New-York tribune., 1908-06-13


Lewis Rand" the first she has written in four
years. 1t is a romance of American life in the
days Of Thomas Jefferson.
Some time ago there began to appear in Eng
lish periodicals bits of minor verse by a Mr. w.
H. Davies, which attracted attention by virtue
of their originality. Now he is publishing book
of prose. THE Autobiography of Super
Tramp" In this he records the experiences of
life which The London Outlook thus sum-
marizes:
Born Bristol the son of sea captain. he
He left his house the age of twenty so. found
work in Bristol spent six months wallowing In the
With fftesn q pounds @ in his pocket make hs
ting in in park in small town in Connecticut, he
struck up an acquaintance with tramp. ana; a.
Which this book is the record and which only
ended when he tired Of It and settled tie ID down. nG on
mother. to write and publish verse
Lady Ritchie Thackeray's daughter, who IS
perhaps best known Annie Thackeray, years
ago showed that she had charming II ratner
minor gift of her own novelist Her VII
Iage on the Cliff is very pleasantly remembered
In recent years the writings she has published
have been of biographical or purely literary
nature but she has just returned to fiction.
new novel by her Is soon to appear.
In "Newnes's Art Library the freoerlch
Warne Company has issued a book on olr
Thomas Lawrence" one of those convenient
little collections of full page reproductiohs
which are after all. useful as fuli neoseo
biography. Mr. r. s Clouston writes. cieVeriS
enough. the brief PREDATORY sketch of the
painter's career but the important thing IS
the series of halftones. These generously Illus
ole n
women and children, and the still courtly but
thoroughly masculine touch which ne brought
to his study of men. The frontispiece gives in
photogravure the beautiful unfinished portrait.
IN the possession Of the Royal Academy, which
Lawrence painted OF himself
Miss Nav Sinclair has another novel soon
coming from the press 1t bears the title OF
kitty Tailleur" The author Of Elizabeth and
Her German Garden has also completed
novel but the title of this is as yet unknown.
The MAGNIFICENT collected edition of the writ
ings of John Ruskn is drawing near TO com
pletion Two volumes In it are to be given 10
his letters many of which have never before
been printed. The series will include letters
written to his parents to DR.. John Brown, Car
LYLE Froude, the Brownings. Mrs. Gaskel, MIS-
Stowe, Tennyson and many more notabilities.
Professor J. Arthur Thomson has contributed
TO the Science Series" volume on ''Heredity
m p Putnam's Sonsl It is hard to say
whether 1t deserves to be called popular pres
entation of the subject not. 1t is a well
framed introduction to absorbing study, put
as the Aberdeen biologist remarks in the preface
his exposition is not simple although 1t is prop
ably simple enough for those who have got be-
yond the pottering, patitudinarian stage which
deals in heredity with capital H.. The reaoer
who approaches this volume must have courage
and pertinacity for Professor Thomson mas IN
sisted upon thoroughness In every paragraph.
Fut this does not mean that large foreknowl-
edge of biological facts and terms is needed for
the understanding of the authors discourses.
He has succeeded in avoiding technicahtles'
winnowing out antiquities and trifes and EN-
phasizing the practical bearings of essential
facts and issues Constantly avaiing himself OF
simple anecdotes and referring to his numerous
colored plates he lucidy brings home to the un-
trained reader the very soul and substance Of
the central fact and puzzle of biology This
has been done, too, without glossing over the
immense difficulties and the untouched mysteries
confronting the student Of heredity. Professor
Thomson takes his stand for Weismannls1n-the
belief that the inheritance of acquired charac-
teristics has not been proved. His discussion OF
this mooted doctrine is as interesting as 1t Is
thorough and clear. II popularity is ever 10 Do
measured by fascination of theme, truthfulness
and simplicity of language and style, then
..t5ereditv" may be called a truly popular book.
The John Lane Company is bringing out this
month the first volume in It's collected edllloh
of the works of NJ Anatoe France. The trans
lations have been placed under the general
editorship of Mr.. Frederic Chapman. who mas
himself put into English of the books i'm
rnediately to appear Mother of Pearl. Two
more volumes are scheduled for publication IN
I,,ne .rhe Red Lily" and THE Crime of Syl-
vestere Ronnard" the latter in the well known
translation of Lafcadio Hearn. Next month
1.-THE Garden of Epicurus' will he issued and
the remaining volumes, including Joan OF
Arc" will appear during the autumn and next
year.
Mr. Andrew Lang, by the way. continues to
lift up his voice in something very like wrath
against the attitude taken toward Joan of Arc
bv NJ. France in his recently published work.
In a long letter TO THE London Times he
pounces on the reviewer who in that journal
had said of the Maids biographer, He deals
not in praise but in facts Mr.. Lang goes
to show that NJ. France too often deals in
legends, apparently evolved by his subconscious
self" and though he protests that he would not
accuse NJ France of deliberate errors. he does
assert that the FrenChran has an 'unceasing
spite against the Maid adding that "it ap-
pears even in trffles.' Here is specimen of the
brilliant critics argument:
Not even good looks will NJ. France allow to the
Maid! Every one. | suppose would prefer to be
lieye what the old hostile English legend of
the Maid AYERS. that she beautiful and charm
ing From the evidence of men who knew her well
vale that belle ct bfen forrnee''; TO
see her and hear her speak cher voice woman
Iyl she seemed thing all divine Her face
IIer bIIst WAS hos ~