New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Shakespeare's Graphology and Other
Themes,

Shakespeare is naturally the leading topic In
the volume Of the Temple Biographies
CE. p. Dutton & Coz devoted TO "Strat-
ford-on-Avon" the street of the ford. The
author, Herbert ". Tompkins. states that he
does not set out 80 tell the story Of Stafford,
a story often told, to write description OF
the town we 1t to-day. but to point out,
concisely as possible, some features of para
mount interest or enduring charm" These
largely centre in the towns associations with the
poet. ana the author is agreeably successful In
his undertaking. There is little here that has
not been said elsewhere. if more at length. but
the little volume will be useful to travellers who
wish 10 have sornethin. more suggestive than
The ordinary GuidebOoll and still compact
The -and-ink dra wings by i. II. New
are simply and carefully made, If not distin-
gE.shed works of art. Shakespe2re's appar-
ent Indifference as to the spelling Of the name he
made so famous may have been due more TO
uncertainty than to hccdlessness, or perhaps was
q trait Of hereditY for learn that although
the name of his father. John Shakespeare APP
pears sixty-six times in the council books Of the
town. It is found spelled IN sixteen different
ways.
G. Manvillc Fem who, in what must be the
scant leisure afforded writer OF many tales
finds recreation in travel and gardening. has
combined the results OF both these diversions in
q volume entitled The khedive's Country
published hy Cassell & Co. His love of travel
took him to Egypt, and his fondness for garden
ing caused him TO become interested in the
model farms and experimental gardens estab-
lisheG by the Khedive in furtherance of his plans
for retaining various tracts of land in the Nile
Delta. With the assistance of Thomas Wright.
the superintendent of the Khedive's agricult-
ural estates near Cairo Mr.. Fem has prepared
a volume which is primarily intended to stimu-
late British emigration the land of the
Pharaohs. but which is also interesting ex-
position of the possibilities of the agricultural
development of Egypt under modern conditions
and enlightened government. The fertility OF
the soil is proverbial and labor is cheap and
abundant. ION a large estate should extra
hands be wanted for a special occasion. hun
dred or two hundred men be had on one
nights notice"
The writer on graphology. r. d. Stocker
aptly remarks in the preface TO his recent book
on THE Language OF Handwriting" &c. P. Dut-
ton & Coz. is confronted with an uncomforta BILE
dilemma in the selection Of the examples with
which TO illustrate the truth of his theories. If
he prints the autographs of well known per-
sonages for elucidation, some people who look
at the book casually Will very naturally feel
talents 10 Sir Henry Irving or vices to Charles
Peace" On the other hand. if he gives the writ
ing Of unknown individuals he fails either to
prove his case or TO interest his readers. Prob
ably the most that be said for this so-caed
science. at least at this stage of its develop
ment, is that there is something in it,; but 1t
will be hard 10 convince the average layman
that Mr.. Stocker would have evolved the fol-
lowing estimate of Hawthorne's qualities from
his chirogra ply without the lead" offered by
his literary reputation:
NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE american novel
Gus graphical sign AGREEABLSNEss: indicated
~ gShaPed s. etc here Lapggage Form Size
Imitation well defined. accounting for his lit
ness. Spirituality. and Veneration as well as
Executiyeness and q sufficient social DEVELOPMENT
highly refined. profoundly interesting and particu
larry pleasing personality.
The most amusing thing however about the
above solemn deduction is that it is given as
an example of handwriting under the heading
'EI-The Reflective Reasoning Faculties %
Agreeableness = Adaptiveness; aGaptability to
circumstances; the ability TO conform to ones
surrounding. and behave suavely, and manifest
blandhess of manner Mr.. Stocker is certainly
interesting if not altogether convincing.
The closing Of the Lyceum Theatre in London
a
brings up a flood of memories of the famous
playhouse which Austin Brereton has set down
in handsome volume. with many Illustrations
published in London by Lawrence & Bullen and
in this country by Mcclure, Phillips & Co AS
the title, The Lyceum and Henry Irving" indi-
Gates, the book is intended memorial OF the
latter days Of the theatre. Irving. first under
Batemans management and from December 30
1878 until its sale, September 80 1903. as actor
manager, succeeded IN making the Lyceum the
most notable home Of the English spoken drama
in his generation IT, at the end, he was unable
10 repeat the successes of his prime he de-
serves no less credit for the impetus he gave TO
the adequate presentation of the drama in Eng
land and America. The house has had a long
and picturesque history which Mr. Brereton has
been unable TO resist the temptation TO recall.
Charles Mathews. Edmund Kean Nine Vestrfs
ana Charles James Mathews. Toole, Helen
FAUCET Fechter and Adelaide Nelson are
among the names which lent distinction to its
stage before the Irving regime. The present
theatre was rebuilt by Samuel Beazlev In 1894
who should have known his business as he was
g playwright as well an architect The Sub
lime Society of Beef Steaks, organized in lI35
was Tor sixty years associated with the Ivceur,
In later days. Booth Barrett. Mary Anderson
and sara Bernhard acted on its boards Ellen
Terry first appeared under Irving's manage
ment. and, with short break continued with
MN until the end. Even if one does not agrea
IN every particular with Mr.. Brereton's lauds-
tory appreciation Of irving and Miss Terry in all
their remarkable productions the book is vastly
interesting TO the lover of the Erpel;eb lro,,o