New-York tribune., 1902-07-07

Century: How can any one fail TO discover
the idiosyncrasies Of Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
ward?"
Will n. Harben. the author OF "Abner Daniel"
Just published by Harper & Bros tells an anus
ing story about the original Of one Of the char
acters in this novel Of Georgia life. The man
lived alone in cabin. the four corners Of which
rested on rather slender posts. neighbor
passed along by his house day and saw the
gaunt nountaineer making lye in a crude ash
hopper Coin to make soap?" asked the neigh
bor curiously NO" was the slow reply Fur
the last two weeks them durn hogs O. yor'n has
been sleepin' under my house an keepin' me
awake with the'r gruntin'. I've raised plank
IN my floor right over Their bed, an tonight I'm
a-goin' to heat this lye bilin' hot an empty 1t
on 'em I'll show 'em thing or two.''
We'll" laughed the neighbor. Il reckon 1t
won't kill EN-" and he walked on.
That night about IL o'clock the neighbor was
awakened by voice calling family his gate.
Rising and going TO his door, he saw the plotter
against the hogs leaning the rail fence In
front Of his house. "Hello:" he called out;
anything wanted?"
For a moment there was silence. then the
at the fence said:
EFF it's Jest the same to you, I'd like to sleep
here the rest o. the night"
"Oh see." said the man in the doorway
Your lye didn't work"
''Yes. it worked groaned the man. as he
climbed over the fence and limped forward.
showing face badly bruised and shirt torn
into shreds. 81 got the stuff on 'en, durn the T
hides; but they in sech hurry to git out
that they knocked one o. the props from under
my cabin. an me n the house started on roll
down the hill Eff them hogs hain't got more
skin on 'em an have they're in bad fix"
The public interest in Mr.. Richard Harding
Davis's new book OF short stories-and some
longer ones-published last week. entitled Ran
sons Folly is indicated by advance orders
that its publishers. the Scribners, have received
for about ten thousand copies.
THE Poet and Penelope" is announced by
the Pdtnams for autumn publication. 1t is
called a light and graceful novel in the style
OF comedy and is said to be the first work OF
the author L. Parry Truscott, young English
man.
Amy cne who thinks that lovemaking and
blood letting have palled on the public taste as
ingredients that are likely to help novel to
popularity is mistaken" said q confident pub
Usher the other day. 'I will tell you how
savage foe of this sort of literature met with
tgnominious defeat not very long ago. He had
written story that was nothing less than a
parody Of the broadest kind the romantic.
one chapter and in another the heroine was
rescued from sudden death six times. He sent
the work to a publisher OF international repu-
tation who published it He omitted, however.
TO label IL a parody, and the public has taken
II seriously, smacking :ts lips over the highly
havoredness. The book has gone through two
editions and there is talk of a third. All of
which goes to show as I said in the beginning,
that lovemaking and blood letting still the
thing"
Charles Scribner's Sons have Just issued the
first two volumes Of their new edition Of the
collected works Of r Hopkinson Smith. which,
by arrangement with Houghton. Miffn & Co.
they are publishing in ten volumes to be sold
by subscription under the title Of 1.-The Beacon
Edition" Mr.. Smith has revised and rearranged
his stories and sketches, bringing those on sim
la themes into groups, and has added several
new stories not found in any other edition
The name Of 'The Beacon Edition" and the
little device Of a lighthouse the title page
and in the watermark of the paper are. OF
course derived from Mr. Smiths work an
engineer and builder Of lighthouses-the famous
Race Rock light among others, the scene Of the
novel Of Caleb West" A special feature Of the
edition will be the drawings in color, which,
three to a volume. adorn the work Mr.. Smith
himself. E. A Abbey, Howard Chandler Chrsty,
F. c. Yohn and Henry Reuterdahl are among
the artists who will contribute the illustra-
lions.
Messrs Henry Holt & Co. have issued
History Of the Roman People" by Professor
Charles Seignobos, whose Political History of
Europe since 1914" IS now in its third impress
sion Dr. William Farley. Of the New-York
high schools has edited the translation. bring
ing the history down from Theodosius L to
CharIemagne, and appending to each chapter a
full set of parallel readings and list Of sources
available in English. The volume will contain
maps and numerous illustrations.
An important contribution TO a subject that
has increasingly occupied the attention Of
ciaI students and philanthropists especially in
England, is contained in a big volume that E.
P Dutton & Co. are about to publish in this
country. entitled Dangerous Trades It COM
prises large number Of articles written by
specialists on the different trades and their
peculiarities and disastrous effects on workers
in them: treating. as the title page says, THE
historical, social and legal aspects of industrial
occupations affecting health" 1t is an
tmpassioned statement OF facts, but full of
significance, which is enhanced by the numerous
illustrations.
The late Margaret J. Preston wrote graceful
and agreeable verse, but we fail TO see why her
gentle talent and quiet life should be COM
memorated in a formal biography. Such
volume compiled by her stepdaughter. is an
nounced for future publication, and it is men
toned that it will contain particularly inter-
esting correspondence Mr.. Paul H. Hayne
the Kingsleys md Jean Ingelow being among
the Virginia poets friends This hardly gives
promise Of unusual attractions