New-York tribune., 1906-11-25
Gbe Nean'nork G,riEbaooges
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER %, 1906

4 valued correspondent amiaby diSSents from
the opinion, recently expressed in The Tribune,
that certain excellent book of travel had been
printed on too large scale He likes an ample
page and declares that the reading of a big
book, spread out upon the arm of chair or
upon 4 table, does not cause him the least dis
comfort We are not surprised We have heard
many readers express the same delight in stout
QuartOS and foliOS. Nevertheless fear that
in our unregenerate way we must go on think
ing that for most books, and certainly for books
of travel, small dimensions are the best. We
believe, too, that on this point nearly all pub
fishers would be found to be in agreement.
More and more they seem to avoid the produc-
ton of the bulky and heavy book If they some
times use thick calendered paper which makes
ordinary volume weigh like lead, it is be-
cause the halftOne process requires good
face. But even this eXpedient is avoided as
much as possible, and hundreds of the books
illustrated with halftOnes are printed on fairly
thin paper. The truth is that the publication of
a book in really light convenient form is to-day
not merely n matter of taste, it is matter of
necessity. Cumbrous, troublesome volumes will
not sell. The readers who prefer books of a
more than generous size are comparatively few
in number. Most of us want to be at ease with
our fayorite authors Subscription editions of
the classics used TO be got out in stately form,
but now they are invariably made with careful
thought for the comfort of the reader.
Mr.. Arthur Rickett has published a book
about Hazlitt, De Quincy, Borrow, Stevenson
Jefferies and Whitman, and he calls it "The
Vagabond in Literature" The characteristics
of the type he enumerates as follows: First
restleSSneSS-the wandering instinct, expressing
itself mentally as we'll as physically. Secondly,
a passion for the Earth-ShoWn not only in love
of the open air, but in a delight in all manifes-
tatIonS OF life Thirdly, Il constitutional re-
serve, whereby the Fagabond, though rejoicing
IN the company of a few kindred souls, is put
out of touch with the majority of men and
women. 1t is good thing that Mr.. RicLett has
thus tabulated the essentials of vagabOndage
lie thereby helps a great many writer's of the
day to explain themselves to themselves and to
their friends. We observe that the latter-day
literary vagabond-and his name is legion-is
prone to convey the impression, if he can. that
his soul seeks the open road from deep dark
and eSoteric impulse. He writes essays about
his mysterious passion, or, better still he writes
poems. Always he hints that, by virtue of his
yagab0nd procliyities, he is somehow a rather
superior person He will never abandon this
pose, but he will doubtless get some Useful sug
gcstiOnS from Mr.. Ricketts, schedule of yara-
bond traits. We like to think of him talking
about his constitutional reserve" He ought to
make good many yards of SalabIe copy ont of
his reflections upon that element in his make
up. While he is about it, we hope he will say
something about that exquisite sef-conscious-
ness which is, perhaps the most enchanting
thing about the typical literary vagabond of our
time.