New-York tribune., 1902-02-17

merits Of Mr. Hardy and Mr.. Meredith"
Hardy Meredith? Who are they?"
Consider yourself elected"
r. H. Russell sends another sheaf Of his
ArtisticaIly made theatrical souvenirs One OF
these commentaries the performance of Vir-
ginia Harmed in Alice of Old Vincennes." An
other is devoted to Maude Adams in Quality
Street: Kyrle Bellows presentation of "A
Gentleman of France is pictured in third
dainty booklet; a fourth is given to Mr.. E. H
Sothern and his performance OF IF I Were
King" and the list is brought to a close with
souvenir Of Mrs. Patrick Campbell, containing
pictures Of her in half dozen different parts
The Illustrations in all Of these publications
printed in delicate tints from good photographs
the pages are gracefully decorated. and in each
case an attractive cover is provided. The series
is deservedly popular, for it is carried out in
good taste, and good workmanship is bestowed
upon it.
Our recent protest against the fact that so
many American magazines are stif1y wired. and
so cannot be comfortably read has brought us a
communication from Messrs. Houghton. Mffn
& Co, the publishers of The Atlantic Monthly"
in which they say:
You may be interested TO know that The At
lantic Monthly" has been sewn for several years
and we take special pains in this part of our
manufacturing. The magazine lies open readily
this position while being read. and will still lie
fiat when closed. This, of course is ex
pensive method of manufacture but feel that
the comfort of our readers is we'll worth the ad-
ditional expenditure. We believe that The At
lantic' is the first American magazine TO be
bound in this way.
We are glad to testify to the pleasure and
comfort we have often received from the ad-
mirable way in which The Atlantic Monthly" is
manufactured. Our regret has been that the
example offered has been so generally neglected.
1t would be gratifying if in many other cases
the same policy were speedily adopted. We are
sure il would be profitable.
Music and Stage" is the title OF a new maga-
zine published quarterly in this city by George
A. Melbourne. whose objects are indicated by
its title Its page is large. admitting the use of
elaborate illustrations of which there are many,
for the part excellent reproductions of
Photographic portraits and scenes from plays.
The contents are varied, including entertain
ing discussions of current musical and dra-
matte subjects. Among the longer articles are
a criticism of Don Cesar's Return" an essay
Dramatic Art" a discussion Of What
Opera in English May Do" an interview with
Daniel Frohman The Dramatized Novel"
n which that manager expresses the belief
that il has become a fixture in drama and
there will be no cessation in the production of
plays Of that class" and book reviews. At the
end is a collection of four pieces of music. This
first number makes highly creditable appear
b ance.
In a Primer of the Christian Religion" bv
George Holley Gilbert. he puts forward the
first attempt yet made TO define the content
Of Christianity from the standpoint of Jesus and
in sympathy with the principles of modern
Biblical investigation. 1t will be remembered
that while he was Iowa Professor of New Testa-
nent Literature and Interpretation in the Chi
cago Theological Seminary, Mr.. Gilbert was the
author Of The Students Life of Jesus THE
Students Life of Paul. and Of The Revelation
of Jesus" 1t will also be remembered that the
liberal scholarship of the last book led to Mr..
Gilberts separation from the Chicago Uni
versity.
The American Publishers Association is still
at work on the problem of establishing prices
for books that Will enable the small bookseller
TO live and make profit. Its limitations to
the net prices of all books except novels have
been effectually maintained since they were
first imposed year ago. But novels are, of
course, the best selling books, and those
which the bookseller must rely TO make his
best returns. 1t did not seem advisable at first
10 fix net prices for works Of fiction and the
matter was left open; though a few publishers
of their initiative undertook to make net
prices for their novels. and the number has
lately been increased. The most recent action
of the Publishers Association deals with this
matter in a less compromising way than was
adopted in regard TO other classes OF books. A
minimum price has been fixed. below which
novels shall not be sold, though they may be
h published at regular terms regards dis
IN counts Thus some reduction may be made but
" II is intended 10 stop the selling of books as
leaders or for advertising purposes, by large
retail establishments, at. say, Il cents when
they cost, say, 81 OF 90 cents at wholesale. The
result of this has been that the legitimate re-
tail bookseller has had either to sell books at
loss, or at cost. or else to be put in the un-
favorable position of being known TO charge
more for books than they could be bought for
elsewhere. This action of the Publishers As
socIation in regard 10 books most in demand
while not radical as the course taken as to
other books, will go far toward settling condi-
tions in the trade. and remedying the evils
which the association was formed chiefly to
remedy
The unexpected directions in which the col
lector of first editions will manifest his zeal is
shown by letters recently received by Mcclure
Phillips Co. from two boollnen, offering
premium for copies of the first edition of THE
House with the Green Shutters" 1t was issued
only a few weeks ago. and was rather small
one. The third is now nearing exhaustion and
fourth is in preparation.
Dodd. Mead & Co. will have Sir Walter Be-
SAINTS autobiography ready for publication in
the coming spring.
Mr.. Golden sanderson the English book
binder tells of client that he has in the noun
tainS of North Carolina for whom he has dopa