New-York tribune., 1907-12-14

the boys in -fety to the Sioux camp is told
with spirit Self-defence and the homng IN
sfinct will no doubt account for Nakpas be-
havior. yet we may rejoice in the warrior
ga gle feather and white paint bestowed upon
the wise creature.
A glimpse of George Eliot in 1S61-taken from
a letter written by Mrs Lehman: THE LeweSes
are gone after two delightful, cosey days. L nave
got to know her as never should have Done III
years in London, and think she loves P1e-we
are sworn friends. What d sweet, mild. woman
Iy presence hers is-so soothing, too, and
cieuatino above all 1t is impossible TO be with
that noble creature without feeling oeftT. L
have never known any one like her-and then
her modesty her humility. A modesty. too, that
never makes her or you awkward, as many
modesties do"
A rare Caxton will come under the hammer in
London to-day-the copy OF the first edition of
John Covers ''Confessio Amantis, 14So, owned
by Shrewsbury School It is an almost perfect
COPY and has long been treasured in that famous
institution. 1t is in this edition that the poet
describes his meeting with King Richard II,
in Themse when it was 1owend.
As | by bote came rowend,
and very amiable the King, asking Cover
into his barge and bidding him write book for
him to read. In after editions the text was
changed to suit Henry of Lancaster, and
NAV agree with Mr.. Pollard that the behavior
of Cover and his brother poets proves that if
poets do well not to put their trust in princes.
princes on their side have small reason to trust
poets
Another item which is to appear at the
sale to-day is a letter from the hand of Charles
Dickens-a letter written, perhaps, when the
forlorn figure of poor Jo' had risen before his
imagination or the prototype of poor 10 before
his eyes:
Il have seen in different towns in England. and
do in London whenever ! walk alone into its
hyeWays at night, as ] often do, such mseries and
horrors among these little creatures-such an inn
RsRIS-'ha' HcR. these aFS'0'F7''' '0S 90 TUT" me
The printing of original documents and papers
illustrative of the religious life of the Middle
Ages and especially of the work of the friars
has been adopted the principal object of the
British Society of Franciscan Studies. Particu-
lar attention, it is said, is to be directed to the
popular side of religious life, to matters con-
nected with preaching, pilgrirnages, popular
hagiology, and mystery plays The publications
are intended for circulation among members
only. The first volume to be issued by the society
under the new conditions is Liber ErempIorum
century by an English Franciscan who knew
Roger Bacon at Paris. and passed much of his
life in Ireland. The text is nearly ready for
press. Among the works under consideration of
the society are another Liber Eremplorum; an
unknown Life of F'riar John of Wales, with
selections from his writings; a Life Of ST. Rob-
ert of Knaresburgh; Roger Bacon's Compendium
Studii Th6oIogGe.
The extinction of various species Of birds is
due to man. The Hon Walter
Rothschild, in his first published book on "EX-
tnct Birds says:
Man has destroyed, and is continually destroying.
species directly, either for food or for sport but
also in many other ways he contributes to their
by introduction of animals of prey such cats,
rats, mOngoOse, etc, and we know that also the
etc has proven 10 be harmful TO the native birds.
Again. find that the introduction of domestic
sn "fl1 h1ntber e means bv which man causes i'm
habitat of various species. BY cutting down or
p1inrine the land under cultivation man indirectly
kills off species through starvation. from exter-
depends for food.
An attractive series of life Stories for
Young People "a. C. McClurg & Coz, composed
of translations from the German made by Mr.
George u IptOn. IdS StNtIdi duuitlDiS tliio
son. One neat little volume contains 'Swiss He
roes" a stirring romance Of the period when
Charles the Bold that sturdy ravager of other
mems possessions. offered exceedingly pictur-
esaue material to the story teller; another pre-
sents a good version of the "Frithiof Saga" In
a third we find a translation of Gustav Hockers
study of the Life and Time of Joseph Haydn
"a most readable book; and in the fourth the
fascinating story of the youth Of Herman and
with its thrilling details Of the
crushing defeat of the Roman legions. The vol
umes of this series mean at once culture and
pleasure for their young readers.
The proposed sale next week of Lord Howes
1904 quarto of Hamlet reminds the London
Telegraph that "steeped in the authorized
sion $50 to speak of the 1923 First Folio) people
forget the alterations made therein from the first
quartos Everybody remembers the famous
in Hamlet Who can recite straight
way its primal setting?'
ITO be not to be. there's the point,
To die, TO sleepe, is that all? l. all.
No, to sleepe, to dreame, marry, there il goes,
For in that dreame of death when awake
And borne before everlasting judge.
From whence no passenger ever returned;
The undiscovered country at whose sight
The happy smile and the accursed damnd,
But for this. the joyful hope of this,
Who'd bear" etc.