New-York tribune., 1900-08-25

have been exactly suited to the vivacious char
acter of the journal in which they have ap-
peared; they have touched literature with light
ness and humor Recently the familiar sigma
ture Of "Droch" has been missed from the paper
The editors offer explanation in the follow
ing words, which we quote from the current
number Of Life" with regret for the resigna-
ton which they announces:
Those many readers who have known US from
the start, and who during seventeen years
have enjoyed our book reviews will regret to
hear that "Droch," Mr.. Robert Bridges. has
severed his connection with this journal.
These reviews have been courageous and i'm
partial, the outcome of a cultured mind un-
fettered by any considerations of business or OF
policy. They have been the honest expression
OF critical yet an exceptionally appreciative
spirit.
Seventeen years In the life of anything
human is a longish period. and it means in this
case a personal friendship. And while
gretting this departure of friend, shall
the contrary. that some future day, perhaps, we
again may work together.
For more than a generation the French-Eng-
lish dictionary of spiers and surenne has held
undisputed supremacy in it's field. the only
work comparable to 1t on the score Of Judgment
and usefulness being the admirable compilation
OF Mr. John Bellows. which. however. is far
less comprehensive in its scope. The publishers
Of the latter volume Henry Holt & Co., to
come forward this fall with "A French and
English Dictionary" which will presumably
challenge it's predecessors. 1t has been pre-
pared by Professor A Hjalrnar Edgren and
Percy B. Burnet and will contain about one
thousand pages The current edition OF Spiers
and Surenne embraces something over six
hundred large octave pages. Those who have
found it an Indispensable companion will be
keenly interested TO see in what ways the
dictionary planned by the Holts improves upon
it's long established rival
The biography of Paul Jones. by Augustus C.
Buell., which the Scribners will soon publish, WILL
be embellshed by numerous illustrations. We
hope that among the portraits there will be in
cuded a reproduction of the interesting bust
of Jones made by the famous French sculptor
Houdon.
In the volume by Mr.. Ainsworth R. Spofford
for many years at the head of the Con-
gressional Library. which the Putnams have
just published under the title of "A Book for
all Readers" there is a great mass of practical
information invaluable to the buyer Of books
whether he be rich in experience or not. The
author has these sagacious remarks to offer
about common pitfall for the collector:
Never be too eager to acquire an auction
book, unless you are very thoroughly assured
that it is Of the kind truly designated
''rarissimus." An eminent and thoroughly in
formed book collector, with experience Of
forty years devoted to book auctions and book
catalogues assured me that it was his expert
ence that almost every book would turn up on
the average about every seven years. OF
course, there are notable exceptions-and espe-
cay among the class of books known as in
cunabula" Cor cradle books printed in the in
fancy of printing!, and of early Americana
but it is not these which the majority of
libraries are most in search Of Remember al
ways, If you lose coveted volume, that there
will be another chance-perhaps many Of them.
A scrapbook said to be compiled by Abraham
Lincoln for use in the political campaign Of
1885 is to be published by Mcclure. Phillips &
Co. It contains the substance of all Lincoln
had said up to that time on the subject of
negro equality" with explanatory notes and a
long letter in his own handwriting. 1t is stated
that he gave the book to Captain Brown. one
of his supporters. and that Captain Brown left
it to his sons who have permitted it's publica-
ton.
A new edition of Dame Juliana Berners's
''Boke of ST. Adams is to be brought out
in London. Only three perfect copies of the
first edition, published in 1856 are known to
exist. The only fairly complete copy seen in
this century in a booksellers shop sold
many years ago TO Mr. Quaritch for $1,000. An
authority has said of the ''Boke" that it's cir
culation for long time Wed with and perhaps
exceeded that OF every other contemporary pro-
duction of the press of lesser eminence than
Holy Writ"
Mr.. Swinburne. who is in excellent health
is hard at work revising his poems for the col
lected edition which is to appear next spring
1t will consist of at least six volumes and it
may be that more will be necessary.
Mr. Andrew Lang says in the course of a book
review that the habit of travel attests the in
born veracty of the human race How? Thus:
1T is so easy 0f morals were not innate) to
buctoo or Kamschatka. Yet vast numbers of
English and American people travel for the sole
purpose of avoiding one little fable. They de-
sire to say that they have been there without
mourning the guilt of falsehood. There can be
other reason for their pilgrmages That is
Westminster Abbey said American to his
daughter. And what is Westminster Abbey
particular forT Stanley was married there
answered the parent We have also heard OF
the lady who remembered Rome only as the
place where she had bought stockings. Any
day. in the Louvre the Briton can see crowds
of his own countryfolk who are travelling In
the same intelligent way. They prance through
the galleries. eyes 'front.' That's your Charles
l. cries the guide. Two or three OF the tourists
glance at the portrait of the martyr tho rest