New-York tribune., 1906-09-02

bends all his energies toward WrltNS the book
Of the minute, his only means Of winning
fortune ana cash
What in tie world can have got into the heads
Of certain individuals. that they think il neccS-
s:ry io pat Charles Dickens upon The back rs
though he W"r" in need Of a friend: Last week
referred 10 Mr. -. *. thcStcrtou'S lofty
Kindness in preparing book which is - h,.
- general Justification" of the novelist. Now
comes Mr.. Il. Brimlcy Johnson to inform Us all
thar h" Is anxious 10 point out that kuoWl
edge and an appreciation Of Dickens is ISicl
NOW assumed hy persons of culture; that he is
quoted with respect in literary discussion. and
acr"rdcd definite place in literary history We
accept him today giant among his coutcIn
InrlricS not perhaps of the highest stature hut
conSpicuously erect No student of the Vie
t"rian afford 10 neglect his work" This
is prpligious line Of Mr. X Brimicy Johnson. II
j. really sweet of him not Ia neglect Dickens
in th,. course Of his own literary discussion
'W.. believe. also" says hr. that Dickens has
rr-ain"d his poSiton b"cauS" he is ia fact. an
artistic ;eniIs Happy Dickens if he only
knew how hc strikes Mr.. Johnson. and how his
r"rapturr of a lost position has been ratified 10y
that penctrating student of the Victorian .rl
Meanwhile We may note that his old publishers
Chapman & Hall. are preparing a edition
Of the complete works, 10 H. printed in forty
volumes. IL will be- called The National FlIi-
ton ana II will contain Il quantity of material
collected for the first time Two volumes
Will he given Ia the lctters mi two To Forster's
life. The writings will embrace some
four score papers anonymously contributed 10
"iiouSefold Words and only recently identified
from the records of that famous publication
Attention is called in THE Academy to the
fact That Il number Of French nOyestS have
recently started society with view To safe
Guarding French nOyelisis abroad against the
Ila@iariSt and the incompetent translator They
hav" opened an office in Paris and have begun
their campaign with an eye fixed especially
upon Germany, where large proportion Of eur
rent fiction is adapted ar translated from thu
French. The editors there have been notified
that no work of the members of the society is
10 hc published under the form of translat tion
unless the translation has been made under the
Supcrintenaence of duly appointe, officials of
ia" >ociety who reside in Paris" This notifica-
tiOn Is not a merely academic pronouncement
Solicitors have been appointed in various Ger
man towns To watch over the interests of the
society. and il has been resolved TO bring any
violation of its rules before court Of law
Little 10y little this system is to be extended to
ether countries. Ii may possibly be introduced
here, when the European novelist gets thor
ouShly walked up 10 the desirabiiy of publish
ins simultaneously more or less. on both sides
"f the water. We get comparatively little Con
iinrntal fiction over here. As a rule il is OILY
when a foreign novel has topical interest like
That of Fogazzaros book. recently translated for
American audience that readers confined Ia
iho English language have opportunity la see
What is going ON outside its domain IL would
Interesting TO know if such contemporary
fnrrigners as have from time 10 time been
rlnslat,d for us have found this market really