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Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20648, 10 September 1932, Page 13

"It is only appropriate that there should bo an exhibition in London — at tho National Gallery—in celebration of tho Scott centenary, for Scott was very fond of London," says a London columnist. "There are, I believe, nearly twenty places in tho metropolis which are in much the same condition as when ho visited them or lived in them. The 'room at 50a Albemarle street, in which Scott resolved Jiis differences with Byron in the presence of John Murray, the publisher, is still just as it was in those days, and it is tho apartment in which John Murray's great-grandson receives visitors. No. 13 Grosvenor street remains also. Here there was one© a concourse of poets to meet Scott. Each recited lines of his own poetry till it came to Scott's turn. Scott modestly said ho had nothing of his own worth saying, but would repeat some lines ho had seeu in the paper that morning. Afterwards everybody but Scott declared the lines _to be rank nonsense until poor Coleridge stammered: 'For God's sake let Mr Scott have his own way. It was I who wrote the lines.' 'The house of Scott's great friend in London, Mr Morritt, of Rokeby, 24 Portland place, is another of his London haunts that remains unchanged, except that it is now differently numbered. At a gathering at Mqrritt's one day somebody remarked upon the fact that Sir Walter attracted as much attention as a Prime Minister. 'Well) it is all very flattering,' replied Scott. !But if people pre amused who hear me_ telling a parcel of old yarns, or reciting a pack of ballads, to lovely young ladies and gaping matrons, then they are easily pleased. A man would be very ill-natured who would not give pleasure on such terms.'''

Preparations are under way for the publication of a magnificent "Vatican Memorial Series," illustrated with drawings and water-colours by Vernon Howe Bailey. The text will be written by Mgr. Enrico Pucci, and the preface by Comm. Nogara, director of the Pontifical Galleries and Museums. The work is to be issued with the consent and active co-operation of the Vatican authorities. Mr Bailey is already at work in the Vatican, and has received all the necessary facilities to carry out his programme. The first publication of this scries will consist of two volumes on the Vatican in the traditional sense of the papal palaces and buildings. This will be followed by a second publication on the new part built after the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Lastly, there will be two volumes on the Vatican Basilica.

Mr B. W. Willett, who is retiring from the chairmanship of the Bodley Head after spending forty years in the publishing business, says tho buyer? of novels like them to look thick, otherwise they think they are not getting value for their money. It does not seem to matter how many pages there are so Jong as the books appear fat, and so the publishers have to use thick paper. On the other hand, the cheap reprints of famous authors, which now have such large sales, must be compaet and thin, so that they will lit on the shelves in rooms and small flats. Mr Willett also reports that books about Soviet Sassia are In such demand at the moment tkat publishers are actually seeking out authors. The most popular seem to be those which neither criticise too strongly nor praise too much.