Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 1903)
w Departure la Bonk Prices. H IOWARD WILFORD BE Li. of New York has Inaugurated a radical departure In the matter of book LJ J prlcs- Tne Prnt method of seisf determining; the price of a book la a mystery of the trade. It la us uncer tain aa the shifting winds. Mr. Bell pro poses a definite basis as a selling price. Every unit of twenty-five pages In a book Is to cost 1 cent. The size of the book and the binding determines the selling price. For example, a book of 300 pages with paper cover would cost IS cents. If clo'.h binding is wanted 30 cents Is added to the cost, and full leather 60 cents. The total cost of a 800-page book, on the unit basis, would te 12 cents with paper cover, 4 cents with cloth cover and 63 cents with leather. Sample volumes ihow a good quality of paper, clear type and good prers work. There is nothing cheap about the books but the price. The firm proposes to put on the market reprints of famous books of every description. History ns It la Writ. . Critics are picking flaws In Senator Hoar's "Autobiography of Seventy Tears." The Philadelphia Ledger says the work la notable in that it makes famous persons heretofore obscure and Ignores persona considered distinguished. In Mr. Hoar's perspective, Worcester county, Massachu setts, looms larger than many a common wealth of the union. Adin Thayer, "a man quite remarkable." "a big, striking, original and picturesque figure in the history of the commonwealth," gets three pages In this autobiography. Dan Hill, "one of the most remarkable men Worcester county ever contained." Is given almost a page. Benjamin II. Hill of Georgia, one qf the most remarkable men that state ever con tained, is honored by Senator Hoar with a notice of exactly four lines. Benjamin H. Brewster of Pennsylvania, one of the most distinguished jurists In the union and at torney general of the United States, es capes Mr. Hoar's attention, though Elder Brewster Is mentioned. Walter Q. Gresham. another learned Jurist, and the secretary of state in the second Cleveland administration, contrives to get his name Into the Index of Mr. Hoar's book, but not Into the text of either volume a unique distinction, to be sure! On page 481 of volume ll may be read this entry: "Gresham. Walter Q., II, 248." On turning to the page Indicated. Judge Gresham's friends will he Interested In reading. In the chapter entitled "Silver and Bimetallism," these significant words: "They (the gold monometalliste) justly maintained that, if we undertook the unlimited coinage of sil ver, and to make it legal tender, under the Inevitable law long ago announced by Gresham the cheaper metal, silver, would flow Into this country," etc. The Cap Fitted. The seriousness of these proceedings against a writer of fiction who dared to put real and living persons In his book Is in sharp contrast with the bouffe quality of certain similar proceedings lately In London, relates the New York Times' Sat urday Review. An army officer. Major H. F. Woodgatef published a novel called "The New Books Dealing with I ARBIZON DAYS." by Charles I aJ I SpraKue SnUh. The design of the ' s author in producing this beautiful book is best explained In his own Introduction. "A decade of years ago we pitched our summer tent at Bourron, a little hamlet on the borders of the forest of Fontainebleau; or rather we occupied another's tent, for our dwelling was a gray stone cottage similar to that of the peasants our neigh bors and friends. The forest Itself was only a few rods distant and my study the summer through was In the open air and under the boughs of on f its noble trees. Sitting at my neighbors' board when their day's work was done, roaming the woods in aU directions, searching out especially the haunts of the artists, the months glided sway all too fast. There were not hours enough In which to write of all the artists haunts I would have selected as themes. These sketches are not art criticism, they are but the chronicle of that summer. If they mke clearer the relation between na ture and art, suggest that art's alphabet is everywhere awaiting only the seeing eye, or if I havs been able to give again in part the Inspiration obtained from that summer's converse with the strong, this record of Barbuson.Days will havs accomplished Its purpose." Turning the page we find entitled. "A Group, of Jules Dupre." Tho group Is of three gnarled and ancient trees, fronted by an open green, and with a background of low shrubs and undergrowth. A dreamer lies at the foot of the central giant and his dream penetrates to the Intelligence of the sympathetic mind without the necessity of words. The engraving la on of many choice reproduction of the paintings of the masters. Tie frontispiece is ' head of Millet la Anecdotes of Literary Workers Unwritten Commandment," In which he portrayed a woman of wicked ways so graphically as to make his book unlit read ing for polite persons. A Mrs. Wallis was bold enough to declare that the portrayal of this perronage was a libel upon herself and she tegan suit for damngos. The pre siding justice chaffed her for putting on a cap which fitted her when she might have honorably avoided defaming her own character; the defendant swore lils per somgei were all "puppets," the crowd In the court room was clearly In sympathy with 'the novellnt, and when the foreman of the Jury announced by mistake a ver dict for the defendant he was roundly cheered. But the verdict was for the plain tiff, who receive! damages to the amount of 8125. While the result Is likely mate rially to aid the author of the novel, which was not widely known beforehand, but will now be eagerly bought by the curious and unrTHcrlmlnallng readers of fiction, It lrates the woman In a much wor.ce posi tion than before. Tennyson's Weakness. "I had the good fortune to know some very eirlnent, authors and can give them n vry ecent character," writes Sir Leslie 8 ephen In the Atlmtlc. "If they suffer a little from the author's dlseisc self-con-s-tousn-s and vanity they often take It In a mild form; Tennyson was, perhaps, an fnstirce. Many years ago I paid some l-lt to Freshwater, then for alas! It has ben grievously Injured by the growth of the umiM watering-place surroundings the Ideal p'ace for the poet of 'In Memo rlam.' It Is still, however, 'close to the et'ge of a nob down,' and the old girdle of woods, round which cockneys used to warder In hopes of a glimpse of tho barn, s'I'l enclose? the r'cturesiue lawn and gar dens to which the fortunate few found ad mission and might listen to Maud or an Idyll, gaining new force from the Hps of the author. In my day a little group of reverent ndmlrers was generally gathered there to render acceptable homage. It was ImposMb'e for the cynic not to catch a certain comic ride to the proceedings though, of course, It was very wrong. I remember a dinner from which I fled pre cipitately In company with a man highly distinguished in official life and sol'd lit erature. Such a steam of Incense creates a rather unwholesome atmosphere for a man -of specially sensitive nature. Tennyson perhaps suffered a little. He had a right to complain If a certain article In a popular newspaper contained, aa he told u, three lies about him In one col oran, but I did not want to hear the state "rnent repeated dally for a week." Balsae's Plan Didn't Work. When Miss Marie Manning, author of "Judith of the Plains," was a girl at boarding school, she and her "chum" de termined to devote their lives to the pur suit of literature. They decided to follow the plan of Balzac namely, to eat a substantial dinner In the evening and re tire at once to sleep until midnight. Upon the stroke of that hour they would rise and devote the rest of the night to labor, thus securing the most quiet hours for sepia colors. Mr. Smith devotes twenty-four pages to descriptions and reminiscences of the for est itself, a poetic, artistic and accurate ac count of Its subtle beauties of tree and pool an sunlight falling through the leaves. Then follow biographies of Millet, Carot, Rousseau, the Bay re, acoompaned by coplea of the choicest work of each. He dwells with ' loving appreciation and tender sympathy on the forest experiences of each and to him who loves the good, the true, the beautiful the book will prove a source of unmixed delight. Superbly bound in cloth It extends to 232 pages of elegant hand made paper. No more appropriate gift might cement the friendship of book lovers than Barblxon Days. A Weasels A Company, Publishers. Lovers of muslo and art will be very much interested in the book of "Muslo in Art," by Luna May Ennis, who says that her object "was to suggest an outline a starting point at least, for further study, to all lovers of muslo and art." Briefly she has given us the story from Apollo and the 'great god Pan" down through the Christian centuries. She gives us an opportunity to study for ourselves the im portant part muslo has played In all ages in youth, Jn love, In patriotism and in worship. The book Is Illustrated with thirty-three excellent reproductions of celebrated paintings. Including Barrlas Death of Chopin," "Burna-Jones," "Golden Stairs" and "St. Cecilia," by fivs different artists of great note. The book is furnished with a bibliography and Index of the authors mentioned. L. C Page St Company are the publishers. The Art of the Pittl Palace," by Julia de Wolf Addison, is one of the books of work. The plan worked admirably so far as eating the dinner was concerned. They then retired. An hour passed. Then a voice broke the silence. "Are you asleep?" "No," was the reply, "can't." Another hour passed. "Are you asleep?" said the rolce again, softly. "No, can't close my eyes," come the gloomy reply. At mid night, however, they arose, and prepared for the night's labor. But they had scarcely arranged their writing materials and clad themselves appropriately than they Immediately became too sleepy to work. "Are you awake?" said the voice again. "Yes, but I can hardly keep my yes open." "Let's go to bed." "Very well." And the two discouraged litterateurs retired to the slumbers of the young and healthy. Thus Balsae's plan failed. Getting;. Local Color. Some years ago when Richard Harding Davis penetrated the transmisslsslppl re gion to gather material for his book. "The West troin a Car Window." he stopped over in a small Indian Territory town where he was assured there were extensive local color deposits. Proceeding along the street he met two men, apparently Just In from some ranch. They were tall, un tamed, intoxicated and "bad." Placing a hand of sise on Mr. Davis' shoulder one of them said: "Young feller. Is there a Jail In this yere town where they lock up men?" Mr. Davis saw his best chance of avoid ing trouble was to meet the man on his own ground, so he looked up and said carelessly: "Guess not. I've been hers two days and I" "There ain't none, then," broke In the man, with tremendous thump on the author's back. "You'd 'a' been In It 'fore this time if there was!" And they passed Joyous?y on. leaving Mr. Davis with an other lube of the desired local color. A Venerable Optimist. In his "Autobiography of Seventy Years" Senator Hoar of Massachusetts takes a bright and cheerful view of the world's future, combining the hopefulness of the boy and the wisdom of the sage and phil osopher. He Bays: "The lesson which I have learned In life, which is Impressed on me daily, and more deeply as I grow old, la the lesson of good will and good hope. I believe that today la better than yester day, and that tomorrow will be better than today. I believe that in spite of so many errors and wrongs, and even crimes, my -countrymen of all classes desire what is gocd, and not what is evil." Treasures of the Vatican. Pope Pius X Is earning the gratitude of scholars by continuing the policy of Leo XIII In respect to the archives In the Vati can. In receiving Dr. Pastor the other day he announced his Intention of granting all competent Investigators, regardless of na tionality oi" religion, free access to all docu ments In the archives. Apropos, It may be mentioned that Padre Bofflto has Just un earthed In the Vatican a valuable manu script of the early fourteenth century. It Is an astrological manuscript of Francesco Stabllt, or, aa he was popularly styled. Cecco d'AscolI, the contemporary and emu- Fine Arts the season which will be very much ap preciated by lovers of art The Pittl gal lery at Florence Is one of the interesting art museums of Interest to tourists and art lovers, containing many of the world fa mous pictures. The book contains an In telligent and systematic description of the pictures of the gallery, room by room, with forty Illustrations, including Ave Ma donnas. The book is good for reference as well as contemplation. A short history of the building of the palace, as well as of Its owners, Is Included. I C. Page St Co. are the publishers. Pointed Paragraphs No man Is in business for himself If he is married. A poor excuse is better than none If it goes with the boss. The ticker doesn't tell everything that happens In Wall street. Champagne drinking affects the eyes; It makes $5 look like 80 cents. A man is sometimes known by the things he might havs dons but didn't. Too often the man who pushes himself alo ig in the world shoves others aside. Opinions should be formed with great caution and changed with still greater cau tion. A woman win forgive a man almost any thing except his failure to ask to be for given. If a music teacher can't make anything aise out of the voice of an heiress he can make money. During the courtship a mac tells a woman he can't live without her, but after mar riage be often discovers that he can't live with her. lator of Dante. Stabllt has been suppose to have left behind him only two writings, and the third now discovered Is ex pooled to throw much light on the career of the writer, who In 1337 was broken on the wheel tn Paris as a heretic Death Creates No Room. The death of a famous writer has in years past nearly always led to a revival of Interest In his books. Today this Is not the case. That, at any rate, is the con clusion of the editor of the Academy and Literature, who says In the current num ber: "A careful analysis of the book sellers' returns show, for Instance, that the English sale of Zola's novels remained practically unaffected by the sudden and trai;ic death of their author. More recently the sair.e phenomena was noticed In con nection with the decease of Mr. Henley. And I hear this week that the death of Mr. Lccky. which, of course, was noticed and lamented nil over the world, produced no effect whatever upon the sale of his books." Notes. According to a recent dispatch from Rus sia Count Tolstoy has written a treatise on Shakespeare. In this, It Is said, he orl'lclsei the works of the dramatist "rathe- pdvtrsely." Colonel Genre" B. MoClellan, the newly elected mayor of New York City, has writ ten n book entitled "The dinarchy of Ven'.c" w'.Meh is to be published next spr.ng y Houghton, Mifflin & Co. A rather queer literary coincidence Is that a day or two after the publloRtlon of Hli: Carman's new volume of poems, "The PIpet of Pan," Mrs. t'raigle copyrighted her litest ily called "The Flute of Pan." Wllh the sa'e of "Naulahka" the last hope that the Kip trigs will ever return to live ,n the land of the Halestlera has van ished. New Kngand will still have to de pend upon indigenous growths to supply material tor its literary industries. "He '.hrew away the stump of his after lunchena cigar with a gesture of pleased relaxation." says one of our delighting no tion writers. Now, why doesn't he go on and tell ts about his performances with till trothilk? Nothing can equal the ele gance of the stories of today. Fleming H. Revell Company reports sec ond e.Hlions of "The nominee of Uallln-pe-." by R-swell Field; "Eleanor Lee." Mrs. Bangster's new romance of married life; "West Point Colors," by Anna B. WirtiT, nnd "The Flame of Fire," by Jo seph Hicklng. O. P. Putnam's Sons have issued the six teenth and last part of the "Talmud Dic tionary," edited by the late Prof. M. Jastrow. This book brings to completion a work which will, it I thought, be ac cepted general'y as a distinctive monu ment to the schnliuship. Industry and nub ile tplrit of its odltor. Houghton, Mifflin A Co. have reissued In two teautil'ul volumes John Flake's "Dutch and Quaker Colonies In America." Peter Ktuyvesant 3 face greets one who opens the r rat volume, William Penn's the second. Other illustrations are admirable, contributing not a little, as they do, In making the work attractive from every viewpoint. In a novel Just Issued by a London pub lisher Frank Richardson, the author, makes his characters utter these more or Iishs philosophical observations: "Most men are honest, three things make them otherwise woiren, poverty and ambition." "A handsome old man looks as if he had a past and behavea as though he were sure of a future." "A mistress' secrets are the most valuable of a maid's perquisites." "No man worth the buying can be bought." Mr. John Morley Is to visit the United States next year, coming to deliver an ad dress at the opening of the Technical col lege at Pittsburg in October, 1904. It is to be hoped that he will find It agreeable to make other public appearances In this country, which he has not visited for more than thirty years. A lecture on Gladstone by Mr. Morley would take the country by storm, and he would be sure of appreci ative audiences If he would speak on lit erary topics. WHEN IN DOUBT.. As to what to give for Xmas j j ..GIVE BOOKS.. A Few Suggestions at Popular Prices $1.50 COOKS AT 50c Castle Craneycrow Ordeal of Eliza bethHelmet of Navarre Uncle Terry Trail of the Grand Seigneur Mls Petticoats. ..BOOKS., That usually fell from SI. 25 to S1.50. We have hundreds of titles the fol lowing will give you some Idea of what can be picked from our 50c table: Resurrection Hlennerhasset CnrdU nal's Snuff Box Patience Svarhawk Quest of the Golden Girl Checkers Hounds of the Uaskervilles Sherlock Holmes! E.P. ROE'S WORKS QQ THE FORTUNES OF FIFI Tlie pret . tlest holiday book of the l in year only I U Barkalow Bros. !C 2 IAF.,A1 $;. Tel. B2231 i!id Door West of 18th g