New-York tribune., 1900-05-13
Gbe NetnI1lork gribmo1e.
ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT-.
SUNDAY, MAY Is, 1900.

SUNDAY MAY Is, 1900.
1t seems Il pity that an authors success |
should turn out to be the cause of his undoing, |
but such is often the case. If man writes a
novel dealing with life in Naples he is presently
asked to write about every conceivable thing
Neapolitan, the CamOrra or the Aquarium.
And, of course, he promptly exhibits an ency
cloprdic Incompetence. The latest example is
offered by Mr.. Stephen Crane His Red Badge
of Courage" persuaded many readers that he
knew how TO write about war, and ever since
the book appeared we have been asked to listen
to him on that theme. Finally we have in
"Lippincotts Magazine" a series of papers in
which Mr.. Crane retells the stories of the great
battles of history, NewOreans Badajoz,
Plevna and on. Why those required to be
retold in just this way we fail to perceive. But
why Mr. Crane should have been chosen to
retcll them is even more puZzling, except on
the hypothesis indicated above, that if one
writes sonnet on the Cuban war one is COM
petent to dogmatiZe the cultivation of Cuban
tobacco Mr. Crane does not rise to the level
of his themes He ought not to be expected to
rise to them. History is the last thing in the
world which he is qualified to write. 1t is to
be hoped that when he has finished this series
some kind friend will dissuade him from re-
TO his impressionistic fiction
About this time look out for typographical
errors 1t would be delightful if their occur
renee in new books and especially in novels
could be explained. The weather does not quite
cover the case. The books just published were
not put III type when the cOmpositorS feel
ing the aziness of spring. They were ALL we
imagine set up in the bracing winter months.
Is 1t because the gentlemen who preside over
the mechanical branches of boOkmaking antici-
pate the needless summer mood of the reader?
Perhaps they would be justified in such an
anticipation. Summer reading is not ALWAYS as
serious matter as winter reading, for obvious
reasons. But we wish. just the same that
typographical errors could be fewer They are
especially offensive in books that in all other
respects are well made We find them from
April to September, everywhere as though
there were something in the air that invited
them. Apropos of the careless manner in which
so many books are printed we may note a strik-
Ing Improvement IN certain aspects of the new
novel, In several cases of late have OBJ
served the use OF better paper and more artistic
binding. Title pages are prepared with an eve
to effect, and though sometimes altogether TOO
decorative they are often in admirable taste
Ihe only thing to regret is that the pictorial
C"NcI SecHlS 10 De coming into favor again.
along with designs suggestive of wall paper
III VIII be amusing to which will prevail
the pictorial, house decoration motive. or the
one that Is rooted i'll simplicity and appropriate
ness. one idea, much in vogue in London we
nave often recommended, and will continue to
advocate, namely, the use on book covers of
nothing but plain lettering. When the style is
good one, and tasteful cloth is used this
makes perfect cover design
Inc undylng passion of man for writing what
he hopes, and generally believes will be recog-
llzed as literature is once more exhibited in a
Glallng light by an announcement in The Lon |
don Academy" This journal it seems some
time ago opened six literary competitions. They |
offered the subscriber chance to win five |
Gulleas by writing a poem, short story an |
essay, Typographical essay, an epigrammatic |
criticism or a brief description of some eDisode
with human interest i'll it, witnessed by the |
competitor. The prizes offered were hardly !
magnificent We cannot suppose that MANY
entered the competitions for the sake of the |
possible reward in cash. The writer's sent in |
their work out of sheer enthusiasm we NAV he
sure. And there were eight hundred and one
OF thrIn! These We're scattered all over the
world. Manuscripts came from India Africa