New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-29
BOOKS AND AUTHORS
Current Talk Of Things Present
and to Come.


Augustus Thomas's highly successful
and interesting drama. THE Witching
Hour" is to be added to the growing
list Of novelized plays. Mr.. Thomas
has himself undertaken the task of
turning it into a story, which is GER
tainly more satisfactory all around
than intrusting it to other hands. The
book is announced by the Messrs.
Harper.
New York Historical Documents.
The late John Boyd Thacher's re-
markable collection of American his
torical documents. which is TO be sold
this autumn. contains many papers OF
particular interest TO the citizens CT
New York. one Of these bears the sig
nature Of Peter Minuit, the director
general Of the New Netherlands, who
bought Manhattan Island from the
Indians. II is the original deed for the
purchase of Rensselaerswyck Manor
from the savage owners in 1880. and is
exceedingly we'll preserved. The sig
natures Of Governors Wouter van
Twiller. William Kiefft. Jacob Leisler
and Henry Slaughter figure on other
documents in the collection.
Mr.. Merrick's Books.
MIR. w. d. Howells's warm COM
mendation in print Of the novels oi
Mr.. Leonard Merrick may perhaps have
something to do with the contemplated
issue of a collected edition Of them.
While some Of Mr.. Merricks earlier
hooks have been very good of their
kind. II cannot be said that he mas
maintained their standard in his latest
stories.
The Oldest Publishing House.
It is said that the Christopher Sewer
Company is conducting the Oldest pup
fishing business in the United states
II was established by Christopher
Sewer in 1873, and has never gone out
If existence since. Can any other
, American publishing firm rival this
record?
The eaedekers.
only one of the three sons Of Karl
Baedeker. the originator of the famous
handbooks Of travel now survives. lie
is the head of the firm, and has framed
his sons 10 continue and improve the
INDISPENSABLE series. 1t is stated that
the Young men have set themselves TO
master most Of the European tongues
and the polity Of most of the chiel
powers. Hans has studied arch1-
ology in Rome and Alpine lore in Switz-
erland. while Ernst has joined MN
in studying in London, Edinburgh ana
other leading capitals, and both have
qualified in other important respects
for helping to bring the guides TO per-
lection"
Beaumont.
Professor Charles Mills Gayley, OF
The University of California, has pre-
pared. for early publication by the
Century Company, d study oi beau-
mont. the dramatist.
The Best Stevenson.
Judge Guthrie Of Edinburgh, an eih-
inent light of the Scottish Bar, a class
mate Of Robert Louis Stevenson anu
the present owner Of the Stevenson
house. "Swanston Cottage has con-
tributed an interesting paper TO the
Scotsman" 1t is devoted partly 10
"Cummy." otherwise Alison Cunning
ham. the nurse of Stevenson's child
hood 10 whom he dedicated MS
"Chjld's Garden of Verses" Dummy
died recently in her ninety-second year.
The tudge-who says of his friend thst
he was several men rolled rather
loosely into one--dwells on Louiss
praiseworthy devotion to this carry
guardian:
II anyone wants to know. what inc
man va al his best. when ne was not
PLAYING % TO the gallery or down 10 IT.
nor thinking of the public, or the pup
fishers or the critics, let them remember
how. by letters from England from ny
Continent of Europe, from the ends OF the
earth. written i'm sickness and heatn. ~
famous and obscure days alike, ne Kept
IN touch with this slrnple-hearteo, un
sophisticated. cody old peasant Woiish'
Compared. with this, how petty an oteFeii
sons foibles and affectations appeaI' 90
which some small minds nave hdoe so
much, ! do not know anothei su ,rd
OF disinterested affection, grauIuue, anu
L.. a. Hnta