New-York tribune., 1901-02-23

The last book written and published ny the
late Maurice Thompson was MY Winter Car
den" which appeared in November last, the
week after Tho appearance Of Alice Of Old
Nincennes" When the preparation of the book
was proposed n him in September 1899 he
wrote to representative Of the Century Com
panv: Your pleasant note regarding the pro-
/ posed book Nv Winter Garden "a charming
, title thank youo has reminded ne that have
the material IN workable shape for such use as
YOU suggest and, indeed. I have long "ontem-
plated something cognate. The thing fas-
Cinates me-"
4 we'll known literary man who has just re-
turned from England. where he had seen Mr.
Frederic Harrison and heard him speak in pub
lie, though h had not met him personally re
Gently went into the Holland House. He had
not heard of AIr. Harrisons arrival in this coun-
try. consequently had not the least idea that he
was staying at that hotel But he saw IN the
corridor man whom he Immediately thought
h recognized as MI Harrison, and whom but
fol certain unfamiliar tone IN his voice he
was about To address. The tone uade him hest
tate for al instant. however. and going to the
clerk he asked him If Ny Harrison stay
ing at the hotel. The clerk said he was. but a.
that moment ha was out. why. isn't that VI
Harrison" asked the utera~y INQUIRER. in sur
prise No said the clerk. that is So aAd-
So" naming a person innocent of fame ~ NJ
erary or other circles. The literary man was
for q time almost incredulous. but finally came
to the conclusion that the English writer has
double in New-York.
G p Putnam's Sons are early in the heid
They announce an outline History Of the Reign
of Queen Victoria" by Professor F. York Powell.
Regius professor Of modern history at oxford
and author Of a number Of historical works
The Publishers Association has finally adopted
the plan suggested by its committee some
months ago for reform of the evils of price
cutting in the retail trade The plan is an
agreement on the part Of the membeIs-and the
membership includes all the leading houses In
the business-that after May l all copyright
books. with certain exceptions shall be pub
lished at net prices. which it Is recommended
shall he reduced from the prices al which simi-
lar books have been heretofore issued. and that
net copyright books shall be sold only to such
retail dealers will agree 10 maintain the re-
tail Price The books excepted from the opera
ton Of the agreement are works Of fiction, not
juveniles schoolbooks new editions and sub
scription books Libraries may be given dis
count OF 10 per cent. The exception of fiction
seems pretty large ono. for il is. Of course on
the popular novels that the prices have been
worst cut II is optional. however with each
publisher 20 include fiction among his net hooks
II he Sc desires and il was the opinion or mant
that II was impra cticable to attempt so radical
reform as to include all fiction under tn
( a agreement at the start. To that prices are
maintained the association IS TO establish an
oflc, and engage manager 70 Investigate al.
cases Of reported cutting. and. Furthermore, Is
/ 70 Aid IN the establishment Of booksellers as
! sociations in the important cities. 10 assist In
maintaining prices, and in dealing with local
situations more effectively than a general asSo-
/ citation could do.
Miss Margaret V. MorIey's studies of animals
I'm their haunts have exercised peculiar charm
on young as we'll as older readers and the an
nouncenent by Dodd. Mead & CO. of another
{ hook OF the sort from her will be welcome II Is
J on ..Wasps and Their Ways The numerous
1 illustrations are with few exceptions. made
( from studies with her own microscope
biographical details about Nh Maurice IIew-
( lett. his literary id ais and methods Of work
are not abundant, although the public interest
/ in his books has stimulated desire 20 learn
~ them The most satisfactory account OF Mr..
Hewlett's personality is that contained in MI
I For1's letters 10 The Tribune from London. The
! Macmillan Company has recognized this fact in
a little pamphlet it has recently complied about
Mr. Hewlett Of whose books they the pub
/ fishers The chief part OF the biographical
sketch therein contained is drawn with proper
/ acknowledgment. from The Tribune's London
: CORRESPONDENCE. and 10 this is added long OK
i tract from The Tribunc's critical columns char
acterizlng Mr.. Hewlctts work, together With
various criticisms from other sources. The
pamphlet with its excellent halftone portrait Of
MI Hewlett viii be found interesting by all
/ admirers Of his books.
In his collection OF stories called Ways of the
/ Service" Frederick Palmer has depicted army
! life IN the Philippines especially that Of the
army women" the officers wives who have
now had time to join their husbands in the
/ islands In Mr. Palmer's phrase his ef-
fort has been Ito bring to light the part which
woman is playing the picturesque back
ground OF one part Of the Far East" MI
/ Palmer Is a well known and experienced war
/ correspondent and tells his stories from his own
observation. The Scribners will publish the book
in the near future.
The series begun by Mr. Leon II Vincent with
his little volume on the Hotel de Rambouct
and the Precieuses" will be continued ny further
/ volumes in the same style The French Acad-
emy" "Corneille" and "Moliere." The first tive
are now about ready. and the "Moliars' will
follow later in the year There Is an uncommon
attractiveness about the books. which are print
ed in old style type. with suggestion Of French
bookmalling in the treatment of the pages. The
title pages are photogravures in sepia after q
design by Moreau the younger. OF the frs
edition Of each one there will he a limited mum
her of copies. in large paper. with uncut edges
The only real schoolhoys' poet is what Pierre
Lott called Rodolphe Topffer, and though he