The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1885-10-30
A New Novel.

The English novelist Shorthouse, the author
Of "John Inglesant," is soon to give to the world
another novel, hear. hope it will prove
equal to bis first strange powerful book that
| placed him at once in the formost rank of British
writers. The history of that DO ok is as singular
as the work ITSELF Mr. Shorthouse, who is p
wealthy gentleman residing in or near Birming-
| ham, wrote "JOhn Inglesant" fifteen years ago.
| 1t was offered in vain to all the leading pub
fishers Of London. Not one of them would
touch it or have anything TO do with it, An
historical novel in this latter quarter of the
| nineteenth century was thing not to be taken
into consideration for single moment. So Mr.
Shorthouse spent years over his book, literally
as labor of love, polishing, rewriting, altering,
till the force even Of bis devotion to his neglect
ed work could no further go. Then he decided
to have small number Of copies printed for
private circulation merely. This edition was
as elegant as book fancer's taste could make
it, rejoicing in all the glories of supertine paper
and print, wide margins and artistic binding
One of these beautiful copies fell into the hands
Of an appreciative and intelgen. critic, who
forthwith carried the book to one of the great
London publishers and succeeded In convincing
him of the great merits Of the work. SO "John
Inglesant" saw the light at last and its author
became famous. He attributes good deal of
bis success and OF the high qualities of his writ
ing 10 the sympathy and counsels OF his wife.
But this the lady is wont playful to disclaim,
declaring that she always slept iudefatigably on
the sofa during the evenings that her husband
was busted with bis book, and she always
busted the manuscript very carefully after it
WAS completed. After the book was published
and had won its first great success, Catholic
gentleman, living wear Birmingham, whose fine
old home had sat for the picture of one of the |
prominent scenes Of the work, wrote a very |
had recognized the description Of his own man 4
sion and that any day that the author chose to /
call he would be pleased to show rim the inter- |
Tor OF the house, which WAS both ancient and J
curious. Mr. Shorthouse accepted with great |
pleasure the courteous invitation, but q pres
sure ofengagements prevented him from max /
ing the proposed visit tor several wee ks. When
he did 60 be was received by the stately old
butler of the establishment with every mark OF
annoyance and confusion. His card was taken
up to tho master of the house and the message
was returned that "Mr y was very sorry, but
that he could not possibly receive Mr. Short
house. Some time later the reason for this
change OF behavior on the part OF Mr. Y was
made known to him. In the interval between
he sending of the invitation and Mr. Short
houses arrival. Cardinal Newman had prohib-
ted all perussl of "John Ingles ant ny the
members OF the Roman Catholic church in
England. and it had baen generally denounced
" the clergy Of that denomination throughout
be United Kingdom as a dangerous snd pei
iclons anti Catholic book Lacy III Hooper
4 n Y World.