New-York tribune., 1903-01-24
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
Current Talk of Things Present and
to Come.

Some time in February the Putnams will pub
lish novel by Benjamin Swift, entitled In
Piccadilly,'' in which the action passes for the
most part in the life of that famous thorough
fare.
John Lane is bringing out a translation of ].
g. Nicolas's version of the Rubaiyat Of lunar
Kkeyam." the Frenchman spelled it. Baron
Corvo has made the translation, which faces
the French, page by page. Nathan Haskell
Dole supplies an introduction. The distinction
OF this version lies In the paraphraser's inter
probation NJ. Nicolas spent many of the best
years OF his life in Persia, and studied the Suf
literature attentively. coming to the conclusion
ia regard to this poem that It's seeming gross
ness not to be taken literally. Into every
reference to wine and the cup. for instance, the
Frenchman read a spiritual and symbclicai
meaning. which he set forth in copious notes
In this edition. however, we have merely the
two versions Baron Corvo having set aside the
long emendations. For some of the words
which in their original Persian meaning are
difficult TO render, he has drawn on Greek in
which he finds a closer correspondence. This
gives the English translation rather a quaint
touch, as do such expressions as the bowl
turned topside i the turf" for upside down, and
"at hestern eve"
thors seem to follow rule other than a natu-
raj tendency to select the time which is least
open to interruption. Where this is not a con-
slant threat whim enters the problem. The
author does his work alone and, unlike all work
which is dependent upon the cooperation of
Others. such the various business Of great
city, II fall at any time. Unlike the artist,
the author is not dependent upon the sun. There
is more approach to the physicians task in his
duties, except that, whereas he may work at
any hour the physician must be ready to work
at all hours. The latest choice Of writing time
which has reached US is Stewart Edward
Whites. The author of THE Bazed TraiP'
wrote his book between the hours Of and
o'clock in the morning in the heart Of a forest.
The Rev. Daniel Munro Wilson. author of
Where American Independence Began" pub
lished lately by Houghton, Miftiin Co., was
resident of Quincy, Mass. for eighteen years.
and for of that time pastor Of the old
First Church there This gave him opportunity
to gather much information and tradition about
the people OF Quincy, Of whom together with
those of Braintree, his book treats 1t is the
thesis of the book that the patriotic sentiment
in these towns anticipated the movement for
separation from the Crown, which was not so
widespread is commonly supposed DR.. E.
E Hale said upon reading this book that it
touched bit OF history which had been waiting
TO be written and that DR.. Wilson was just the
man for the task. Speaking of the family of
the Quincys and of the Josiah Quincy who was
recently Mayor of Boston, and sixth of the
name Dr. Wilson writes: Even before his ad-
vent some one wittily remarked OF the Quincys
that while with other families the descent was
from sire to son, in their case il from 'Siah
TO Sah."
The English Humorists" has been added to
the Macmillan Company's edition Of Thacke
rays works.
"Our Northern Shrubs and How to Identify