New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-08

his literary friends. HIS letters were Always
written with panstaking care. and were con-
spcuous for lucidity Of style and feiclty OF eH.
preston His brother. owing to the aroor OF
his nature was difuse and impuslve %p,sea'
Good writer as he was he made no contribu-
lions to literature; but his judgment or the
value Of books and Of the ntThsG g He had ID
a natural and highly cultivated taste Tor gooa
literature.
THE PUBLISHERS RESPONSIBILITY
Mr. Macmillan was not only a man who loved
books and had quick perception and refinement
of taste, but he also had strong convictions
respecting the moral responsibility OF pub
Usher to the public. He had high ideais ana
never lost sight of them. A shrewd Scotchman
In his business dealings. he was too high-mihueu
to publish books solely because they seemed 10
have qualities which would command i E
sale His standards were not lowered from
any mistaken idea that the puDllsher Is d
broker, buying anything that the author IS not
ashamed to write over his signature ana ser
ing what the public is anxious 10 buy. lie TOOK
a broad and wholesome view Of the publishers
functions and never acted upon the assump.
ton that the morbid or gross requirements OF
public appetite released him from his responsible
ity to promote the interests of good literature
Association with a publisher who had so true
sense of the dignity Of his calling ,. was an
not only admired his acute business judgment,
his fine taste. his generous nature and his
amiable personal qualities. but they were prouu
to be numbered among his friends.
Indeed the example of the two Scotchmen,
who, without the early advantages Of educa-
ton. and with their peasant mothers keen'
practical intelligence their main resource.
contrived between them TO establish great
business and to rally around them the best
literary workmen OF their time, is one Of the
nobest traditions Of the publishing world.
They succeeded because from the outset they
took high view of their vocation Alexander
Macmillan, who has been buried to-day at the
close of long and honorable life. had been
loyal 10 his convictions and as true In his
sympathes the earnest. impetuous brother,
who. when he was shopman earning $500 a year.
secuted tie idea that he merely working
for bread but proclaimed himself n teacher and
a prophe.. mnsterng to the wellbeing Of men
and aiding his great Taskmaster in reducing
the world to order, beauty and harmony.
l. ~ +.
Much curiosity has been expressed since the death
of Mr. Houghton concerning the plans for the
future OF the firm Of which he was the honored
head 1t is pleasant TO discover that its aims have
not changed: that It will maintain It's reputation for
cherishng the best native literature and that all
the distinction and refinement OF workmanship
that have distinguished the books made at the
Riverside Press will be preserved and increased in
the books that to come.
Among the works promised for the spring by
Houghton Mifilin Co. several uncommonly
welcome biographies In the two volumes Of The
Life and Letters of Oliver Wendell Holmes" John
r. Morse has presented delightful picture of
who interesting in every relation and
phase of his life second biography Is that OF
Bayard Taylor. which is to be contributed to the
American Men OF Letters series by A. II. Smyth
The forthcoming volume William II. Seward in
the American Statesmen series is the work OF
Thornton X. Lothrop. The Life OF Thomas Hutch
inson." in the same SERIES has been written by
DR.. ]. X. Hosmer; and in this volume. under
stand. the royalist Governor receives the long
D.; ,fol,g
ties. biography of Joan Of Arc has been pro-
pared by Francis c. Lowell, who has made par
ticularly careful review Of her trial. The Life
and Letters of Elias Boudinot." edited by j. j.
Boudnot. will contain many documents bearing on
the history OF revolutionary times. The additions
made to his work the History OF Prussia" by
Professor futile of Cornell University, Just before
his death, treating of the early part of the Seven
Years War, to be published. with biographical
sketch by Professor Herbert g. Adams Among
the books of fiction announced TON Grogan."
by F. Hopkinson Smith: The Supply at ST
Agatha's," by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps. and NJ. +.
j. Stmson's pirate Gold" volume OF sermons
and addresses by Bishop William Lawrence is TO
be issued under the title Of Visions and Service:
DIR. f. Winchester Donald's lectures before the
Lowell Institute last winter on Tho Expansion of
Religion" will appear in book form. and series Of
essays on Moral Evolution" has been written by
DR.. George Harris, of Andover The Complete
Works OF Robert Burns" edited by William T..
Henley and Il. +. Henderson, in four octave VOL
umes is to be issued in limited edition The list
of travels includes a new book by Lafcado Hearn
called "Kakoro'': Quaint Nantucket" by William
Root Bliss; Spring Notes from Tennessee" by
Bradford Torrey. and Rowland f. Robinsons I'm
New-England Fields and Woods" Mrs. Olive
ThOrne Miller has written for children an account
of various sorts of monkeys. with the title. -Four
Handed Folk" and the ninth volume of Professor
sargents splendid work on The Silva Of North
America is nearly ready for publication.