New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-24
Gbc 0esa)s29o2,ls G,ribmsts.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY "a, 1907.

thinks highly iacCnvenient- The student looks
down the titles of the books reviewed in a
S, rial to see whether there is any criticism of
work, of which he has heard. He does not
find its name in the list Yet there may be
couple OF columns of observations more or less
su sgested by the book under some fanciful head
ing. Say the work is called The Russo-Jap-
aneSe war Then the review may be entitled
The Yellow Fury and so forth. Why should I
a criticism of Mr.. Oman's volume Of the His
tory OF England which opens with the reign Of
Richard II, and ends with that of Richard III, |
be headed Double Dick or From DickOn to |
Dicl on| The question is for 'aenists or mad |
DOCTORS as they used to be styled by our ruce
forefathers." One can only reply to Mr.. Lang
with a quotation: who breaks n butterfly upon
a wheel?" 1t is too bad about that yellow
Fury and we hate 10 think of Mr.. Lang'S being |
delayed and bothered by the titles that get be-
tween him and the reviews he wants to read
We blush at his query to whether the praC-
tice to which he refers is not an American in
ventiOn, which has been adopted by his country
men lin iattering but senseless imitation" It
Is painful to have one more crime added to that
terrible series with which America has stained
the history OF literature. But, on the other
hand, we find Mr. Lang's alarm little funny
The reading OF the younger generation In Eng
land is subject often touched upon In the pub
TIC prints. we have again and again found
writers for the London press soemnly occupied
In discussing what seems TO be an insoIuble
problem, for when everything has been done to
teach the young idea how TO shoot the Young
idea stra:ghtway goes OF and pleases itself
Nevertheless, the movement for 4 we'll balanced
juvenile book shelf goes on with undated yigor |
The latest contributor to the subject is Mrs r
l.. DevOnShre who in THE National Review"
draws up list of "Frcnch Books for Our
daughters French novels, in her opinion are
Fascinating. mot only because they are written
In the most beautiful OF living Ianguores
welded with the utmost skill and charm by
even second rate French writer's but also no
cause they are, rs n rule, artistic and har
monious in their composition" Obviously Eng
Hfh girls should read French novels But Mrs
Devonshre is little anxious. UNFORTUNATELY"
she Gays. that very BEAUTY Of form has won
Tor certain French novels n place in literature
which IS resrettabe from the point OF view OF
PURIFY and morality What then are we to do
about it: We neeI not despair Many Enc
HSh people are quite ignorant of the fact that
great numbers of French books are absolutely
pure and clean. and fiji TO be- placed in tI,a hands
or Young girls. Mrs. DayouShirc then prorerJs
10 give list OF some Of these looks II fs
Good IlSt, including 4 vast amount or interesting,
reading. cspeD ally aS regards works Of ,notrv
criticism. history. travel ana Oh II must H.
'ohi'SS'u' however, that while a good deal OF
excellent fiction appears in the list we miss
much more that Is characteristics of the French
genus ana is harmless enough into the bargain
Mt w, l.. AldeAs protest in .sTho Author q"
against what he called The Vic, Of CompIeta
Editons' has OF course invited comment from,
other contributors 10 the same journal We
dealt with the subject nj the tina but return IN
1t 10 note the error &C the idea advanced bv one
writer, Mr.. +. {. Constable. II we rick ont
simply the best wurG Of any author" he. saws
then we know nothing Of the man And those
Of US who live in gratitude TO great writer's for
all the pleasures &c life, love the men and want
TO know them. Ne can only know them bv
knowledge Of their successes and their failures f."
10 say that we know nothing of a man whom
we only know through bis best work j. ebocr
nonsense; and, rs for our wanting to know ~,
author III every phase Of his career il is to H.,
said that our desire has nothing talis;pani,
about it, justifying Us in making any inve,tirY
tons choose. I here is thu. further ,,,i,t
too that in this matter distiuctiors ora every
thing, and 1t IS because these aistr; lions arc so
often ignored that the complete edition has FRO
qUently been made cb.JXious. Mr.. Alden, con,
plant was rightly directed against the I,ub1ica
ton, for the sake CG completeness" of stur
which the author never meant II print. and that
sheds absolutely light uncn ia. tr,,o char
artPr OF his work ll1 know, In,l,r, tF,.t ,..,