New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-25

The literary bureau has fully justified the con-
hdence Of Sir George Ncwnes 1t has received
from ms untutoreG adventurer his detailed ac-
counts or his amazing experiences il Australia
ana mas reduced them to literary form. 1t has
replied with consummate skill to the challenge
To ms Veracity, and. while il has not cleared him
from the suspicion OF indccUracy and embellish-
ment IN details. ii has indicated him from the
charga of being an mpostor. 1t has introduced
him in scientific circles. not as a deliberate ex-
ploier nor as n trained Investigator but as
man Of adventure. who can make important
contributions to the worlds stock Of knowledge.
1t has also advertised the serial publication and
the subsequent book with signal skill and ef
fectlveness lis work has been admirably done.
1t will be observed that | am not attempt
Ing TO form a critical judgment OF the credbty
Of this story Of cannihal life in the Australian
wilds Two instruments Of 1t have been pub
hshed in America and need not be commented
upon in this letter 1t is only necessary to re-
peat Colonel Church's genial remark at the
meeting Of the British Association to the effect
that If every explorer on coming home had
been put Oh trial for veracity one-half Of the
geographical publications and literature Of
travel in the libraries would have been de-
stroyed am simply writing Of the new Crusoe
DDS Of publishers enterprise. Here is an illit-
crate sailor landing in England a few months
ago with a marvellous story. which he would
willingly have poured irto a reporters ear for
a few pounds suddenly put in the way Of
making A fortune armed with resources for
telling his romance in many languages. pro
teCted against hostile criticism and enabled 10
address The largest ludlencc # he British As
ISOLATION. The supp rt f a powerful publishers
syndicate has been worth everything To a poor.
penn.less refugee from CannibI,-and. When
the book is published VI. De Kouscmont may
return 10 Australia with Sir George NeWnes's
capital behind him as a company promoter I"
respect for tn" aurilerous regions OF MS
mountain home among the caunIlu's When
Defoe wrote the first Robinson Cruso"" there
was no controversy over :hr accuracy and
literalness Of the details Thc lea IF i Euro
pean sailor inarocnel IN a Pacific ISLAND was
borrowed from the actual experience II cast
away and exile. hut the romance. with iis mar
va.lJus ;calisir was rccosriz 4 a. essential
ly an invention # genus. pug. Noii % .u-
asiuatIon. There were no B"cAes .n those days
to count the pearls 20 measure M rebound ~
the boorneranes AMI The tcutaci~s - he orto-
pus and 20 condemn With Arc irony - shark
and ,ur.le-r:ding stories. Natter q e.. wore
noe regarded ,h-n A. IF SUPP me ~ artauce 81
the Re, -lopm.nt of realistic GctI. g. Tn rnriI-
lions Of romanco-trijing Seem 90 lave On
completely transformed IL these l- = 90 lI.a 81
u" RougeMOnt * not @. usiderci % iiie.ty either
% ambellish his narrative or 90 eI:i-h f. ai'h
fancy and .maSina ion HIS Crus.y must n.
drawn from M life with Photographic G.r.ty
and the topography = the country. Cd" trails
II the black tribes and the facts ~ natural lis-
tory must DE literally reproduced. Il 'hc -c-
curacy Of The narrative De- challenged al ans
Point. the author must bc prepared iIr cross
examination by scientific experts and to cs-
tabsh his yeraciy at all hazards
The explanation Of this strikins contrast be-
tween the two Crusocs Is not 10 br found u
any change IN The siri; II romance but in tn
altered conditions Of the publishing trade The
great prizes in book circulation az. row won
by virtue of advertising and enterprise. Contro-
versy is usefu! in Increasing the -ol.ns quail
tiles II work It must be sect: at any
cost Public curiosity must be excited. and
popular interest centred upon the book by
tifical means.
BOOMING THE NEW CRUSOE
The new Crusoe as a work Of imagination
Ike Defoe's would not a. Once have arrested
attention I, must be- heralGcd and 'b9omcd"
as a narrative IF actual eXucrionc" and its
literal truthfulness be tenac.Ously upheld under
searching criticism
This is publishing enterprise as directed by
men If energy ike Sir George N"wn"s. He
started in trade without CAPT al. made a fort
,,ne out Of A little paper known as '"rit-lIits."
noyy owns A dozen or NOR" MAGAZINES and