The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-27

M0rk Twain went TO Europe 20 reslde
t.mporarilv year and half ago. and
with the exception of brief visit TO this
country last July has been engaged In lit
erary work there.
some OF his sketches and his long story,
which was a continuation Of the story of
Colonel Mulberry Sellers, were quite widely
published in this country and in England.
or course anything that Mark Twain
writes is sure 10 be read. Yet there were
some indications here that he was not
maintaining in these later works that pop
ularity which he gained when The lnno-
cents Abroad" appeared.
On the other hand, his long story Is
greatly enjoyed in Great Britain, so that
now he is understood TO be engaged upon
another, something in the same line. He
IS also 20 write o volume Of sketches, par
ticularly Of the German people. There has
been some surprise that Mark Twain
should Of a sudden renew the literary
activity Of twenty years ago. and several
reasons have been given for it. 1t has been
said that some Of his business investments
have not proved profitable, although he
has the reputation Of being the keenest
business man who has made fortune with
the pen. His friends say, however, that he
has an ambition to produce literary work
not wholly humorous, but OF more serious
import, by which he will be longest re-
membered.
Other American authors are contemplate
ing long residence in Europe. William
D. Howells, it il said, regards his residence
IN New York city rs only temporary,
and as soon az he can make bis ar
rangements he viii go 70 live permanently
in Italy, a country which has great fascina~
ton for him, and in which he did the first
literary work which gave him fame How
ellis is accommodating quite rapidly, and he
will soon be able to live handsomely IN
italy upon the income Of his investments.
Nevertheless his pen, instead Of relaxing,
IS buster than ever He has contract to
furnish two Of the monthly magazines
with a series Of papers and another with a
farce. He is at work upon one new story
and has another mapped out, and bis
literary plans involve work which 1t would
take nearly five years 10 complete.
The first installment OF new story by
Robert Louis Stevenson has been received
bv his publishers Yet it is a story which
Mr. Stevenson contracted TO write five
years ago. he has literary work laid out
two or three years ahead, and is now en-
gaecd upon q new story which will be
Likely to give Mir. Howells grief, since 1t
viii be wholly romantic and not in the
lea.t realistic. ia he Hcwells sense.
Miss wilkins, who has achieved ex
tr0rIinary popularity, will have no idle
moments for the next year or two If she
does all that publishers ask her to do.
There seems 10 De something of a reaction,
however, on the part Of the greater critics.
Mr StOddard, for instance, intimates that
Miss wilkins, while she has talent, has no
great artistic development Of it, and that
her stories are mere bits of reporting and
ere the dOings of people who are not ex-
sctly interesting.
Miss wilkins ambition is in the direc-
ton Of the drama, and one play which sire
has written is soon TO be published. Her
method must be changed or she will be
unable to produce play that can be acted,
no matter bow delightfully."- it may read
Richard Harding Davis is engaged in
writing a series Of sketches Of life as it APP
pears in London 10 American eyes Davis
has also had his attention turned from
short fiction 10 the stage and a recent trial
OF one act play of mis- leads his friends to
believe that when he has discovered the
bIb Ol constituting q pay nc may plOuuCO
one which has not only the literary quail
fly, but, what is of more importance, ade-
Quate dramatic construction.
Mrs. Burton Harrison, whose latest
novel. Sweet Bells Out Of Tune" is APP
bearing serially in one Of the magazines,
has already mapped out new story which
will probably he completed about the time
the serial is finished. Like that, it will be
study Of New York social life. Mrs. Van
Rensselaer, Cruger, who Is friendly rival
az Mrs Harrison in this form Of fiction,
has nearly completed a new story when
will be published in the spring.
Publishers say that the two greatest sue
ce,ses in fiction since Robert Elsmere'
appeared have been Mr.. Barrie's The LIT
lie Minister" and Thomas Hardy's Tess"
~ American author has, since the publ
cation Of "Ben-Hur," gained such success
4 these two authors with these books.
.-orc than 5000 copies Of THE Little Min
ie' have been sold ia the United States
auI nearly as many of Tess"
Barrie is az work upon Two new stories
go one play. Mr.. Hardy who cares moth
ias for dramatic writing, has a new novel
mapped out, aud the publication Of these
store, VIII be what no announcement OF
az american novel nowadays leads to-an
important literary event.
K. j. EDWARDS.