Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-15

the volume which Is most noteworthy. 1t
is in the field of modern art that Mr.. Cox's
appropriations most discriminating AMI
original. Perhaps original is not the best
word just here, for the manner is always
temperate, and the Characterization are
not striking, but there is a subtlety of per-
ception that reveals new qualities in every
instance. The studies of Puvis de Cha
vannes, Whistler, Sargent and Saint
Gaudens are especially worthy of considera-
ton. The art of the great French decorator,
with it's delicate and peculiar charm. is fine
ly analysed. His suppression of the use
less, the insignificant of the cumbrous. his
adoption of pale color monotonous values,
and individual methods of drawing are ex-
planned as the highest degree of conform
ance to the pure decorative principle. Elk
pressed simply, the fairness of the wall must
be felt always, and the pictures must not
"cut through" This principle is fundamen-
tai The battling personality and mysteri-
Gus fascination of Whistler, and the frank
mastery and realism of John Sargent are
treated with equal skill, and the book
closes with a high tribute to the genius of
Saint-Gaudens.
PUBLISHERS CONFESSION. New
York: Doubleday, Page Co
If every member of the great fraternity
of book writerS-a guild that cannot be
enumerated, but which must total in the
tens of thousands. if not the hundreds
could read this book there would probably
ing of the mails of the publishers. For it
tells some wholesome truths about the risks
and chances of the publishing business in
manner that must carry conviction to the
reminded reader that there is over
supply of mediocre volumes in the market
and an overw helming over-supply of manu-
scripts. The unnamed author, whose chap
tiers We're first printed serially in a Boston.
newspap per, first notes the ruinous policy of
large royalties paid to the authors of sue
cessful books. Twenty per cent, he demon
strates by reference to the actual figures of
book-making, is too high a rate to leave the
publisher that margin of safety and that
possibility of profit that he must have in
order to do good work and to keep the STAN
dard high. But, while he thus assails the
authors for their excessive demands, he
acquits them of the charge of irr1tablllty
and impractcability which has been
brought against them In a clear state
ment of the situation he shows that the
average book writer is an unusually reason
able delightful acquaintance, often warm
friend, loyal and sincere and easy to meet
in a business relation. The book-reading
puuiic should find in this little volume much
of real value in that it frankly explains the
process of publishing. 1t exposes that de-
plorable fraud, the printer who issues books
at the authors expense In this connection
it is important TO note that few amateur
tween public and commercial book print
ing and the grave risk they run in putting
their manuscripts into the hands of a So
called publisher who demands payment for
part of the expense.
This is a good book to encounter, for it
reveals the temptations of a great business
that has much to do with the intellectual
growth of the people
ICONOCLASTS; Book of Dramatists
BY James Huneker. New York
Charles Scribners Sons. Washing
ton: William Ballantyne & Sons.
Is gladness an Illusion. and is the truth
always tragic? The question forces itself
upon the reader of these essays-a series of
dramatic studies published originally in
serial form. 1t is difficult to define the
thought movement of which Ibsen is the
most striking representative. The obvious
characteristic is kind of indvidualism
associated almost invariably with tragedy
and disaster; in the less powerful writers
a note of decadence and pessimistic melan-
choly. These traits are modified by nation
ality and by personal temperament; but the
entire list of 'Iconoclasts,' from Ibsen to
Maeterlinck, including such names as
Hauptmann, Shaw, Sudermann, DAN
nunzio, stand for moral emancipation. They
are the true image breakers" Whether
out of considerable moral chaos they are
easily answered. They have sacrificed much
that seems worth keeping; but the best of
them are seekers after truth, and their
realism must be reckoned with. The es-
sayist writes of Ibsen that 1.-The surface pes
simsm of his plays conceals a mighty be-
lief in the ultimate goodness of mankind"
In lust recognition of his Importance
third of the present volume is devoted to
detailed study of the life and works of
Ibsen The book is full of interesting mat
ter, and Mr.. Hunekers style is clever and
experienced although somewhat lacking in
simplicity.
ITALIAN LETTERS OF A DIPLO-
MATS WIFE. By Mary King Wad-
dington. Illustrated from Drawings
and Photogra phs. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons. Washington: VIII
liam Ballantyne & Sons.
Seven editions of Madame Waddington's
London and Moscow letters-the Letters of
a Diplomats Wife'-have testified to her
wide popularity, and her new volume, with
its Italian atmosphere, is especially delight
full reading. In December, 1879 NJ. William
Henry Washington resigned the premier
ship of France and there followed that in
teresting sojourn in Italy so charmingly
described in Madame Waddington's letters
to her American mother and sister. In re-
firing from active official life the Wadding.
tons turn south for "rest and recreation"
but they are drawn at once into Italy's most
brilliant circles, and the letters are an ac-
count of the distinguished society to which
their prominent position Immediately ad-
mits them. The reader is led into the pres
ence of such interesting personalities as
Pope Leo XIII, King Humbert, Queen Mar
gherita the young Prince of Naples, Vic
toria Crown Princess of Germany, Pope
Plus TX, and various figures rarely treated
of with this realistic and familiar touch
Notwithstanding the unusual social gifts
that must account largely for SO inter-
estng a career, Madame Waddington is
entirely informal and unaffected in her mar
rative. The manner throughout is charac-
terized by an absence of pose, a something
faithful and sincere. 1t is an expression of
the writer's frank pleasure in the expert
ences that have come to her. The letters
abound in detail-those details of livingsin
which human curiosity will always take
legitimate delight. distractions are re-
jected everywhere, and fascinating reality
marks every episode. The main part of
the volume is formed of letters written be-
tween January and May, 1880; but twenty
late al death nj pr