From Sketch: “The Latest ‘Yellow Bookʼ”

For some reason or other the Yellow Book has always been treated
from the first with a certain parti pris somewhat lacking in fairness. In
the provinces it is received with upraised hands and quite solemn moral
lecture by way of criticism; in town it has been regarded as a huge joke,
and make a subject of cheap and facile satire, and all agreed in assuming
the Yellow Book to be what it never was and is not now—a mere
playground for youthful audacity and impropriety to disport itself. This
is simply a convention, and is not founded on fact, considering that
Mr. Henry James has, of all others, certainly the most influence over its
little group of contributors.

Let us say frankly that this number’s cover-design is not worthy of
its contents, which would be interesting were it only for the contribution
of Miss Ella D’Arcy. Her powerful story, “The Web of Maya,” is of
such an exceedingly high order of merit that, in ranging her among the
masters of short story, we do her the barest justice.

Mr. Le Gallienne and Mr. Crackanthorpe are at their best, and there
are some other short stories and studies above the average. “The Truce
of the Bishop” is a fine piece of work by Mr. Harold Frederic. Who
is the “Yellow Dwarf“? His remarks on modern literature are out-
spoken and entertaining, through we don’t agree with him; and “The
Queen’s Pleasure,” by the editor, is a gem, dainty, fascinating, and, in
its way, unique.