New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-27


painter
There is to be a new biographical and critical
study OF Richard Jefferies the English naturalist
and essayist who just fell short of achieving the
highest rank in the literature of his subject. Mr..
Edward Thomas is to write 1t, and he makes
the usual appeal for such letters and papers as
may be in possession of his hero's friends.
The editors of some literary periodicals can
not resist the temptation when the silly season
comes around. to send inquisitoral letter TO
number Of conspicuous authors. They want
to kroW the opinions and practice of those
authors in the matter of holiday reading. One
Of these gentlemen sent the ancient question 10
Mr.. Thomas Hardy not long ago and we like
the reply he received. Il have not the shadow
of an idea about holiday reading" said the wise
novelist.
George ". Jacobs & Co. of Philadelphia are
publishing a volume on "Siena and Her Artists
The author is Mr.. Frederick Seymour.
Not in long time have We received news
moro pleasing than that which has just been
sent forth in regard to the Dictionary of Ma
ional Biography" 1t appears that the late
George Smith always DESTROYS that the
work should be placed within reach Of students
and Libraries prevented from buying it by its
price. Therefore, the plates of the slxty-six
volumes in which the Dictionary is at present
printed are t. be used for the preparation OF
tN'it4JAl III twenty-five NOiUiG $ tue bN'ilcdlipI
OF which will probably be begun next year.
There must he thousands OF readers who will
hail this prospect with profound satisfaction,
Scotchnen. and for that matter readers 90
all nations will be interested in the book by r
F. Henderson and Francis Watt which is soon
to appear. Scotland o. To-day II IS 10
contain chapters on the historical Development
Of the Scot the Kirk the Law. the Schools and
Universities Art and Literature. Amusement
~ SF,T- Mt,
Poor Mr.. Theodore Watts-Dunton! There are
any number Of amiabe individuals In England
who delight in regarding "Aylwin' a master
piece. and the author OF it as a transcendentIy
important figure in modern letters; but our
namesake on the banks of the Thames suddenly
shows a cruel want of sympathy with this view
of the matter. Mr.. Watts-Dunton has been pub
fishing 4 sonnet sequence" on The Work OF
Cecil Rhodes" and The Tribune has the wick
edness to say of this and the same authors
Jubilee Greeting at Spithead' that the two
poems, taken together. convict the writer, who
has often been credited with the finest critical
gift in our generation. OF an affinity with the
laureate Pye. and Robert Montgomery" As
though this We're not enough, the hard hearted
critic goes on 70 say that at IA not a Colossus
that he carves, but fnikin little
cherry stones and then the earnest poet is
calmly charged with poverty OF imagination"
At the end Of this column OF heart rendlngy in
this stern conclusion:
II Mr. Watts unton had been an ordinary minor
poet 50 much elaboration would have been mex
Cusable In crushing n caterpillar under tho wheel
- ,'4'lil''i - Iu'tiN anu
have such difficulty In making their voice heard
amongst tho hubbub Of the 'reclane" OF popular
fiction and sensatiOnaIsm. II would be q grave
dereNction u duty in the critic not to examine
with scruDuous and exhaustive care claims put
forward ostent2Jously and almost pontihcally by
into the position Of Judge and a ruler over Eng
hsh culture.
Mr. J. J. Foster is soon to bring out the third
and concluding volume Of his French Art from
notices OF a number OF eighteenth century art
fists ana survey OF society and morals in the
same period. There will be nearly seventy illus
tratious. We wish that there might be & pOpu-
lar edition OF this work, which IS full Of interest
for the student.
The Caxton Press, OF London. IS starting
annual publication 70 be called Their MaJesties
Court" II VIII give in sumptuous form a rec
ord OF the occurrences at Court during the year
under consideration. the Illustrations being por
traits Of all the persons who have in that year
been presented. The Inaugural volume, which
deals with the year 1906. Will contain a special
history Of the Court and its officers from the
earliest times.
Major Martin Hume is 10 make still another
addition - his invaluable series of works on
Spanish history. He has in press a volume on
The Court OF Philip "" We trust that he
will be generous in his selection OF Illustrations
from the paintings of Velasquez The book Will
contain much hitherto unpublished matter, in
Guiding many letters.
T1NDITTSU IN 1RT