New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-25
Of their more painstaking countryman are for


gotten.
John Gait did not do for Scotland either what
Carleton did for Ireland or what Lever ana
Lover did for their native land. but ne belongs
in the same category with those "topograpnicai
novelists. and Joins to few qualities wmch ne
shares with all Of them one especial virtue
which ne shared with Scott and to when not
any of the others could lay claim. We have al
ready called attention to the new edition OF MS
novels. issuing In America from the press OF
Roberts Brothers The last two volumes are de-
voted to THE Provost" and THE Last Of the
Lairds" both characteristic stories, and on
Cats most satisfactory level. though neither Is
perhaps fairly to be compared with THE En-
tall" which illustrates his high-water mark.
The publishers have given a good form to Gait
and this excites measure Of approval similar
to that felt in the case Of the Marryat volumes.
or the Carleton set. for that matter. also. Gait
like many q neglected novelist, has known for
years inferior presswork and paper. He is
minor man. but Of permanent value. He has a
touch of SCOTS spirit and long as the fiction
of his country is cared for at all. Gait will have
his modest, but fixed, place. This being true, We
repeat 1t is good to him published in vol
umes as good these.
humous reprints which have thus far been
noted there come to hand eight little books.
which will make, when accompanied by the two
remaining volumes in the set. one Of the most
satisfactory collections of stories for summer
reading seen in many day. This set Is brought
cut by the Scribners, under the general title
OF Stories by English Authors each volume
being dedicated to a particular country. In adj
dition to the countries which are noted In the
title at the head Of this article. there Is one
volume on London. and there Is one more to
come which will be devoted to the sea. There
IS to be a book Also given to Germany. For the
contents of these volumes the publishers have
gone to some dead authors and TO many who
are still alive. For example, in the Irish book.
Carleton and Samuel Lover are both repre-
scented, and they are accompanied by Jane Bar
low The book on the Orient is written by Rud-
yard Kipling-who contributes THE Man who
Would Be Kirg"-Miss Milford, and others.
Charles Reade is Of the writer's assigned to
England; Thomas Hardy is another. and Wilkie
Collins jostles Anthony Hope. So 1t runs through
the series and it must be admitted that the ed-
tor. whose name should have been printed on
the title-pagc has done his work we'll The au-
thors are all dscreetly selected, and each man
or woman is Justly represented. Every volume
has q We-reprOOuceO Photographic poitid
Mr. Kipling, Lover Mr.. Hope. Stanley Weyman.
Mr. Barry and Mr. James Payn being among
those who appear in the gallery. To crown
their good work. the publishers have printed
these volumes well. in small octave form. with
simple but attractive binding. ard at low
price The summer traveller could not do bet,
ter than to invest in the set complete.
The new edition of Daudet published by the
Macmillans. provokes the observation that no
one would ever have thought that It was need
ed for the novelist's works, printed In the ex-
ouisite Figaro" form, have been more than
familiar for several years The gayly illustrated
books have been so widely circulated that IT
would have seemed though people had
learned French to read Daudet who would not
have learned it to read anybody else. Certainly
10 other French author not even Victor Hugo
has been more in evidence during the last few
years than Daudet has been, In the pretty books
which a certain group Of artists in Paris have
helped him to make. Moreover. those very edi-
lions have been put into English before this
and the Macmillan enterprise seems trine be-
lated. Yet 1t will doubtless be welcomed. and
It ought to be, for the translations are good. the
printing Is we'll done. the dainty little illustra-
lions have been reproduced without damage 10
their fower-like lightress, and the binding IN
which they have been inclosed Is just decora-
tive enough Just fragile enough, to suit the hu-
NOR of Daudet Four volumes thus far have
been published, "Tartarin Of Tarascon,' Tar
tarin on the Alps" kings in Exile" and Art
lists Wives" Several are TO follow. The edi-
ton is to be complete.
AS to the edition of Hoffmans Weird Tales"
sent to us by the Scribners 1t Is now some
wears since It was first cordially received. 1t Is
the identical edition. believe. that the same
house brought out while ago. printed In TWO
volumes with a biographical memoir by Mr.
Bealby We will not quarrel with the publish
ers. though, because they have given no sign OF
this in the volume just received The main
noint Is that we once again have the Tales to
look over They lose nothing Of their glamour
Hoffman was less of poet than Poe. the one
man In literature with whom 1t is advisable to
compare him. but he had something which took
the rlace of poetry; he had a certain Gothic
phere a certain hard. grewsome strain OF mag-
,nation which makes his stories tense, even
when they are most deliberately written. He
had genius that cannot be doubted, and while
he NAV not have reached as lofty plane as
that on which stood his great follower In Ameri-
"a while he may not have been the child Of
nature that Poe was he was still so much. In
his strange German way. that there Is every
likelihood of his lasting as long his superior.
ROCKS OF THE WEEK.