New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06
yDe &pHperk Grib.s,as.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1903.
ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT.


admirable Confessions of Young Man." but
while the opening paper, in the September num-
Der of the magazine, has some apdacities OF
Judgment in it as blithey irreverent as the
youngest Of readers might desire, it contains
also remarks notable for their mature wisdom
The other day | read Madame Bovary," says
Mr. Moore, and it seemed merely reasonable,
terribly reasonable, and artistic book written
10y very intelligent man. The novel passes
for being the only welwritten novel Alas! 1t
appeared to me badly written-in other words,
il appeared to me to be ,critter All, yes, torSt-
fen, u-itten everywhere. It's music is the music
of the pianola, and the pianoia is played so
skilfully at times that one thinks one detects
human fingers here and there" We have been
waiting these many years for robust on
slaught of this kind upon a silly superstition
from a novelist Of Mr.. Moore's st2nding-and
school-and have often wondered why it has
been so long in coming. The explanation, we
suppose lies in the fact that for one realist OF
Mr.. Moores creative powers we have scores
who can do nothing with life save to copy" It
and such writers are always strong on what
they call art" Flaubert wrote well and there
fore they have mistaken Madame Bovary' for
a model of all the literary virtues. The hys-
terical adulation they have poured upon that
brilliant but arid book forms a huge waste
heap in literature by itself.
Mr. Roger Pocock has written book, which
he calls "A Frontiersman." Several OF his re-
viewers have taken it for pure fiction, where
upon the author has rushed into print with the
following affidavit:
Whereas Certain Journals have reviewed my
Book. entitled a Frontiersman," as IL IL were
a novel to the grave detriment OF its chances
Of Public favour, i, Roger Pocock, OF Adam
street Adelphi, do solemnly and sincerely de-
~. hat my sal autobiography
and a literal statement OF facts, save that, TO
avoid causing pain or injury certain names
and dates have been suppressed. And make
this solemn Declaration conscientiously beliey- |
ing the same to be true, and by virtue OF the |
f is;S. 0' Tic 'D'''' ' ~
This is duly signed in the advertising col |
ann where we found il, and the name of the |
Commissioner for Oaths before whom Mr.. |
Pocock made his momentous observation is also |
given. Perhaps ought to swallow the thing |
whole But we confess to an uneasiness now |
adays where episodes like this are concerned. |
More than one recent transaction looking TO the |
advancement OF the fortunes of book has
inclined US to be more critical than ever of
picturesque and unconventional touting.
The charge Of plagiarism made by Signor
IUziO and Professor Renter against Mrs. Ady, |
author of Isabella ID Este Marchoness of Man
tua' to which we referred last Sunday, is
traversed by Mr.. John Murray, her publisher,
ia a long letter TO The AthenHum." This pre-
SCENTS quaint situation. Mrs. Ady admits that
she Translated certain documents and letters
. . . from publications of Messrs LuZio and
Renter without going to the originals" She did
So it is stated lin the belief that historical
records they were open to her in this way, and
in ignorance of the fact that Messrs. Luzio and
Renier possessed any exclusive rights in their
subscriptions of them" On the other hand,
she emphatically denies that she had prac-
tically appropriated their commentary and illus
trated notes, and that where she had not done
80 she had almost always Numbered" This,
However, is not the whole story. 1t appears
that the quarrel has been going on since last
May: that the two Italian scholars had threat
cnctl legal proceedings land a public attack on
the book. both in England and on the Cont
uent'-only to be invited to do their worst-and
that finally, after much correspondence, COM
promise involving the payment Of a sum of
money. was arranged. According TO Mr.. Muir
ray when this was done Messrs. Luzio and
Rcnicr themselves proposed spontaneously and
voluntarily" to pledge themselves Not TO raise
the question lof their alleged grievancesl in any
way in England" and Ito remain neutral in
regard TO the criticisms which the literary press
in Italy or in any other country may pass indie
pendently." Yet the letter which we quoted a
week ago was sent to 'The AthenRum"I