New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-22

pretty nearly everything that she can desire 10
know in order to go about the administration
NJ her estate without making serious blunders
The most salient features Of the book are its
common sense and its lucidity.
II IS well known as Mr.. a. W. Pollard says
In e photographed note to his edition Of the
Travels Of Sir John Vaudeville" in the LII
brary Of English Classics" published by the
MacmiIans. that the simple faith Of our child
hood in a Sir John Vaudeville, really born at
St Adams. who travelled, and told In an Eng
fish book what he saw and heard" is shattered
to pieces. 1t is an old story that MandeviHe
"ig q compilation, as clever and artistic as
MaIory's Morte d. Arthur from the French
works Of earlier writer's, with few, II any,
touches added from personal experience, and
that It was written in French and rendered
into Latin before II attracted the notice OF a
series Of English translators, and that
the name Of Sir John Vaudeville was nom de
guerre borrowed from real knight Of this
name who lived in the reign Of Edward IL" 1t
IS in line with this disillusioned view Of the
work that to the present edition the editor has
added three narratives from Hakluyt, on which
the author Of the book based part Of It, But
Mr. Pollard wisely observes that Vaudeville is
now reprinted in the series edited by him
PiNeNoNAS
q medieval contribution TO geography" In
deed, the reader who takes Sir John too seri-
ously is lost In order thoroughly to enjoy
these old pages II Is necessary to put common
sense aside, to forget geography and history,
or to remember them only that they may throw
the absurdity Of the text into higher relief.
The Travels really belong in the category Of
fairy tale and romance; they are to be read
for the sheer delight that the lover of magma
tive literature can find in astounding pictures.
drawn with ininitable good faith and with the
pen of a master. It is all sublimely incredible,
and II is all a. Joy.
An added reason for appreciation of this edi-
ton Of Vaudeville is that 1t has serious
rival at the same price. This is, indeed, the
first time that the old chronicler has been put
In circulation in a form at once beautiful and
popular. We may say much for the edition
Of Lockhart's Life Of Scott" which is to fill
i've volumes in this series. The first two of
these have just appeared. From Mr.. Polard's
Biographical note gather the interesting in
formation that while this text is taken from
the second edition in ten volumes, published in
1888, he has incorporated important data OBJ
tanned from Lockhart's abridgment brought out
in 1913. The editor brackets the work with
BosweIls Life Of Johnson" as many readers
have done before him. Nevertheless there are
unknown. The present edition will repair the
omission, for it is so inexpensive that few
people who really care to possess it can find
any excuse for leaving it Impoverished. In this
series the Macmillans issue Gilbert
Whites Natural History of Selborne" in one
volume. and FfeIding's Tom Jones" in two
We have referred more than once to the re-
markedly attractive character Of this Library
OF English Classics" The books are beautifully
made. When the Scott is completed Shelton's
translation Of Don Quixote" will be issued in
three volumes Walton's Lives" and his Com
plete Angler" will follow in one volume and
after that another single volume will appear
containing selected essays by De Quincy. This
VIII end the list thus far announced but If
the series has received the support which it IN
ooubtedly deserves, we suppose the publishers
viii continue it through the next year, at least
Dodd, Mead & CO. inaugurate a new series Of
eternes Sentimental Journey in one volume
stout and fair to look upon. with uncut edges
A handsome type has been used, and the chap
ter headings are printed in red There is a
decorative border running around the first page,
the title page also has embellishments. and
there is a frontispiece in colors. The tawny
cover is stamped in black, red and green. The
style of the volume is. on the whole. festal and
elaborate, perhaps a shade overwrought.
David Mckay, Of Philadelphia has lust pub
nshed the third and last volume Of Miss Sarah
H KiIlilxelly's Curious Questions" a cvcIo-