New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-16
LITERARY NOTES.

A story of Russian life by Mrs. f L. Voynich.
author of The Gadhy" and Jack Raymond"
is announced by the Lippincotts for publication
in June. The title olive Latham" indicates
that IL is likely TO he Of the international va
riety but. judging from Mrs. Voynich's previous
novels. it will not be without certain strongly
individual characteristics.
When. in March. 1899. a proposal was made by
the Metropolitan Railroad Company 10 the
Rapid Transit Commission to take over in per-
petuity the subway franchise, and bill was in
troduced in the legislature to amend The rapid
transit act accordingly. the first public protest
against the proposed cession was made from the
platform of the Peoples Institute in Cooper
Union The mass meeting and general agita-
ton which followed aroused public opinion
that the Metropolitan people withdrew their
offer, and the subway remains to-day the prop
erty Of the city. The story of the Peoples In
stitute is issued by the A Vessels Company in
their series Of "Handbooks for Practical Work
ers," and is told by Charles Sprague Smith its
founder and managing director The work of
the institute is carried by means Of free
lectures and classes in the large hail and the
lecture room of Cooper Union and while pri-
marily school Of social science. has become also
a school Of ethics. art, literature and natural
science. The present measure Of success at
tanned and the Interest manifested by the audi
ences which I'LL the hall several times aiweek are
thus accounted for by Mr.. sprague Smith:
ePsTg to- IN the psGpe have larger knoTledge in
lem and much kasnn VIH , ,he eoeiai PROP @
problem is indeed, more vital to the ''masses'
that no audience remotely APPROACHING osirf
either in numbers or alert interest could be gath
the consideration of social questions.
The institute affords those who are most
keeniy feeling social conditions the opportunity
OF hearing those who have been most deeply
thinking about them. and OF questioning and re-
plying 20 therl n the hour given 10 free discus
sion after each lecture. Tho result is mutually
beneficial Economists historians and men IN
public life who have come upon our platform"
declares the author. have had their own flea
OF vision enlarged by being brought into close
relation with the peoples ideas"
Biblical students will be Interested IN the m
nouaeenent that neY edition Of Canon =. X
Cheyne's Commentary on the Book OF Palms"
will be issued this month 10y Thomas yyhita ker
Canon cheyne has been for some time rewriting
anc revising his book. and TO accommodate the
new mstter he has added the worl. will row be
published IN two volumes
a movement toward a simpler "A tr,sar. a
more vital art expression is now taking nlace
IN California" says Charles Kec,er in the intro
dncuoa to his booklet THE Simple Home" pub
lshec by Paul Elder & Co, Ban Francisco.
Mr. Kseler maintains that we must live art
before We can create 81. and should accordingly,
oes.n with ;he home, and he suggests certain
types Of the simple horne which may be ;pfuoad
with a.; at spirit The types suggested are
necessarily considered particularly with refer
e7ce 10 the locality IN which the author l,vos
The principles which guide him are OF general
.Dp"e@.oh' ah1' II not especially original. are
at least worth restating for tn. beneo, or ,hoso
VINO have never heard them. His principlee in
deed. seem to have been better xelected than hi,