New-York tribune., 1900-11-26
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
CURRENT TALK OF THINGS PRESENT
AND TO COME.

CURRENT TALK OF THINGS PRESENT
AND TO COME.
Mr. F. Marion Crawford is in this country
having recently come to superintend the produc-
tion of his play, The Palace of the King,
founded. Of course his novel of the same
name. 1t is said to be doing we'll just in
St. Louis.
American authors. ii seems, heplessly ex-
posed to the depredations of Russian publishers.
An illustration of the pillage which constantly
goes on is seen in the fact that President Ben
3amin Ide Wheelcr's Life of Alexander the
Great is being reprinted in the 'Neva,
Russian magazine published in st. Petersburg
The biography first appeared in THE Century
Magazine" and then published as book
by C. P. Putnams Sons. with drawings by
Andre Castaigne. which are also being pirated
by the Russian magazine. The situation OF az
fairs that makes this sort of thing possible Is
thus explained by Mr.. George Haven Putnam
VINO is well known to be authority on copy
right:
Russia has thus far kept itself outside OF In
ternational copyright conventions Ihere Is iIo
treaty convention arrangement between RUS
sia and the United States. Russia mas also re-
fused to become party to the Convention OF
of the Convention OF Berne American books
would be protected in Russia through an Eng
preventing unauthorized Russian editions. the
books sold by Russian booksellers are in fact
In large part piratieal editions OF Frencn lang ard
long series OF cases OF Russian literary appro-
priations.
There are said to be many startling facts and
many outspoken statements given In Mr.. Arnold
Forster's review OF the British military situa-
ton in his book The War Office the Army and
the Empire" He is authority on the sub
1ect and last years events in the Transvaal
have given the critics of the War Ofice-and
there are none more unsparing than the British
critics-uuch material for development. Cas-
sell & Co announce the book for early publica-
ton.
General George A Forsyth in his book,
Thrilling Days in Army Life, which Will ap-
pear this week from the Harpers' establish
rnent gives an interesting account Of Sheri-
dams ride to Winchester, Of which he was
witness. He tells how, at that battle, he saw
General Sheridan, whose aid he was, standing
in the midst of group of officers watching the
battle and in a footnote observes that two OF
the group were General Rutherford B. Hayes
and Major William Mckinley. He also saw
Lees surrender at Appomattox. and gives
eyewitness's account Of that. The later chapters
devoted 10 the telling Of his Indian cam
paigns. in which he had many thrilling expert
ences There are illustrations by R. F. Zog-
baum.
Many admirers OF Mr.. Maxfield Parrish's orig
inal and delicate art will regret to learn Of his
I'll health, that has compelled him to stop work
and betake himself to the woods for recupera-
ton This has made necessary the postpone
ment TIL next year of the edition of Ken
meth Grahame's Dream Days" for which he
to supply nine Illustrations, one for EACH
story, 10 be reproduced in photogravure, and
numerous head and tail pieces. Only two of the
pictures have been completed.
farcical comedy has been made from the
'.Sprightly Romance of Marsac" by Molly Elliot
Seaweu whose House of Egremont' has just
appeared 1t has been played in Washington,
and Will be brought out in New-York at the Re
public Theatre early next month.
The Book Builders is a club of men in New
York connected with the making of books in all
itE branches. 1t has just decided to enlarge its
quarters. having taken rooms at No. 26 East
Twentieth-st.. where there will be a lunchroom
and a general clubroom. The members intend
10 have monthly dinners. at which we'll known
men will speak. and they will organize
sional exhibitions Of good bookbindng and other
branches of practical bookmaking. At their din
ner last week Mr.. Howells made a good ex-
temporaneous speech. pleading for cosmopolitan
ism in literature, and exhibiting the dependence
of the modern writer all the artists Of all
nations who have preceded him. The club is
now little more than year old, and its club
rooms have heretofore been at No 75 Fifth
ave F. H. Hitchcock is president
John Thisselton," which the Holts have re-
Gently published, is the third book that Miss
Marian Bower has published in the United
States in the last seven years. though she is
still young woman. She comes Of an old
Huguenot family driven to settle in England at
the revocation of the Edict of Nantes Accord
ing 10 her own account she wanders here and
there. sometimes spending months in Switzer-
land. again wintering in the South Of France.
this summer getting as far Canada and then
p:cssions, going home and writing busily till an
other travelling fit takes her. John Thissel-
ton" she says, she rewrote four times before il
satisfied her, and one Of the chapters insisted
on assuming seven different forms before set
ting 10 the one it now in the book"
There is large advance sale reported bv
Harper & Bros. FOR Mt ZangwiIrs Mantle
Of Elijah" which they going to publish next
week. with pictures by Louis Loeb
There ought to be much usefulness in the
'Cyclopadia Of Mechanics" which CasseIl & Co
are about TO publish. 1t will contain for every
Gay use receipts. processes and memoranda Of
the most practical sort. There are TO be many
illustrations, and the full value of everything in
the book is To he made ayalol,Io -.