New-York tribune., 1910-01-16
gbe Ne&p;pork G<ibm,ts.
SUNDAY. JANUARY 16, 1910.

with its pages neatly cut, an improvement as
delightful as it is astonishing. Also it is an
nounced that the leading article will henceforth
not necessarily be book review but will occa-
sonally treat of some theme of general literary
interest. THE Athennum' starts upon this
course with an article on the very safe sub
ject of ''The Publishing Season and the Book
Trade" This tells us little that is new. 1t is
indeed rather late in the day to be complaining
about the paste-and- scissors book of history or
biography, the overproduction of fiction and
tie excessive amiabity of reviewers. But here
is Il passage which seems worth while:
Is anything really gained by this crowding of
books into seasons? Would the public interest
wane if the autumn and winter flood was re-
duced. and there chance all the year
round-even during what we are accustomed to
call summer-to choose from larger array
Of new books? We do not believe that the public
would notice the reduction in the autumn and
winter and it would certainly profit by the more
equal disposition throughout the year
Over and over again we have urged this
point 1t is good to see that 1t has been taken
up by THE Athen;eum,' the influence of which
in England is serious enough to at least promote
discussion of the matter.
Another English periodical of distinction,
"The Cornhill Magazine" gives special signifi-
canoe to its January pages, celebrating its jub-
lice with tributes to the who established or
developed it's repute. There are souvenirs of
the publisher, George Smith, who founded it,
and of Thackeray, who was its first editor, and
there are interesting papers on two of the great
writer's successors in command, leslie Stephen
and James Payn. Mr. Hardy contributes 4
poem. and there are other items to make this
number memorable. Mr.. E. T. Cook, who dis
courses at large upon the history of the maya
zine. speaks of the precious biographical
glimpses which will reward the diligent search
cr of its files One of them is 4 charming per-
SCnal reminiscence of Leigh Hunt, which George
Smith preserved. He had given the author
check which only nonplusSed him, so it was
promptly exchanged for banknoteS. Hunt took
them home, and they were accidentally burnt,
so next day he came to report the tragedy to
Smith, carrying with him little Statuette Of
Psyche which he had just purchased They
went together to the Bank and were shown
into Il room occupied by three elderly gentle
men. Thus the story continues
They kept US waiting some time. and Leigh
Hunt, who had meantime been staring all round
the room, at last got up, walked up to one of
the staid officials, and. addressing him, said IN
wondering tones: And this is the Bank of
England And do you sit here all day and never
see the green woods and the trees and the
flowers and the charming country?' Then, in
tone of remonstrance, he demanded: Are you
contented with such life?" All the time he
was holding the little naked Psyche in one
hand, and with his long hair and flashing eyes
made surprising figure
Apropos of the recent opening in England of
campaign against the pest of poisonous
books it is not only interesting but instructive
to observe the policy followed in ''Cornhill"
Thackeray had no love for Mrs. Grundy, but he