New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-16

stand beside that volume in the library Neither
one Of the two will be often in demand but
7 either will be forgotten. For in both there TO-
over and above everything else, the asrseaOie
personality Of the author.
NEW BOOKS AND NEW EDITIONS.
A certain Mr. Badham has recently been ri
great pains to prove to the world, through the
columns Of the London "Athen@um' and other
periodicals that Captain Mahan's estimate OF
the character Of Lord Nelson Is defective IN
some very important directions. our dlstln-
gukhed naval historian has we think, pretty
conclusively indicated his views. ana we arS
not surprised to find Professor Laughton mint
Ing that the attack upon the Life OF nelson
has not been made altogether in the dry hght Oh
disinterested scholarship. At all events II Mr.
Badham has hoped to destroy the public con-
fdence in Captain Mahan's invaluable work ne
has thus far conspicuously failed. We imagine
that there will be just as warm reception ac-
corded to the new edition Of THE Life OF Nell
son" Just issued by Little. Brown & Co. OF
Boston as II Mr.. Badham had never opened MS
lips Fault has been found with Southeys Nei-
SON." but the world goes on reading that laScI-
mating little masterpiece. Until some one wiser
and more powerful than Captain Mahans Eng
lish antagonist convinces us that ne mas maue
mistakes in his biography Of Nelson, we sha'l
continue to hold that biography as an inVal-
liable authority To the two principal criticisms
made at the time the book was first puDlshed
he REPLIES In this second edition. His verdict
on the question OF Nelson's action toward the
Neapotan republicans in 1890 was challenged
as too favorable and it was maintained that he
had not correctly represented the great Ad-
rniral's feeling for his wife Captain Mahan
traverses both points in this new edition, and
such revision as ne has made in the light OF
further researches and reflections has gone 70
confirm his original views. Abiding to various
minor details which he has corrected or am
pljfed. the author observes that in his judgment
"bis prevous presentment Of Nelson's char
acter and conduct Is not affected in the slightest
degree by these changes. They are part or the
frame not OF the picture" In TINS judgment
the reader will concur, accepting with rehe"-u
satisfaction the whole mastery biography The
two volumes Of the first edition are now prlnteH
in one, but type and paper are still excellent
and the illustrations have been reproduced by
cheap but not ineffective process The work
is now in an ideal form for popular circulation.
The publication Of Professor Sargents SILVA
Of North America" Houghton, Mif1in & Coz
learned. which have secured for this monu-
mental work q unique position. The twelfth
volume. dealing with the confer@, was to have
been the last but II contains an announcement
that another is to follow. This Will be devoted
n general index to the entire work, and to
illustrations and descriptions Of recently dis
covered speoies There will also be such correc-
tons Of the preceding volumes as have been
made necessary by recent explorations. This
thirteenth volume will be sent without charge
to subscribers The announcement Is IN Keep
ing with the policy which has governed from
the start Professor Sargent's great work we
have again and again borne testimony 10 the
learning which character!zes the volumes, 10
the lucidty Of arrangement and OF style with
which they have been prepared, and to the per
lection Of the plates Nothing has ever been
SHARED to make the work absolutely complete
With the thirteenth volume nov promised The
Silva Of North America" will be a practically
Nsvlsss production Of enthusiasm and science.
In their delicate old rose binding and neat
labels with their quaint title pages and artistic
tvno1raphy throughout, The Art Of Living"
and "sesrch-IIght Letters" (Charles Scribner's
sons). both by Robert Grant, suggest at first
blush that their author must be spring poet
or at least minor essayist. Judge Grant IS
neither the one nor the other, but world phi
losopher a weighty commentator on clVlll8atlon
a solemn searcher Of the skies and an ardent
student Of the ways Of earth. For example
there IS the old question OF Income" How
should II BE dealt with by man who has only
ten thousand a year? Some men with that
amount 10 draw upon find 1t not Incompatible
with the wearing Of fur overcoat and dia-
mond pin, and, respondent in both these at
tributes of distinction, they are even known 10
drive a fast horse now and then. Judge Grant
bordering deeply this dubious though gorgeous
spectacle arrives at notable conclusion. AS
suming that the man Of his imagination is mar
ried he reminds him that the athletic aesthetic
or merely pleasurable needs Of growing or
adolescent household" cannot be ignored. With
/ ten thousand a year a man should keep his
family In pleasant neighborhood. and there
the rent will be high. Servants must be about
the house, food and clothes must be purchased,
friends must be entertained. the head OF the
family must own a pew q library share, a
fancy dress costume and cemetery LOT. and he
must always have loose change on hand for the
hotel waiter and the colored railway porter" In
short, life is made up Of many expenditures
which are. In a we'll organized state Of society.
absolutely Indispensable Recognize this basic
fact, and you brought face to face with
startling discovery. The family man in large
city who meets these several demands to his
entire satisfaction will have little OF $4,000
left for the purchase Of trotter a fur overcoat
and a diamond pin" This discovery. II placard-
ed on Riverside Drive. might spread panic
among thousands driving about in fur overcoats
and diamond pins, but those other countless in
dividuals who have been contemplating the pur-
chase OF trotters will doubtless breathe a sigh
Of relief and gratitude Judge Grant pulls
them back from the edge OF the abyss
AS for the ladies. there is food for them in
both these volumes TO which they cannot too
swiftly turn In the volume OF Search Light
Lett uA nd ~