New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-15
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Current Talk of Things Present
and to Come.

anu 10 OOu0'
The collectors of everything relating
10 Napoleon will soon be enabled to oc-
cupy themselves with n series OF hith-
erto unpublished letters from the pen
OF their idol. These will be printed In
the English edition OF NJ Fournier's
Napoleon l." which is nearly ready for
publication They were found In the
Vienna archives after the publication
Of the original edition Of the work. An
other book concerned with Napoleon is
coming out under the title OF IAN I'M
perial Victim" the victim in question
being Marie Louise. The second wife OF
the Emperor Is described therein as
peculiarly sweet and gentle II weak
character and one possessing great
charm. &
Mr.. Collier Again.
There Is to be a, new edition Of Mr..
Price Golfers valuable and entertaining
book on England and the English from
an American Point Of View" The
Scribners have done an excellent thing
in making this popular edition at half
the price Of the earlier editions. The
text has been reset and the book has
been given q smaller and more compact
form. In its original form the book
has been deservedly successful, and 1T
will now reach a multitude Of readers
who were not prepared to pay the origi-
nal price.
Opera Librettos.
A new venture by Dodd, Mead & Co.
is series OF handy volume editions Of
the lbrettos OF standard operas. They
are to be produced attractively in shape
and size adapted to the pocket as we'll
as TO the library. Various new transla-
tons will be made for the series. which
is to be edited by Mr.. w. J. Henderson.
He will also provide biographical and
critical introductions.
A New Novel.
Mr.. Henry X. Webster, author Of "The
Whispering Man." has flashed new
novel. which Is to bear the title OF THE
Girl in the Other Seat" The Appletons
are bringing out tne DOOR,
A Poets Book About Himself.
The English Poet Laureate IS in truth
n pretty poor poet" and the office
which Tennyson left OF some Inpor-
lance has sadly declined In public esti-
nation since it has been held by Mr..
Austin. 1t may be that the Laureate's
Autobiography" which is now passing
through the press, will be more interest
ing than his so-called verse. 1t is to
fill two volumes and It is presumably
illuminated by anecdotes.
Millions House Must Go.
The house in London in which John
Milton lived in 1860 is to be demolished.
II Is in excellent preservation and has
drawn to Bartholomew Close every
year host of American visitors.
"Torchy."
Mr. .Sewell Ford's amusing tales, told
as by one Torchy and much appreciated
by readers Of The Tribune, will soon be
published in book form by Z. ]. Clode.
The volume is to be entitled merely
"Torchy."
The Latest Won Arnim Book.
1.-THE Caravaners," the latest book by
the author Of Elizabeth and her Ger
man Garden" is undergoing its fifth
large printing in this country. 1t is one
of the most amusing satlres Of the last
decade, and should not be missed by any
lover of genuine humor. 1t is to be hoped
that Countess Won Arnim has not per-
manently put aside her pen.
BaIzac and Coffee.
A new book on Balzac by a French
physician deals largely with the novelist
from a medical point of view and dis
cusses his keen interest In scientific
studies and in the irregular practices of
magnetism and occult arts. One inter
esting statement is to the effect that
BalZac's life was shortened by the
extraordinarily unhealthy and airless life
he led, added TO his excessive drinking
Of coffee.
Government by Commission.
The Appletons are preparing TO pub
by Commission" the author Of which is
Mr.. c. r. Woodruff, secretary OF the
National Municipal League. He has
clearly and fully described the new sys-
ten, has discussed it's underlying prin-
ciples. and has presented details of its
operation and the results thereof. The
texts OF several typical commission char
ters are included, together with contri-
buttons from several we'll known pub
lcsts who have studied the system.
Those who are interested in this subject
will find IN this volume the information
they want.
Miss NightineaIe's Letters.
The resolute executor has again stepped
in to prevent the publication Of let
tiers. the writer Of the letters in this
case being the late Florence Nightin-
gale They were written to Sir John
Hall. the chief medical officer in the
Crmea during the great campaign in
which the Englishwoman showed herself
10 be ministering angel. The writer
OF Forthcoming biography of Sir John
wished TO include these epistles in his
work. but Miss Nightingale's executor
has absolutely refused permission TO so
use them. There is. of course, nothing
in these letters which might not be
printed, but 1t has not apparently oc-
Cured to London commentators on the
situation that a Nightingale biography
is a possible thing and that the letters
ought to be printed there.