New-York tribune., 1905-04-12


Epondence IN his edition OF Lamb was noted in
The Tribune only a few days ago. and now we
hear that the biography which he has been pre-
pairing may be expected IN a very short time.
Il win be in two volumes. uniform with the new
edition OF the works.
Soon after the war In the East broke out we
began 70 notice IN the pages OF 'Blackwood's
Magazine occasional contributions the sub
3ect signed 20" II was impossible TO ignore
these sketches for the anonymous author OF
them was plainly an adept IN that vivid impress
sionistic kind Of war correspondence which the
late G. W. Stevens made so popular Our i'm
preston OF "O's" merits has been deepened on
finding that his articles 1ust collected in little
volume called ~The Yellow War" (McClure.
Phillips & Co). successfully meet the test which
so often discredits stun OF the sort-they stand
re-reading. The author has something to tell
us. he knows how TO tell It IN terse and lively
fashion. and especially he has gift for treat
ing an episode OF the with the dramatic
touch more Characteristic of the romancer than
OF the ordinary recorder of fact. Some OF his
chapters read, indeed, very like short stories.
One OF the best is that which bears the title OF
'aThe Blockade Runner" an account OF the ef-
fort OF a Norwegian skipper TO squeeze into
Port Arthur with a precious cargo. The man
himself is portrayed with skill. and then. while
some mysterious preparations 80 forward on
deck. we peer through the night with old Jor~
gessen, watching for japanese torpedo boets-
One Of them suddenly appears upon the scene
and commands the Norwegian to stop or be
sunk The chapter continues in this wise:
The English speaking expert on the megaphoIne
kept up a running supply Of queries AT last ne
shouted, w by had you not al your lights I.,
m he shouted back, Electric light shp-dynaIno
suddenly gave out-had TO light oil lights. -.
Port or starboardg' asked the skipper.
'-rRaak our lucky stars for this calm solii0- 10
Quized the skipper; then aloud Everything ready
-Ay. ay, sir"
The torpedo beat turned round. shut on the
searee and reducing her speed & STu9g gTor tbe
On Ie ,5eoIse ~ SIs 'l - ~ ~ ~ be1 sbsrD
bump end the torpedo boat alongside. The
OF The boarding party was swinging himself up
Hers bridge shouted Let go!'
Two blows with a hammer. and then. with
Foot drop. tore its way through the deck fore
partmenL and bottom Of the torpedo boat; ne ne
released steel hawser followed after the aneh9r o.:
graphed The engine room: Ful steam aheao: an ei4
.s - - v-sre "a human Feinr Shaking on a
reptile the George Washington Grew clear Of the
torpedo boat And just IN time for the rush oI
reached her boilers. and she burst asunder with a
report IKE basins | chaIgs- a6 Ihen en- the DA cur
Narrow squeak, Mr. Poole" grunted the skipper
DIRTY business: but it worked famOusly sir.
Port Arthur seaTchlights If we don't hit a mine
were through"
Charles ScTibner's Sons have lately imported
the fourth edition OF Baedeker's Northern
France" II carries the traveller from Belgium
and the English Channel 10 the Loire. but eX-
cludes Paris and its environs. which properly
have book 10 themselves in the German Edi-
tors Incompatible series. It is scarcely neces-
sary 10 rehearse the merits Of BaedekeT. We
may simply note that this edition Of the North
em France" is brought up to date with charac-
teristic thoroughness, and contains the usual
generous supply Of maps and plans.
Some time ago. when the International League
OF Press Clubs resolved upon campaign for
the creation and endowment Of a Journalists
Home. it authorized the publication Of
bohemia: A Magazine OF Literature and Art"
making It the Official organ Of the league for
the promotion OF the cause. The first volume
OF the edition de luxe OF Bohemia lies before
US. bearing the imprint OF the league and Of
Mr. James S. Mccartney who as treasurer Of
the Journalists Home Fund, has labored de-
votedly in the interests Of the publication. This
imposing quarto. printed at the Burbank Press
81 Philadelphia, with lavish care. forms. as the
title page puts It, "a symposium of literary and
artistic expressions by and dis
tinguished in journalism. art. romance, htera-
ture. finance. diplomacy. politics and statecraft
especially prepared and voluntarily contrib
uted.' Serious papers or pages are included.
and scattered through the pages are oddities
like the advertisement placed in the shop win
dow of a Birmingham undertaken: why live
Iniserably when you can be buried comfortably
for E 1Os.?" Grave historical studies are
3ostled by humorous cartoons. The reader may
turn from a picturesque essay on Napoleon. by
Tom Watson 10 an account Of Maurice Grau's
first chance as an impresario. written by him
self or 10 an anecdote by Eli Perkins" like
this:
Once. while living n Peklng my wife engaged
Chinese cook. when he came. my wife said:
MY nance Wong Hang 10"
20, that's too l0ng-YNOng -hang-ho" said my
wife. repeating IL after him. That's too long.
.'veliy Teli-au ughtee." said John, 'How. what
20. my name IS Mrs. Melville D. I.andon.'
30. that TOO Tonga piecee Of nance. / can't mem
bel all that call you chawlie."
This book Is copiously illustrated In the first
place many portraits are given. fine reproduc-
fions from photographs Then. IN addition to
the cartoons aforesaid. there are landscapes and
subject pictures some OF which are printed in
colors The result IS an uncommonly varied
and interesting miscellany Again and again
the contributors represented draw on their per
sonal experience for the substance Of their re-
marks, thus giving the work a beguiling actual
ity. Bohemia IS appreciatively dedicated to
MT Joseph Pulitzer. To him. as the founder OF
the school Of journalism which is ultimately TO
play 50 important part in the work OF Colun-
bia University, the members OF the profession
Of fba