New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-30
SCRIBNER'S MAGAZINE.

Beginning at the end, as one so
often is tempted 70 do by such en-
tertaining and suggestive departments
as "Scribners" Point Of View, tho
"Atlantic's" Contributors Club. and
"Harpers" Editors Easy Chair and
Study beginning at the end OF this
November issue OF "Scribner's." we
find an anonymous shall we sayD
Viewpointer adducing some interest
ing proofs 20 sustain his assertion
that the Best Novels the classics OF
our literature all started on their
way 20 fame as Best Sellers-"Tom
Jones" for instance, Vanity Fair"
David Coppertield" and The Rise Of
Sles Lapham." In reality our View
pointer proves nothing. OF course. His
own reference TO a best-seller whose
books will never be counted among our
best novels the late +. p. Roe-will
suffice. His conclusion that High
Brows cannot manufacture best-sellers
10 order is. OF course, not new. Their
authors are born, not made. whether
they be geniuses or f. ?. Roes and
Mrs. BARCLAYS Z. Alexander Powell.
continues his war papers with one on
The Retailing OF Alsace.' lie seems
TO be somewhat uncertain about the
real attitude OF the Alsatians toward
their deliverers, and tells such amaz-
ing stories Of German cowsrdlce told
him by Frenchmen that one wonders
why the Allies have not yet reached
Berlin.-Edith Wharton, too, cor
tinues the narrative Of her observa-
tions and impressions at the front;
and Frederic c. Howe, the Commits
sioner Of immigration at this port,
considers the important question OF
immigration to this country after the
war. IL is perplexing problem;
Certain II Is that England, France and
Germany, highly organized as they are,
will be in infinitely better shape to
provide for their own during the lean
years 70 come than will be Italy, Rus
STA and southeastern Europe. whence
Mr. Howe expects the stream for
whose sitting, he assures US. our I'M
migration laws are fully adequate
After much praise Of country life.
Jesse Lynch Williams writes with hu-
morous conviction Of "the return TO
human nature: Back 10 the Town:
Well, of course, every one has
a right TO his own tastes. and II
you prefer the haunts and habits
Of brides and Dummies TO the
haunts and habits of men and
WOMEN, YOU tdti SHNp FNN
genus all you like and nobody will
object. But why take on so about
it? Cultivate intimacies with the
cunning little squirrels on the tree
tops, if you enjoy It. Toady to
the tree-toad, if you really like
him. Call them all Familiarity by
their Latin names, II IL makes you
feel good; only don't look down
on US humble members of your
own family simply because we are
not climbers too. It's so snobbsh.
The joke of it is that what most
of us really like about "our furred
and feathered friends" is their re-
semblance 70 ourselves. The beaver
city, for example, or the subway
of the ield-mouse, is thrilling be-
cause il reminds US of similar go
ings-on Of our own. Whether true
naturalists or near-naturalists in
dignantly resent the imputation or
not, the popular interest in nature
IL simply an interest in human
nature after ALI Such being the
case, why not 60 higher up and
satisfy it at first hand,
Special attention should be directed
toward Alice Dav McLaren's letters
from Mexico. Wanted: A Govern
ment" There is verse by Edwin
Arlington Robinson. james Arthur
Muller, Louise Morgan Sill, Sarah
kim and Edith NJ. Thomas.