New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-16
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
Current Talk of Things Present
and to Come.

ana " COUtC.
The publishers are coming to the front with
their autumn books slowly but steadily, and
there is every indication that their offerings
this year will be as numerous as ever. An
thony Hopes Servant Of the Public just
brought out by the Stokes Company, has been
the first important novel in the field F1utter-
ing in its path come several other works Of
fiction. and more are promised for immediate
publication; but serious studies are also to
hand, like Prof Dicey's Law and Opinion in
England" issued by the Macmillans. and Pro-
lessor Dickinson's Study of the History OF
Music" which comes from the Scribners. In
another week. or at most in a fortnight, the fall
season will be in full swing.
In 1.-THE Country Day by Day" by E. Kay
Robinson, Henry Holt & Company will issue at
once a nature calendar. in which each day has
its accompaniment in the form of notes on
birds. animals insects and kindred themes.
The publishers announce that while the book is
written by an Engishman. most Of the allu-
sions are appropriate to outdoor life and scenery
in this country.
The Century Company is preparing to add,
as usual, to its "Thumb-nair' series this year.
One of the dainty booklets will be given to
Dickens's THE Chimes" A special cover will
tint.
The Navy Department has just sent out the
nineteenth volume of the Official Records Of the
Union and Confederate Navies in the War OF the
Rebellion" It covers the operations of the West
Gulf blockading squadron. from July 10, 1867, to
March A. 1868, and gives reports. letters and
on. bearing upon such incidents as the pas
sage of the Confederate ironclad ram Arkansas
- tI,a Mi a
the upward passage of Port Hudson by Farra-
gut and the destruction Of the ram Arkansas.
The correspondent who wrote TO The Tribune
the other day to vent his wrath against Sciurus
hudsonicus, the red squirrel, and to ask for light
the best way of discriminating that pesttlen-
tial little beast. ought to read with special in
terest the twenty-thrd chapter in the Sporting
Sketches (The Macmillan Company Of Mr.
Edwyn Sandys This author admits that the
red squirrel makes, at certain times. a plausible
appearance ITO see him. he says, "cozily
hunched upon a limb, his red banderole of tail
draped over his back while he enjoys a siesta;
or when sitting upon his launches. while his
ninble forepawS handle cone. nut, other food
with astonishing dexterity, one never would sus-
pect him Of being guilty Of any graver crime
than petty larceny" But Mr.. Sandys knows
we'll what a thief and what an untidy lodger the
red squirrel is. and he knows that only too often
that nimble little wretch is up to the sort Of
mischief described in the following passage:
Above the lawn towers sturdy. pine the top of
For years the fat top of that trunk has been the
chosen resting Place OF pair Of ra beautiful I'm mourn urn
low coughing and suffering, not SO unlike NUT
of gnashing teeth. and the soft patbat-bat! after
which the profanity increases Peering upward
tragedies being played in deadly earnest.
The male dove is firmly braced above the two
snowy eggs. from which the young will shortly ap-
pear if all goes we'll The dove has wing raised
Wing IS softly pattns the bros side sticking 1snS to
the trunk few inches below the is a squirrel
and now his instinct tells him they he would
timidate the dove, but the bird is brave Quick
as flash the ready wing meets the robbers nose,
force. The blows almost knock the squirrel from
the trunk, and he is compelled to temporarily re-
pulsed half dozen times, he is by no means done
the fortress from another point but the wary dove
has turned, and Is ready for him, and again the
so while one for the gun the other keeps
watch upon the robbers movements Finally. after
squirrels evildoing IS forever ended by a storm
of small shot. and the valiant doves may rest in
peace
We may add. by the way that this cleverly
written description is characteristic of Mr..
Sandys's book. His stories OF shooting and fish
ing are vivid, spirited performances. They are
commercially brief. they are picturesque, and
they have in them a genuine atmosphere Of out
door life
The Lippincotts have just published. in PhiIa
deIphia under the title of The Canterbury Pill
an interesting and useful book by
Mr II. Snowden Ward. 1t aims at putting the
reader in possession of all the facts of history
and of place which win enable him to read
Chaucer With closer grip the substance OF
his verse. After sketching the origin of Thomas
a Beckett the author gives survey of his life.
aud shows how his nartyrdom led to the de-
Veoi lnent of cult and the starting OF pilgrim
ages 4" Canterbury. All this fills a good half
Of the :,ook. Then follows an account of Chau-