her poems
were edited by friendly professor. and already
they have gono through fifteen editions. making her
famous among her countrymen. at least. How she
will stand the test Of criticism outside Germany
mains to DO seen. Her work has not yet obtained
any Continental vogue.
memorial volume to John Wellhorn Root. the
architect TO whom Chicago and the Columbian Ex-
hih!tion owed 30 much. is In preparation by Miss
Harriet Monroe. and will be published In the all
tunn by Houghton. Mifflin & Co. The book will con.
tain abundant biographical matter and elaborate
discussion Of Mr.. Roots work. The latter will be
illustrated by reproductions OF the architects own
drawings with etchings and pen sketches by C. +.
W. Mielatz
movement is on foot for the erection OF suit.