New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03


The New Publisher, who is cooperating so
lravely with the New Writer, especially the
New Foet. leaves only one cause OF complaint
against his artistic volumes. He WI not en-
ploy competcnt proofrcadcrs. The number OF
Typographical errors encountered in contempt
rary pubicati ions Is almost Incredible or course
there have always been blcmishes in even the
mos. carefully printed books, bat there seems
less excuse for them now, silcc dozens OF new
firms are started every year for the express pir
pose Of raising the mechanical excellence OF
books. In one important work that has just
come from the press, a stately and costly pro-
duction, we have found the groSSeSt msprnis
scattered through chapter after chapter, letters
are displaced with appalling frequency. ana IN
the novel of the day, 10 matter how we'll got
up ii may be- the types fairly riot in MISCHIEF.
1t would be a good idea If the printers of Eek
qulste" books would handle this question OF
typographical errors with really exquisite care
In another column we quote the rctort courc-
Gus OF Mrs Flora Annie Steel to the i'll cOnsd-
cred charge of plagiarism brought against her
By a writer in The Saturday Review Ihat
egreSous individual was careful to refrain from
it none the less by perfectly obvious implication
Mrs Steel, being ndspOsed to see wasted the
rope with which she was tacity Invited to hang
herself gcnally hands it back to her critic lie
will not use it, not he, but it Is to be hoped ne
will have learned lesson II there Is anything
as eXaspcrating as plagiarism it is the fatuous
readiness Of some people 10 attribute the wickcd-
ness to authors ut whose work they happen TO
glance Stupidity revcls when 1t can ape wis
DOM II Jones attacks theme that Robinson
has attacked before him. il matters not TO some
people that the two men are In every way poles
apart They instantly rush in with compari-
son between Jones and Robinson and wag their
heads s0rrowfully over the turpitude Of the
writer who has come second into the field THE
man who plants cabbages initiates, too as
Austin nObSon reminded the critics in one OF his
wittiest poems The owsh ones who have never
been able to read Mrs. Steel without sage rcNcc-
tons on the possible relations OF her work TO
Mr. Kipline'S ought to think twice before, Ike
"Ihc Saturday Review" they ilatien their ears
against their heads in unconscious preparation
for the FOOLS cap that is waiting for them.
Mr. Henry James is about 10 interpret us, In
our literature. to our kinsmcn across the sea
'Though one may not accurately Use the term
American litcraturc" observes the Editor OF
"Litcraturc" in a leading article there is no
doubt that on practical grounds. the phrase is
both useful and dcfcnsiblc' Accordingly the
term american literature" is amiably used TO
describe the subject Of forthcoming series OF
letters by Mr. James. We need not discuss the
phrase nor the amablty The chief thing is
that the letters ought TO make good reading I'M
less Mr. James allows himself 10 write criticism
as he writes fiction. He Is unlikely TO DO so.
however. His literary papers have always con
tanned his most delightful work. and for such a
task as that which he is about To- assume he has
the ineStmabc advantage OF having lived
abroad long enough 10 see American writer's in
their proper perspective. That his cosmopolitan
improbable. He has written with great charm
about some Of the important figures in American
letters
When referred a few weeks ago To- the sud
den increase in the number Of Shakespcarian ,
commentators we supposed that the fury had
reached its height, and that sign OF returning ,
wisdom was to be hailed in the quiet protest Of .
Mr.. j. ChuriOn Collins, who summarized the in .
vcstiyations Of his frantic contemporaries rs
TO rage. In short time it may be expected tina,
Shakespeare and the Sonncts will take the place
of cricket in the minds Of all good Britons The