New-York tribune., 1908-08-16
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 1908.


and others will soon follow suit. The outlook is
abundanty gratifying The recent panic and
the distractions of a Presidential campaign have
evidently not had any serious effect on the ar
rangements made for new books The forthc0m
ing season may not be mady crowded with
these but neither on the other hand will it be
sparSeIy supplied. It is interesting, by the way,
In the light of the lists now in hand, to observe
how thoroughly we have abandoned practices
which once seemed established beyond all
chance of change Fiction is duly represented,
but it is not put in the foreground, nor is it
exploited in notable quantities. The best sell
1er' as a speculation by itself has its best
days, if it has not altogether disappeared. Bog-
raphy and travel have come very cOnspcuouSly
to the front. We are glad to note that in both
departments the publishers are giving more and
more attention to American material, handled by
American authors A special development of the
last two or three years, emphasized this fall,
has reference to dramatic literature. The pub
Ication in book form of plays in prose or verse,
acted or Enacted, has become almost much a
matter of course as the printing of novels.
Louise Chandler Moulton had gift for friend
Shin and her death has brought sorrow to q
peculiarly wide circle. In her the artistic tenn
permanent was broadened by qualities not al
ways voucllsafed to those who dedicate them
O
workmanship came out in everything that she
wrote. 1t heightened the vitality of the
municatons which she used regularly to send to
The Tribune from Boston, years ago; it gave
fruer texture to her fiction, and it served es-
peciaily TO strengthen the delicate to
which she brought her warmeSt inspiration, and
by which she will be chiefly remembered. Yet
no poet devoted so assduousy to fecites Of
expression ever escaped more completely from
Large minded, keen lover Of books and things,
d woman for whom intellectual conversation was
q necessity Mrs MoultOn's whole life was never
thelesS colorcd by the interests of her generous
heart. To know her was in very real sense
to love her. and to come once within the spell
of her kindness to remain afterward
among her devoted friends Her home in Bos-
ton was a place of pilgrimage for many of the
most distinguished men and women Of her time,
and in London. where she was wont to spend &
part of every year, her drawing room fire.
quentcd by intimates of the same stamp. She
knew all of the authors in England who were
worth knowing, but they forgot to be celebrities
when they To visit her. There was some,
thing too genuine. too fine, too humanity lovable
about her. for eg0tiSm 10 thrive in her presence
She talked well herself and she knew how to
make others talk. Her death means Il bitter loss
of happy and stimulating companonshp.
neglected phase or literary craftsmanship
Is divertngly touched upon in the London
Nation" ''Re it history, essay, romance, scien-
tilic tract sermon says the critic, there is
an admirable art Of opening. Every writer am
bilious Of distinction must have striyen for the
right beginning yet not all the great ones have
achieved it. Are there precepts? 1t is not easy
to show them inaSmTch is every good beginning
is preccpt in Itself. and of good beginnings
there are many kinds The latter point is we'll
enforced by quotations, and, indeed, with
out such aids every sensitive reader will at once
recOlleCt how very personal are the good open
1ngs he has encountered. Example is no doubt
more Illuminating than precept in this matter
yet there are one or two suggestions which may
perhaps be made Parad0Xically speaking that
author will write the best opening who thinks
least about it and simply gives himself up to
the natural expression of tangible idea \ con-
trbuOr to this subject cites with admiration
the first paragraph of StevenSon's Edinburgh"
He fails to notice that the sentences are too
well turned, that is made to think of the
style rather than OF the subject. An excellent
way of arriving at good opening is to go back
when the whole work is finished, and cut out
the first paragraph. The second is apt to make
q perfect opening