New-York tribune., 1902-10-01

-Four more volumes have been published by
Mr.. George ID. Sproul I'm his new edition OF the
complete works Of Theophile Gautier trans
lated and edited by Professor F. c. de sunni
chrast Volumes XVII and XVIII are given 10
Captain Fracasse" a novel OF which the trans
lator and editor says some cordial things. but
which not all the panegyrics IN the world could
galvanize into life. II is true that the book
contains some very striking dramatic effective
scenes" but IL is scarcely accurate TO say that
il is fun of such. and certainly the work as a
whole suffers sadly from the failure OF the au-
thor 10 give II sustained human interest and
unforced dramatic power Volume Ky contains
"Avatar," "Jettatura" and The Water Pavil-
ion" three interesting IL not very important
pieces. In volume XVI are gathered together
"A History OF Romanticism'' .'Romanticist
Studies" and The Progress Of French Poetry
Since 1880" pages Of impressionistic criticism
rarely as convincing as devOtees OF Gautier
would have us believe. hut always readable. al
ways marked by his piQuancy Of humor and
fascination of style We have previously dealt
al some length with this edition. and have de-
scrihed its external characteristics. II is beau
tifully printed and bound. Only six volumes
more are needed 20 complete the set
The group of reprints before us also includes
an edition Of the novels Of William Harrison
AlDSNoitns Drought out hN the j. u. LipplncOff
Company. OF Philadelphia. II is 10 be COM
pleted in twenty volumes, fifteen Of which have
been published. For a writer like Ainsworth.
worth reading for his romance. diverting de-
spite artihcialty and melodrama one could not
ask a better form than that chosen for the pres
ent edition The books are small and light IN
the hand. they are we'll but not luxuriously
printed, the old Illustrations have been salts
factorily reproduced in photogravure. and the
red cloth binding, stamped in gold. is in excel
lent taste.
OF the new Beacon Edition in ten vol
umes which the Scribners are publishing of the
works of Mr F. Hopkinson Smith. six volumes
have appeared In the first we have a Day at
Lsguerre's and other Days" and "WeI Worn
Roads Of Spain and Holland" These open the
series most auspiciously. Mr.. Smith has always
been lucky in his travels. he has always STUN
bled upon interesting things I'm interesting cir
cumstances. and he always writes Of them with
peculiar felicity. His short sketches are obvi-
ously drawn from nature; they are spontaneous
and sincere. and upon them there usually rests
a delicately romantic glamour. The second vol
ume "A White Umbrella IN Mexico and Other
Lands" is similar 20 the first IN character.
Colonel Carter Of Cartersville." that delight
ful Southern story. fills most Of the third vol
ume. IL Is followed by three other tales of the
same region. Tom Grogan" fills the fourth
volume: 'Gondola Days" another collection Of
capital travel notes. fills the hfth and caleb
West" appears in the sixth. The volumes are
daintily made and are illustrated by various
competent hands. Mr. Smith contributing some
OF the pictures himself The illustrations are IN
color. Mr.. Smiths works deserve publication I'm
handsome library form, they are widely and
justly popular. and We are sure that this "Bea-
con Edition" viii be cordially received.