New-York tribune., 1909-09-05
gbe Nem12Doak griba1ns
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER 5, 1909.


Does the thoughtful reader ever put aside his
papercutter and wonder what the next genera
tinn will find TO write about? The ceaseless
flow of books is becoming more and more
marvel TO the reviewer who is by way of
g1uging the output Craze succeeds craze, and
each means a contributory river. clever
woman in Germany writes Il charming garden
book and straightway arise many excellent
people who ovcrwhclm the world with garden
books Some of them are heartily welcome.
more Of them are not, but, good or bad, they
arrive year after year. to the point of Surf1it.
So il is with the other kind of nature books
that dwell upon birds and our fourfooed
friends or cncmeS-agan the output appears to
be endless And much of it IS eminently
readable Then there the travel books, the
Typographical cSSays-what library, however
commodinllS can hold all those that the presses
mostly forcign-havc produced in the past
decade: As for the biographies of bygone
celebrities. the booksellers counter does not
merely Groan under them, it positively shricks.
What in former days would be used to fill some
delightful pages in a quarterly is now expanded
into an octave volume with portraits. And,
again. Il great deal of it is worth having. The
trouble is that when competent writer sets
fashion The hack rushcs in to squeeze profit ont
Of a irctcntious bit of pinchbeck But, solid gold
or pinchhcck, are not most available subjects be
ing exhausted? Perhaps the novelist will be the
only literary suvNN or in the next CcncratiOu.
The approaching celebration Of the biccnten-
ary of Dr. Johnson'S birth promises To give rise
h 4 prOdigiouS mass of fine writing in British
periodicals. Meanwhile at least one Johnson
specialist is trying to trace the obscure passages
in the great mans life, and others collect
in. anecdotes which do not appear in BoSwcllS
tp-nS Sta < al
in aberdeen and which not set down by the
atoriug Jenny. They are not, TO be sure, cal
CullIrd 10 shed agreeable uStre round the
ticur" Of his hero. The scene of the first is
an ABERDEEN dinner at which Johnsons kind
hostess said to him, ''Dr johnson. let me send
You little hotch potch." 'No, madam" aus
wrrcd Johnson. 'hotch potch is food for hogs"
TIL" lady proved that though it may be hard
for the Scotch TO appreciate joke they are not
entirely without hulnor. She merely repeated
gently. DO let me send you some De Johnson
Perhaps the story is true. perhaps it is not it
is certainly Characteristic for johnson, in spite
OF his brains ami his Kind heart, could b.. upon
occasion, 4 boor Of Doors The other story de
scrhcS him as walking along an Aberdeen street
and passing between workman and the vail |
to which the man was administering coat Of !
Uhi;cwash and gravel II hope, my good man" /
said the Doctor, undoubtedly with pompoSity. Il
am not in your way. The busy Scot also ,
not without humor. "Na ma" answered he, Il I
just hope YOU he M in yer ain way" 1t is euc
= sied that Johnson. who had thr:,shcd a pub /
Usher and had entertained pug4acious in.en- /
t!uus Toward others, would not have Cal.niy /
endured such impudcnCc. vt any rate, The
record ends there Perhaps in Mrs Thrale's hth- /
crr" unpublished Journal Of the Welsh tour
whjrh she and Mr.. Thrale made in company
with Johnson 20 may find new anecdotes Of
ucr friend 1t is 4 possibility which arouscs /
Nor" than common interest in the forthcoming
publication of this relic, especially Us the vol .
um" = 10 incule some Of JohnSons imprinted /
correspondence with Goldsmith Fanny Burl"y :
aud others.