A Few Press Notices

A FEW PRESS NOTICES

THE DAILY CHRONICLE and “A HAPPY VENTURE”:

“It would not be an easy task to make a selection of pieces of prose and verse so representative of the younger
modern literature as this. . . . The verse of Mr Laurence Binyon, Mr John Masefield, Mr A. E. Housman and
Mr John Gray is of unusual beauty . . . . there are fifteen full-page wood-cuts, most of them full of character
and charm. . . . We are especially pleased with the work of Mr C. H. Shannon, Mr C. S. Ricketts, Mr Lau-
rence Housman and Miss Louise Glazier. . . . The literary pieces seem to us to be the work not only of the pre-
sent day but, in a sense, of the future too. The literature to come is in the cauldron: these are its first products.
Many of the stories and verses, viewed separately, are so distinguished from the literature of the past, that we
should be justified in this view. The twenty pieces, viewed together, are overwhelming proof. Ten years ago, so
much originality, and that with the merit of promise as well as of achievement, would have been impossible. . . .
This is the work of a new age. We hope that the authors and artists will not be contented, but will ‘Venture’
again and again.”

The Venture, 1904

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A FEW PRESS NOTICES
Continued

DAILY NEWS:
“THE ‘Venture’ is the lineal descendant of ‘The Hobby Horse,’ ‘The Pageant,’ etc. The prose is excellent. . .
Mr Chesterton writes ingeniously on ‘The Philosophy of Islands,’ while the editor, Mr Laurence Housman, con-
tributes some ‘Proverbial Romances’ as wise and witty as those of Mr Crosland.”

PUNCH:
“MY Nautical Retainer heartily welcomes a magazine that promises, under excellent auspices, at least to set a
high standard in the field of belles lettres. Bona ventura to The Venture!”

DAILY MIRROR:
“MR John Baillie has published a new annual of art and literature: ‘The Venture,’ with woodcuts and literary
contributions by some of the leading illustrators, poets and essayists of the day. It is got up in faultless taste,
and the printing leaves nothing to be desired.”

MANCHESTER GUARDIAN:
“IT is an excellent and distinguished volume.”

TO-DAY:
“SHORTLY before Christmas I received from the publisher—John Baillie, 1 Princes Terrace, Hereford Road, W.—
a specimen copy of a new ‘annual of art and literature,’ edited by Laurence Housman and W. Somerset Maug-
ham, and I fear me it will say little for my business aptitude when I confess that I only took it from its packing
and glanced within its covers the other evening. Now that I have made acquaintance with its contents, I regret
the delay the more, and can only trust that Mr Baillie has yet sufficient copies in stock to execute the small order
I intend to give him; for I think there are not a few of my artistically-inclined customers who, now that the
Yellow Book’ and ‘Savoy’ are no more, will gladly welcome a publication that aims at high literary and artistic
excellence; and, indeed, the volume should appeal to two distinct publics. For while to the artists the names of
such contributors as C. H. Shannon, Charles Ricketts, Lucien Pissarro, Bernard Sleigh, T. S. Moore and E. Gor-
don Craig, to mention but a few of many, will prove an irresistible attraction, the lover of literature will be still
more delighted to find such writers as Thomas Hardy, Laurence Binyon, Richard Garnett, G. K. Chesterton, E. F.
Benson, Stephen Phillips, Charles Marriott, Netta Syrett, Violet Hunt and John Masefield represented among
the literary contents. All this for five shillings, nicely printed in modern black letter type, with wide margins, is
not only good artistically but cheap commercially.”

MADAME:
“ONE can only wish this book the best and recommend it to one’s readers. It would make a charming present
to anyone who appreciates clever verse and prose.”

SUNDAY SPECIAL:
“A capitalt band of contributors. In selecting type for the printing due regard has been paid to the traditions of
Morris, and the general arrangement of the contents reflects credit on publisher and editors.”

NOTTINGHAM EVENING TELEGRAPH:
“IF it can be kept up to this level we shall look forward to the future numbers of ‘The Venture.’”