New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-08
PUBLISHERS NEWS
A New Novel by William Dean
HOWellS.

The editor Of "The Century" makes
the important announcement that he
has secured for serial publication the
new novel written By our foremost liy-
ing novelist, william Dean Howells
Il is called "The Leatherwood God"
The story, whose scene is laid In the
backwood3 Of Ohio, deals with a re.Ig-
ious impostor. VINO procla.ms himself
first a prophet. then the Messiah, and
finally. annouac ne that he is God. II
almost convinced by the worship of his
deluded believers of his own actual
divinity.
THE COnqueror.'
The Frederick A. Stokes Company
has published this week a new. revised
edition Of Gertrude Atherton's "heri-
bic biography" as she herself has
called this novel; OF Alexander Hamll-
ton, 1.-THE Conqueror." Since its first
publication in 1902 the book has run
through twenty-five editions. Tnis one
is printed from new plates, and con-
tains 4 frontispiece portrait OF Hamil-
ton The Stokes Company has now
taken over all Mrs. Atherton's books
hitherto published by the Macmillan
Company: THE Splendid Idle FOrties,"
Julia France and Her Times" The
Callforuians." Patience Sparhawk and
Her Times" Tower Of Ivory" and
"Some of Hamilton's Letters In ad-
dtion the firm had already on its
own list the authors Perch o. the
Devil" and Before the Gringo Came"
Il has also issued in the course of this
week persuasive Peggy" new novel
by Maravene Thompson, and The
Nameless One" by Anne Cleveland
Cheney, "a medieval English drama OF
fatherhood' in blank verse.
Ex-Mayor McClellan's War Book.
"The He'll Of War IS tho title chosen
by Professor George b. Mcclellan for
his forthcoming book Of observations
in the warriag countries OF Europe. 1t
will be published by the q. W. Dilllng-
ham Company.
"rhe AthenRum" a Monthly.
In its issue Of December % The
Athenmum" makes the following an
nouncoment:
"The Athenaum" next year will
continue its issue only AS
monthly, and not weekly, as here
tofore. We propose to publish the
new number on January 10, at the
price of a shilling.
The proposed change has been
the subject Of long and careful
consideration; we have drawn up
a statement of our reasons Tor
making il. and we shall be glad 10
send this 20 any one who asks for
il. We do not publish this state
ment, because, though the opin-
ions expressed IN .t are being
adopted by an increasing number
We are rot convinced that they Will
be of interest to the majority Of
our readers.
A proposal has been received
which would make il possible 20
continue our publication weekly,
but as the reasons that led us 20
reject similar offers from another
quarter may again decide Us
against acceptance, we think 1t bet
ter TO warn our readers not to eX-
pect an issue Of the paper on Janu-
airy l.
The Great American Rocking Chair.
The history of the rocking chair Is
vet TO be written says Walter A.
DYER in Early American Craftsmen"
fhe Century Company. According
10 some writer's rockers began 20 ap-
\
Windsor rockers soon after the Rev
olution. Others assert that Windsor
rocking chairs were not made until
ABOUT 1910. and that most OF the So
called Windsor rocking chairs are
simply old armchairs cut down ana
fitted With rockers. Certainly none OF
the early advertisements or inventories
included any mention OF rocking chairs.
The first rockers were merely short
boards cut straight across the top and
rounded on the bottom. Then the top
side was shaped, and later the rocker
was fashioned mucn a. that Of to-day,
except that 1t extended only four or
FIVE inches back Of the rear legs. II
was not until 1920 or so that the dis
covery was made that rockers length
ened behind increased the safety and
comfort OF the chair. During the
decade following that astonishing dis
covery the popularity Of the rocking
chair spread rapidly"