New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25
GDe 3yean2lo1Is gribmals
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1904.
ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT.

markable activity. The publishers have worked
this year with great energy and we hear of no
new books of Importance being held over until
the spring. In this respect we have had better
luck than the English. 1t is announced, for
example that MIR. James's new novel, THE
Golden Bowl" which the Scribners brought out
here some weeks ago, need not be looked for in
London until the early spring. The thing that
pleases us most about the winters books is the
fact that they have included few that could
fairly be called worthless. Evidently the day
of stupid Christmas gewgaws between covers
is gone forever. Trash is disappearing before
the rising tide of books which, if seldom mas
terly, at all events written along serious
lines and published in a dignifed manner. We
do not recall season marked by the publica-
ton of so many legitimate studies in literature
biography, history and travel as have seen the
light within the last eight or ten weeks. Con-
gratulations all round to the public. to authors,
and to publishers seem to be in order to-day.
One of the most interesting of recent develop
ments in the world of books is the great in
crease in the number of works on artistic sub
jects We have before this called attention to
the transformation of the old Christmas gift
book containing reproductions Of paintings and
trifiing text into a publication of a substantial
value The foliOs now issued are not merely
sumptuouS, they represent scholarship. new
school Of authors is arising, composed of men
and women who do their best to put all the
available facts about given master into really
useful form They travel over Europe in order
to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with
his works. They read many if not all of the
books about him in German, French and Italian
as well as in English. Though they are handi-
capped in some instances by an unreaSoning
devotion to the theories of Morelli, they do, on
the whole. vast amount of intelligent work.
Moreover, it has been discovered that a public
exists for books such as they produce, and pub
fishers are ready to make ventures which some
years ago they would have dismissed as i'm
practicable. We hear that a Mr.. George A.
Smonson is soon to bring out in imposing form
illustrated monograph on Guard. That such
4 work should come before in English, al
most as a matter of course, shows that things
have changed. There is cause for special salts
faction in the greater attention now given to
the inexpensive but well made art book. One
popular series after another is started the
average of historical skill and critical judg
ment maintained in most of them commands
respect and from all appearances it may be
assumed that these publications are freely
bought. The influence of all this may not i'm
mediately declare itself but in the long run it
promises to prove of profound service to the
cause of art
NJ. Henri u AlInGrdS has DuDNSicQ VOlulIe
on Cagliostro, that Incompatible Quack, having
carefully sfted the literature of his subject and
arrived at conclusions which may be taken as
definitive. The incident has suggested to a
writer in 'Macmillan'S" that it might be worth
while to look, in the light supplied by this his
torian, at the famous portrait of CagliostrO
drawn by the elder Dumas On the whole, the
result of this inquisitiOn is favorable to the
romancer 1T would seem at first sight that
be had erred" says his anonymous admirer. ain
making the count political intriguer for the
story Of his life so far know it, shows
him intent on making money, and nothing
more" But there is evidence to justify us in
at least giving the novelist the benefit of the
doubt On this point, and, summing up the whole
business, the essayst makes these cheering re-
marks: In conclusion, if Dumas did take I'M
doubted liberties with his subjects character
and career he gave us what no one else has
attempted to do, a picture of the plausible i'm
poster as he probably appeared to his adOrers,
ana so enables US to see how possible it was
LOT men to fall wholesale under his influence.
The fact remains that history mOdfes
ana supplements the Balsamo of the great
FRENCH novelist but does not belle it. or take
away It's real value as effort Of the magma
ton"