New-York tribune., 1904-09-02


or Is writing play expounding his views on
war.
The complaint IS often heard Gmong readers
of magazines that the latter have divorces
themselves from serious literature and no long
er attempt 10 do anything eInuse an
discriminating public. Mr. Henry Mills Allen.
writing out OF the long experience ne has had as
Editor OF "Harper's.' combats this belief in the
current number CT The North American Re
view" He maintains that The charge against
the magazines that they have given up their
space mainly TO fiction and fail meet the
wants Of readers in other directions is made
perhaps without due examination" Continuing.
he makes the following confession and claim;
II an all along oonfessing 10 certain limitations
confess frankly that in IiterstIre the book and
w@vs the magazine conveys books 10 It's readers, IN
serial fiction and IN series OF short stories ana
amonS the best OF their time But outside Of
ncton. the great books OF al time stand by them
eKaltation OF this world is of themes.
not exist Though have ''e admitted that some
things ideally beautiful. but appealing 70 few
exclusion is because of their themes, not because
magazines OF course and a large number of them
are addressed 70 that outlying audience of which
best culture OF our time; and while some Of these
- ~ s s 70 9 ana N many aadsr %3f f6e cod l
not depend upon these for their extensive patron
age. But the magazine whose constituency is
limited 10 a cultivated audience. one which IS
constantly increasing with the steadX "a adHa4fe OF
by Tie adoption OF any standard lower than the
popularity, or those who have achieved only that.
u must have the best current literature Obtain
time and Il gets these writers The greatest novel
ot the year IS oehs puDIlsheo seF!5lly an, N ol
writers Of short stories and poems? II IS these
month to month Their Iirst encouragement came
from magazines. Liberal remuneration TOT InelF
them 20 persevere in literary work. and the work
ne history Of periodical literature But excellent
IS 81 IS this demand OF the audience and therefore
Of the magazines IS always for something better
'Hfhe Story Of London" by Henry r. Wheat
ley; has tust been published by the Nacmillans
:n the dainty and delightful Medieval Town
Series" MT wheatley. everywhere known and
honored as the editor of Pepys. is skilfrl
antiquarian. rich in reading, and with a happy
manner In the arrangement of the fruits of his
researches. In this little volume he gives in
feresting chapters the London Of the earliest
times, including the period when IT was a walled
town. and then brings Chaucer TO his aid an
spt thought THE river has made London.
says SIr Wheatley, and discourses pleasantly Of
the Thames this chapter being accompanied by
an excellent folding reproduction of Visscher's
seventeenth century view OF The stream. with
Ipndon manners. amusements OF the town and
sts sanitary and commercial history are all
trarersed; the author glances at the Church and
education. and he closes with rapid survey,
bringing his Typographical record down to mod
ern times. The necessity for compression has
compelled Mr.. wheatley to be little abrupt
here end there. but on the whole. he has pro-
duced a very readable narrative. The numerous
illustrations from different sources are all
f-fl hf1F v-a1 flxa he o.
ductions Of old prints and Mr. Railton's grace
full drawings. The next volume in this series,
written by Miss Ella Noyes and illustrated by
Miss Dora Noyes VIII treat Of Ferrara-
The lectures on Dante and Bottcelli which
John Oliver Hobbies has delivered in the last
year or two are 10 be printed in book form.
With them will be published a number Of mis-
cellaneous essays, the collection appearing un-
der the title OF ''The Artists Life"
Two new Baedekers reach US from the Scrib-
ners. one being the third and revised edition OF
'srhe United States. with Excursion Into
Mexico and the other totally book,
ITALY from the Alps 10 Naples The former
has now reached a practically defnitive form.
offering small opportunity, save in trifing de-
tails, for future changes. The preliminary brief
monographs filling more than hundred pages,
form an admirable feature. Professor Nc
Master contributes q short history of American
politics, Mr.. Bryce writes on the Constitution
nnd government OF the United States, and there
are papers on other important subjects. includ-
.ng one painting and sculpture by Mr.. w A.
Coffin, and one on architecture by Mr.. Mont
gonery Schuyler. Mr.. Bryce sees blenishes in
our institutions. but Cor the benefit OF visitors
from Europe. who are apt, he thinks. to over
estimate them, he observes that they are far
from prevailing over the whole country. that
they are not a necessary incident to democratic
institutions. but largely due to causes which
may prove transitory, and that they do not pre-
vent the government both Of tho nation and Of
tie States from being on the whole, efficient and
popular. conformable TO the wishes Of the people
and sufficient for their needs" This issue Of
the guide 10 the United States is accompanied
by a supplement of nine pages supplying in
formation for the convenience Of the visitor 20
the St Louis Exposition. hardy little map is
inserted in the pamphlet.
The new 'Italy" imported in this series is a
compilation based upon the three volumes on
the northern. central and southern parts of the
country which will continue TO be Indispensable
90 the traveller OF leisure, but provide more than
the hurried tourist really needs. The volume
before Us Is designed FOR those who are obliged
20 compress their tour into space Of four or
five weeks, CT who. having that time at their
disposal wish 20 devote 1t entirely the attrac-
fions OF Rene and Naples" The editor notes
that for further convenience the book is divided
suto four sections. which can be taken from the
binding and used separately. but since the en-
tire work runs 20 scarcely more than four hun
dred pages few would consider it worth while
20 disnembeF St The numerous maps the
familiar and excellent maps which have done so
- efra bOOo