NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 770, 19 March 1910, Page 9

NOTES.

That good literature should bo>-pub-lished "at-a price, within tho reach of everyone must he the desiro of all who have its interests at heart. Unfortunately the first editions of a.work have to 'bear so heavy a burden in capital expenditure nn research and production that a very, low price is usually impossible. When,' however, the prime- cost has been covered and some test made of its capacity of sale in large numbers, it becomes possible, with the goodwill of the author, to issue an edition at a price that leaves but a slender margin over its paper and printing' cost. Air. Murray has long hesitated about the issue of such a series. If it should reduce the total monetary return to tho authoi —already so iuadeciuate in most cases—it must, he says, be discontinued. Only a very large sale, therefore, can justify the experiment. Mr. Murray feels that in his new shilling library—amongst the earliest of the volumes will be Gilford's "Deeds of Xaviil Daring" and Stanley's "Siuni and Palestine"—he is giving the greatest value,

iii format—wido margins, good paper, largo type, and sound binding—that the public has ever had offered to it; anil ■since lie will present in this guiso the best literature (many of the volumes copyright and recent), the response ill sales should be an exact measure of the demand that is said to exist among the many for books that have hitherto only had audience of tho few.

"Mary Gaunt".'writes to the- "Bookman," .complaining very, much of the fate of her new novel, "The Uncounted Cost," which has been vetoed by the libraries:— ."I have (she says) worked very hard indeed at 'The Uncounted Cost.' I had to collect a great deal of export knowledge from naval officers; and West African■ officials, and the actual ■ writing of the novel took me thirteen months of hard labour. I flattered myself my ideals were, high, that I had worked out and told a. story, of patriotism, industry, arid, sacrifice for others..' I do not say my characters were spotless; had they been so they would not have been trne to life: but in the end I think the very best is shown, and the very best is glorified— honesty, truth, love, end all that men n-nd women hold most dear. ,1 will stake my honour there is not a. suggestive word in the whole book, nothing that might not be read aloud in a eiixed company. By birth "Mary Gaunt" is an Australian. She.went to London nine years ago, and has -written. a number of stories alone and in collaboration.with Mr. Essex.

Tlickensiaus should note that Mr. Cecil Aidin is engaged upon an elnborato.illustrated edition of .Pickwick," which will be ' published .'during, the .present year. The edition,-.which will-be in hvo .volumes, is. to be .-profusely illustrated with full-page pictures in colour, and will also contain a large quantity of black-and-white sketches -in the text. , A special Pickwick alphabet is also being designed by Mr. Aldin to form the initial letters. 'Phe book is now.in active preparation.

. The death is announced of llr. Edouard Rod. French literature will, claim him, but he belongs to Switzerland, having been born at Nyoii, in the Canton de Vaud, and having been a professor at the Geneva University. Ho was once invited to present himself .as a candidate, for the Academy, and would almost certainly have been 'elected if he had done so; but he declined to denationalise himself for. the. purpose. His best-known work was in fiction. He began as a' follower of Zola, but afterwards drifted into other paths. He also, however, wrote excellent criticism for the "Debats," and .was the author of a treatise on the demeles of..liousseau.with.Geneva, at tho time , of the: burning. of "Emile," which is the accepted authority on the subject...... .

.Mr. Arthur Eackham, R.W'.S., was the chief guest at ,a ; dinner of the Authors' .Club last month. In a speech, he said that the serious illustrator received strong stimulus from a fine piece of literature. When' he had in his hand a splendid piece of literature to illustrate he always started upon it with the greatest enthusiasm, and the confidence that he was going to rise above.himself. His -whole heart was in his work of illustration. Speaking of Bible illustration, Mr. Rackham said they. : were 'all acquainted with "blanketty" jyophets and and angels tootling on all kinds, of funny little insiTumeilts. Ho really believed 1 that this kind of picture must have helped to make .unbelievers of many of the present- generation. The power, of the "appeal of.'iUus(ration to the. public was undeniable. Lord Ronald Gower, .who.followed, mentioned a visit .he paid to George Cruickshank.whcn he was a boy. Cruickshank was.a most charming man, and'gave-liim a copy '.'of Jiis. .-illustrated,' "Hop : .p''- M.J' Thumb," wh.icli'was'.'npw'dne'bf,,hi's'.mpst precious .bo'efe:' ■ It, was. /Sydney ; , Smith who, when asked--Sis.- idea-.of heaven, said that it was eating foie gras to, the sound-of trumpets. It was a'.very good idea; but ho imagined Paradise. as a state of; being where: they would recline on .a cowslip; bank, with a friend, having- around them...tho bestt illustrated books. If there wore no illustr'ated-'books .would'prefer hot'to go there."" ' ■ ~"•?- "="•" -> '"■, ',

:■ ' ■ ;;, "v .■ ■ ijl ■• f, " '•■" ■ . .".:." '[ . - -■In ; ?fhe February';'.number- q£;v:t)ie' '"Thrush";there!;is a;-beaiitifut, essay l oii' poetry,vAvith tW .'stern title- -"Silence," contributed by Professor ■ Professor Ralciegh says that "when a great poet strikes at the heart of his subject ho uses, a naked-style. Tho bad ■ poets, on the other, hand, try ,to do too much with figures." . .

AT. Bjornson, the Norwegian poet and novelist, who has been staying at the IJotel Wagramfor the past two 'months, has been', seriously ill.". .He.: takes food,' and,.is. extreinelv,.-weak.V He-was, says an English, adrqirer,,"a-fighter efor," and is also the son'of h'fighter. 'His father, the Eev. Peder.Bjorhson, went to take charge of a' parish-'in the niraldistrict of Oestcrdaleu, and-found that the laxity of;his predecessors had taught his parishioners to treat ■ pastors with con-' tempt. 'At -'the-'first .display of rudeness he took, off his: coat • and punched- the heads of tho ringleaders, with the result that his pastoral authority was established on a sound basis, and he and his flock lived happily together ever afterwards. The poet himself, at the time when he, was leading a, Separatist movement, went so far as to challenge King Oscar to mortal combat. For this offence ho was sentenced to a year's -imprisonment; but he got away and spent the year in Paris. A scene illustrative of the enthusiasm of the. Norwegian people for Bjornson is recalled by a i Norwegian traveller. It was at the time of .the summer , manoeuvres, and as the soldiers, on their way back to Christiania, had to pass the-poet's house, the general sent his adjutant ahead to ask if an; ovation would be. acceptable. . Then, "with-his family-and guests assembled about him on the verandah,'; tjie monumental figure stood with bared bead to receive the military greeting. As each regiment passed in review below, presenting arms as' to ■ their chieftain, there went up a deafening shout of personal salutation from each of the soldiers, who then joined in- singing the national hymn, to whose author they were thus offering this spontaneous salute. There was the unique spectacle of a man. in ; private life being accorded a military spontaneous demonstration by the nation's army which a king might envy." "