New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-03
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Current Talk of Things Present
and to Come.

There are Dickensians and Dicken
slams. More than forty years ago the
great novelist gave a public reading in
which through his representations of
Skies and Nancy he stirred his audience
out Of itself. But Mr.. w. f. Prideaux
writes to THE Athenaum" to say that
he was there and was thus affected:
Strange to say, the impression thai:
fingers longest in my own memory is
not Of the wonderful Skies and Fagin
but of Dickens himself in his immacu-
late evening dress, glancing down at his
buttonhole and seeing the flower was a
little faded. and after the interval re-
turning with fresher bloom" That is
surely a priceless recollection. The au-
thor continues: 1T is possible that the
actions of the natural man impress us
more thar the greatest efforts of dra-
matte art" Quite so.
Morris in Iceland.
Four more volumes have just been is
sued In the beautifully printed new edi-
llOH VI lllt WOlho VI w
which is being edited, with introduce
ticps. by his daughter. Two Of these
complete THE Earthly Paradise" one Is
given to THE Story Of Grettir the
Strong and The Story Of the Volsungs
and Nblungs." and in the fourth we
have ihe poets journal Of his travels in
Iceland in the early 1Os. They make de-
lightful reading, for the scenes traversed
sensitive points. and he wrote. in conse-
quence, with infectious gusto. The sub
ject is one on which to pause at some
length, but We are content to note now
just the rapidly with which Longmana
Green & Co. are carrying out a fine en-
terprise.
Baedeker.
About this time look out for new vol
umes Of Baedeker. new editions Of those
inimtable guide books which are really
more than guide books. and make by
themselves a little literature. From the
Scribners we have received the twelfth
edition Of THE Eastern Alps" the six
teenth OF London and Its Environs,'
the fifteenth Of Belgium and Holland"
and one altogether new volume. This IS
THE Mediterranean, which embraces
all the sea routes and covers enchanting
excursions into Spain and Morocco. into
Algiers and Tunis and over much other
c.
appeared in 1909 This one has been
prepared by Professor John Kirkpatrick
who fifty years ago translated the hand
book for the Rhine and thus introduced
Baedoker to the English speaking world
Alpha Americana.
Several years ago the American Alpine
Club published monograph on the
Sierra Nevada. Now, in the second
number OF "Alpina Americana" II cele-
brates the marvels OF the Canadian
Rockies. The text by Professor Charles
f. Fay. describes the physical character
istcs OF the mountains and briefly tray
erses the history Of their EXPLORATION
These is Il list OF peaks above ten thou
sand feet in height. which includes data
relating to the first ascents. and AT the
back there Is a valuable man. Most
welcome Of all is the series of large half
tones from photographs. pictures OF ex.
traordinary beauty. They are printed
verv clearly. on a generous scale. Alto
getiner this is publication to rejoice the
soul, Of every mountain lover.
A Tragic Story.
one OF the most stirring stories Of our
Civil War-and one full OF the elements
OF tragedy--is that OF which tho yir-
ginian woman. Elizabeth Van Lew was
the heroine. 1t is told with vivid effect
by Mr.. w. G. Beymer in the current
Harper With amazing RESOURCE md
determination Miss Van Lew served n :
the most important spy of the federal
government In Richmond and as tho
helper and protectress OF the Northern
officers In Libby prison. She was in
constant danger, for suspicion doeyed
her: but ont OF her unquenchable hatred
of slavery and a love for the Irn,on .