New-York tribune., 1902-07-03


TO the very books which I have in mind The
truth, it seems to me. is that he decidedly
unequal. Possibly after he had attained great
success the very multiplicity of his interests
may, except in certain instances have inter
5ered with the concentration that he was wont
80 apply to his novels However that may be.
surely a writer of fiction should be judged by
his best work and if Besant had published only
the cream Of his writings. I doubt if his claim
TO place in the first rank would ever have
been questioned"
Master Daniel Denton. of Jamaica, Long
island, published in 1910 the first printed ac-
count in the English language Of the city of
New-York. It an enthusiastic description.
showing forth the island ideal home for
Immigrants from the mother country. Il may
say, and say truly he wrote. that if there be
any terrestrial happiness to be had by people
of all ranks especially of an inferior rank it
must certainly be here" A reprint of Denton's
sBrief Description is to be issued by the Bur-
rows Company of Cleveland. There will be 2J0
numbered copies with ten signed copies on
Japan paper
One of the literary successes of the season in
England is the edition of Green's Short His
tory" which the Macmillans issuing in
sixpenny parts. They appear fortnightly.
These sixpenny issues of books which are
really worth while" are growing in popularity
sn Great Britain and authors losing their
prejudice against them. Even the late r. D.
Blackmore zone who resisted most literary in
roVations) at last yielded on this point, so far
as Lorna Doone' was concerned. Mr.. Marston
says in the recent number of the Publishers
Circular: "Adr. Blackmore was for long time
averse to such an issue but he at length yielded,
and wrote me a characteristic letter, from which
give the following extract: TT would not sur
prise me much if you made a hit with the six
penny L. D., such is the thickheadedness of the
s1lany-headed. . If the other books, some
of which are Of higher order than L. D., could
be made to go. 1 might defy the few seasons
vet before me- Vainly do look for pears; but TO
know why there are none is or ought to be
comfort His consent was given, however, on
The understanding that the edition was to be
limited TO 10000. These were issued some two
or three years ago, and promptly sold out, ana
the fact of such issue has probably already
been almost forgotten by the public; at all
events as is the fashion nowadays, an urgent
demand has again arisen for another 'SlXpenny
Lorna Accordingly the publishers have pre-
pared an edition of $1,000 copies, which is now
being issued with the satisfactory knowledge
and doubtless the number Of 10000 will soon
again be reached"
Mr. Marston asserts that he has reason TO
believe that Blackmore regarded his novel,
s'springhaven." as his masterpiece. Few readers
would agree with him. Lorna Doone" remains
the crown Of all his admirable work; but the
s'Matd of sker" which seems to be almost for
gotten in these days. is TO be ranked not far
below Fo that matter, all his novels are emil
rently readable, and 1t is odd that no con-
yenient pocket edition of them should be avail
able.
Mrs Hugh Miller tells in her lately printed
journal this amusing story Of her noted hus-
band in the days of his youth: 1T was this Miss
Emith who fell into Fathie Burn on the occasion
OF some picnic exploring party. The place
hvas rather deep, the water reaching about up
TO her waist I can scarcely account for Hughs
behavior on that occasion, unless 1t were from
ht Of abstraction. Instead Of helping, he stood
with arms folded contemplating the lady in the
water; and when she had got out by herself he
was asked why he did not assist. He replied
ahat he was calculating the force of the current.
If Il had been strong enough to carry her away
be would instantly have gone to her assistance;
II otherwise, he thought she could do without
hirni OF course he well rallied for many a
day on his ungallant philosophy. Miss Dunbar
got hold of the story. and did not spare him."
it of abstraction must certainly have been
she explanation of this amusing story, for Hugh
Miller was usually OF the most courteous
of men. In a letter to Miss Dunbar he gives a
somewhat different account from Mrs Mers
recollection. How defend my conduct in the
burn?" he writes in half humorous vein.
'Very easily. Never there young lady so
rvofuIly in danger of falling a martyr to a
classical association. remember oId
snythological story Of Venus springing from
the waves Of the sea. On seeing Miss Smith
rising out OF the stream. instead of thinking of
.he best means Of extricating her could think
of only the story. And I could not help that,
you know! II Miss Smith. however. will but
favor me by falling into the burn a second time,
no association. however classical, shall come
between me and my duty"
Berthold Auerbach the German novelist, left
D. considerable number Of papers Of interest in
cluding many early literary attempts among
them sketches for play, Johannes KeppIer":
plans and sketches for stories never worked
out, many single ideas 5otted down on slips of
paper, and more than a thousand letters sent
him In his lifetime by people distinguished in
literature and politics. and many OF the nov
elist's manuscripts and corrected proofs
Anton Bethlehem. who IS engaged on a biog
raphy of Auerbach, has been given access IN
the manuscripts for use in his book
Henry vignaud, First Secretary TO the Anaeri
ran Embassy in Paris. has just published a
memorandum in answer to three Of the most
eminent geographers and historians who criti-
cised in the European papers and reviews his
book on the discovery OF America by Chris
(-1T,.