New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-06
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
Current Talk Of Things Present
and to Come.

/
Haziitt is the latest English writer to receive
enthusiastic treatment at the hands of a French
| man. a critical biography of him has Just been
published In Paris by NJ. Jules Douady
If there is one type-o professional man in
/ me world to be envied OF all other men, it is
the arch9ologist who is privileged to assist
at excavations on ancient sites Surely there
can he nothing more exciting than. with turn
OF a spade 50 to say, to come upon the relics
or remote civilization. Professor Ronald NJ.
Burrows, in a recent report on the excavations
in Crete, describes the uncovering of the Palace
OF the Minoan kings at Knossos, Here is
specimen of what he has to say about the finds
of the eXCaVators:
Besides the Throne and the Cupbearer there
We're the long Corridors with their and rows
OF huge Aladdin's jars. twenty in a single
room many Of them still standing In position and
intact, as when once they held the oil wine OF
King Minos. On the walls were frescos Of hts
minions and his DANES" in garden or on balcony
viewing the games; the men close-shaven and
with flowing hair, the women with pulled sleeves
and hounced skirts, frisees decoIletees. alto
gether ladies of fashion and the Court. of whom
inc french savant might well excaim, "AIais &c
sunt des Parisienncs!'
TIE four volumes most recently issued by the
Putnams in the delightful series OF Les
Classlques FranCais," peculiarly attractive,
Tor they ale devoted TO works of great value,
which are not generally accessible in popular
form One volume contains the "Caracteres' of
La Bruyere another the "Lettres Persanes" of
MonteSquieu, the third is given to the two in
comparable comedies of BeaumarChais and the
fourth assemblies some thirty-five or forty of
the best letters of Nine. de S6vgne. 1t is for
the last mentioned volume that we are especial
ly grateful. 1t is just such brief collection as
this that is calculated to get the reader who
knows Nine de Seviene only by repute inter-
ested in her enchanting letters, and cause him
TO pursue the study further This series is
especially strong in its introductions and it's
photographers also command warm appreciation.
DUfneld & Co have begun 10 publish new
collection of little volumes devoted TO classics of
a certain sort They call it The Rubric Series
and open it with THE Canticle of the Sun" of
81. Francis of Assist and in later volumes they
will print FitzGerald's "Rubaiyat" the Declara-
ton of independence, Lincoln's Gettysburg Ad-
dress and his first and second inaugural Ar
dresses and Washington's Farewell Address.
We find in English newspaper the unwei-
come news that The Monthly Review" has
ceased to exist, for the present at any rate"
This periodical made pleasing impression with
its very first number, published by the house OF
Murray some seven years ago. Mr.. Horny New
bolt, who occupied the editorial chair at the
outset, showed that poet could be a practical
man, and obtained many admirable contribu-
tons for his pages. These were printed In hand
some type exceptionally good paper and the
cover had more than ordinary dignity 1t is
difficult 10 see why the magazine should have
had TO be dropped.
In the year 1716 a book was published by
the oxford University Press and put on sale at
12s. Cd. 1t has been continuously on sale at
that price. and only the other day the last copy
was disposed OF. This slow-moving book is
David Wilktnss Coptc version OF the New Tes-
lament.
Two years have passed since Mr. A. r Waller
printed the first volume In the edition OF Mat
thew Prior's works, which he undertook for the
excellent series of Cambridge English Classics"
He has brought out the second volume.
completing his task. In It he makes a num-
Der OF important additions Priors writings,
having had the good fortune to get hold OF a
quantity of hitherto unpublished manuscript.
Among these items four Dialogues Of
the Dead" the dialogues being respectively be-
tween Charles the Emperor and Clenard the
GrammaTian. Locke and Montague. the Vicar
Of Bray and Sir Thomas More and oliver
Cromwell and his Porter. The additions 10 the
poetry embrace long pieces and number of
mere scraps.
Students Of architectural history know well
the beautiful church OF Santa Maria della Con-
solazione at Tod. and they know also with
what acerbity the debate TO the authorship
OF that Renaissance masterpiece has been car
ried on. Lovers of Bramante loath 10 see
him deprived OF il. but every and then
the effort TO do so is made by some commenta-
tor. Mr.. William Mercer, who wrote the
subject In THE Academy some years ago, re-
periodical saying:
Count Leonii claimed the design of San Gallo
the younger attempting, well he could. TO
dispe the widespread misunderstanding long |
prevalent. Unhapply he lay dying OF a mortal i'll |
during my visit 10 Tod, and lost my oppor |
tunity of consulting this eminent authority, the |
learned eTchivist Of the ancient city. found \
whole array OF witnesses swearing falsely in favor
the gregarious guide-booll statement that Bra
mantle the real architect OF the church. and |
absolutely silent the claim of San Gallo: indeed
II books alone were to be relied on, ( must have
given up hope of establishing the right OF San |
Gallo 70 the honor of constructing the design OF
this admirable church.
Vasari was the first writer responsible for the !
leading of a crowd of blind followers astray. He |
vaguely asserts that the exterior by BramaEte |
and the interior by Cola di Matcuco da Capra- |
able periodical the "Archivio Storico Italiano,' re-
peat trust:ngly his very words.
Even my learned old friend and companion |
Adamo Rossi the archivst ana librarian of Peru |
fia, whose death l soTrowfully narrated IN Tho |
AthGu5eum OF March. 1891, steered cautiously but |
dangerously the old error. missing the name |
so careful to build his facts on the solid foundation
Of original documentary evidence. In my letter |
OsSG) rcioiced 10 dissipate tho reigrng fiction
the sUpposititios designer of the church. and to
be enabled 70 restore It TO it's riGhtful maker
After many and fruitless researches in |
Florence for the original plan, said 10 have been |
and forgotten by Count Leonii of TOl 7 was |
enabled to supply the missing trace and In my |
letter ! appended translation of certificate OF |
origin signed By Signor n. Ferri. keeper OF the |
prints IN the CfHzi Gallery, which proved that San
Santa Maria della ConsC'azlone III Todd II |
states that the drawing, No. 73l, described |
"Planta della Madonna dl Tod" BY San |
Gallo the younger containing autographs, together /
with various other infalble characteristic words |
and signs by him (see ndex, p. 2ll. of Civil and |
Military Designs" compiled by n. Ferri in 1881
l.. r. Hamersy 6 Co have issued the third |
edition ~ their who's WI" In New York City |