New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-10


cessible to the general reader. Yet 1t possesses
great interest. which Is not confined 10 those
making a speciality OF government or law, or
even of Dante. There is an introduction By the
translator. with notes on the text at the foot OF
each page
Certain reviewers ars criticlsing AIR. London's
alleged afeotation IN signing himself Jack on
the grounds that # is cerogatory 70 a man who
has arrived" to use nickname w. l. Alden
even writes Of John" London. and hopes
that he will soon stop calling himself by the
absurd Jack" SO, possibly he might. II his
lame were John. or anything else but what it
IS It so happens that zach is Mr.. London's
given name. and until he takes steps legally TO
change il. which will probably be never. those
who object to il caa only soothe their feelings
by using the initial -"
Henry James's new novel, The Golden Bowl"
will be published by the scribners IN October.
Ii Is another INTERNATIONAL story In which
the author makes use OF his knowledge OF
American character and European life to set
the Off against the other In his wonted
fashion. II is said to have a more dramatic in
terest than much OF his recent work. with the
element OF pathos "singulsrly emphasized"
Mrs Mary Mapes Dodge who has been the
TO bring out a new volume OF Poems and
Verses this autumn through the Century Com
pany, the publishers OF the magazine The
book viii be mada up Of selection of the best
Of the authors contributions 10 periodical htera-
ture for a number OF years past
Nancy Stair. the heroine of Elinor Mccartney
Lanes novel, is still deuding certain reviewers
who depend more the impression of verify
hnI hon
their knowledge of literary history or OF the
contents of their books of reference. One writer
in a prominent weekly speaks of the novel as
well worth reading, not only for its entertain
ing qualities. but for its rescue and sympathetic
portrayal of beautiful character in history.
who came within the orbit of Robert Burns, the
poet" and a critic in one of the large dailes
remarks in his review OF the novel that there
seems 10 be a perfect craze among noyelsts to
rake in the ashes OF the past for dead and gone
personages with which to decorate the pages of
fiction" A third reviewer. indeed, speaks OF
"hurrying to Carlyle"-where he certainly found
no mention Of Nancy Statr-and II he had
taken the additional precaution OF continuing his
journey as far as his "Debrett's Peerage' he
would have learned the reason why. There
Darymple who was Earl of Stair
throughout the period covered by the novel, and
the only one who could by any possibility have
been the father of Nancy died chldles6. as did
also his successor. In view OF these facts, the
statement which Mrs. Lanes publishers feel
called to make. that her heroine was a hgment
of the imagination, seems almost superiuous
It is pleasant to find publishing house that
is yielding TO the protest against the conven-
tional "he and she" illustrations that disfgure
many volumes of current fiction, thereby forcing
on the reader types OF hero and heroine that
must almost necessarily clash with his mental
conceptions aroused by the text. Henry Holt
& Co., in two OF their recent books-"A Night
with Alessandro" and I'm a Dwelling in the
Wilderness"-made happy departure from the
conventional frontispiece by substituting small
colored landscapes that served sort of pic
torial prologue and epllogus TO the stories. In
THE Pursuit OF Phyllis" however, which they
have just issued. they have lapsed into por-
traiture again, the book opening with picture
of the hero, starting out his quest, and clos
ing with OF Phyllis, apparently to signaizs
its success. The idea, in a measure. excuses the
backsliding, but most readers would prefer to be
left free to ft the characters to their own ideals
Stewart Edward Whites new volume Of tales
of life in the numbering regions of the Northwest
is to be called "Blazed Trail Stories" title
which not only shows painful lack Of original
ity and an apparent effort to trade the repu-
taton of previous book. but which is
likely to prove confusing to dealers and book
buyers alike. The volume will be issued next
week by Mcclure. Phillips & Co.
The first volume of new French Men OF
Letters series. now in preparation by the J. B.
Iippincott Company. will be q life OF Balzac by
Ferdinand Brunetiere. the president OF the
French Academy. and will be issued In the
spring Of 1905 II is proposed TO bring out only