New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-22


A correspondent, writes to us In praise OF mr.
Grant Aliens Historical Guides" OK whlch TWO
examples devoted respectively 10 Paris ana
Florence. have just appeared. the DOCKS are
auded because they give no Information aoo"'
railways and hotels. but tell conciseiy the ms
,ory Of the various monuments ana WORKS Oh al
To be seen In the city described and help the tour
ist toward using his eyes and his time TO advan-
tara The point made by our correspondent tnat 'hi'
kind OF guide IL peculiarly useful ana inexphcao'
rare is a good one. There Is nothing sUansei
than the absence OF good books from the mass
Of guideoook literature which exists IN seVet'i
languages Baedeker, IN his way. Is invaluaoie'
Murray is at times profitable companion Inc
French guides jeanne are excellent. But II Is
pcseible 10 travel through numoerIess impoi YAM
cities on the Continent and never hnd single oooN
which will put the reader in possession Oh ""a' u"
really wants 70 know. Usually he wants to know
moro than the name OF the best ho'e| OF "o'a
and tho most comfortable means OF transportation
He Is not content with list Of the artisuc anu ~"
tortcal treasures IN the place. with rev 1"o
tons from the critics. in the margin nc vans
above all something that will bring him acaualh'e"
with tho true spirit of Harlem or faeh|'' '"9'
ION. or Ayignon something unlike an essay vi
svnonds FOR example and yet Ike IT: something,
that is from which he may get ootn lacts anu
the fruits Of sympathy and Imagination. ou,n d
hook Is not often met with. we nave seen '''.0
volume on Genoa by Mr.. lie Mesurier which nearly
meets the requirements Of the situation-i, "oui"
Ia Little model II the style were better-put
monographs like II are we repeat the Ia'es'
things IN the world We are giao mat -n'. "ii,.
Aliens guides are appreciated. 1t would be Sui
moro gratifying II his success were 10 spur DINERS
on to efforts In the same field
An amusing story Of an encounter with Thomas
uarav ma. RECENTLY been credited 20 DR.. Weir
Mitchell .'While travelling In England, ne IS
Quoted as saving IT fell into conversation with
stranger who proved TO be man or great inter
Neence and culture. We discussed recent ho'c's'
On which we spoke with much freedom eN-
nres,ed my opinion Of Tess some parts OF when
= Thought were very meo- dramatic especial en-
nhas,s being laid on the first part OF the compound
word IN fact 1 said. they are so mellow tina,
thew approach the stage Of rottenness' AS we
were parting the gentleman said: You may De III
terested 10 know In knowing that my name IS
Thomas Hardy.
Only tho other day we were wondering why Mr..
Austin Dobson was so persistently silent news d.
-.yns ~ his resolution 10 break that silence not
with new work 10 be sure. but with new arrange
ment OF some old things. He is preparing single
volume edition OF his poems. an edition which, II is
said he will send forth as the one he cares 10 be
remembered BY II will preserve most or oil OF the
contents Of "Old World Idys'' and AT the sign
OF the Tyre" and there will be included NUMBER
OF fugitive pieces composed since the publication
Of those volumes.
Some correspondents between Burns and Mrs
Dunlop which was discovered not long ago, is ex-
pected to appear In print this year
In a letter 10 Mr. David Christie Murray, Mr.
Kiplins draws a strong distinction between long
and short works OF fiction. Short stories are all
very WELL he says but the novel is the higher form
and no man under forty hope 10 write a good
one The judgment Is one with which many readers
will find themselves in instant agreement.
Horace Walpoe died on March 2. 1877. Some re-
greet has been felt in England because nobody
thought It worth while TO commemorate the day in
any manner 1t passed almost unnotced. This is
odd too for In all English social and semi-literary
history there is no picturesque figure than
Walpole
An interesting though somewhat battling an
nouncement is made in The National Observer
II runs as follows: "Once upon time. there was
great nobleman who, having just read a novel
EQUALLY great in its way he in his. wrote 10 the
author Of the tale and begged him 10 reveal in
confidence the futures OF certain of the characters.
Whereupon the famous author, being as genial as
he was distinguished-and being not unimpressed,
one dares TO saw by the high rank and position OF
his correspondent-sent back in reply a long and
able and charming letter couched IN his very best
style, and forming highly interesting addendum
to the original narrative. l have reason 10 be-
lieve that this characteristic and valuable epiate
Is in existence and that, by permission of the
parties presently concerned, II may before long
be given 10 the world II so, the world Will be
richer by curiosity Of literature attractive as
anything OF which the elder Dsrae wrote. Nay,
no future edition OF the work to which refer will
be complete without this admirable supplement-
q supplement almos'. II not quite. unique in Its
nature, and certainly indispensable in It's attrac-
ton for the lovers and students Of literature"
Mem Ilnhlifntinus