The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-12
MR.. B0K'S LITERARY GOSSIP
A New Society of Authors, Which Starts
Well and Promises 10 BE a Power.
Books New York Girls Used 10 Read, and Those
They Now Buy-An Editors Chase Aflars
Literary Social IIsader-Personal.

were at last TO hayea well-dehned society
of American authors" laid on practical
plans aud with the best interests OF authors
and publishers alike in view. few days
ago the new society was launched. and that
the time Is ripe for such q venture was
by the manner In which
some OF the strongest literary men and
women OF the country took hold. The oh
iects of the new society are practically to
promote q professional spirit among su-
thors and publishers; 10 endeavor TO settle
disputes between the author and the pub
Usher when such arise, either by sFbitrs-
ton or by an appeal TO the courts 10 MAIN
tain. define and defend literary property.
and, in short. to advance the interests OF
American authors and literature. While
the society is chiefly In the in-
terest of the author. II 10 large
ly in the interest of the publisher as
well. The constitution adopted by the
society 10. In the beat respect good one.
There is q board of managers who VIII con-
troll the destinies of the society. and good
men and women have been selected. Col
Thomas Wentworth Higsinson Is presi-
dent, Mira Julia Ward Howe. Maurice
Thompson and Moncure ID. Conway are
vice-presidents, Gen. James Grant Wilson
is treasurer, while Charles Burr Todd, who
is really the or ginator Of the idea. Is secre-
tary. Eighty members are already en-
rolled, and they include the best names IN
American literature. No distinction of sex
is made. Every thing points TO the I'M
doubted success of the movement, and.
with good management. the new Society or
American Authors 10 destined to become Q
power in llteratute. We have long needed
such On association. and every one inter-
ested In good literature will hope that the
new organization Will I'LL the niche so long
left open.
READING OF NEW YORK Girls.
Il was In an interesting conversation with
one Of the keenest and best posted book
salesmen in New York that ne said: II
have been particular in studying the lite
rary tastes of our New York girls. and the
study has been full of interest. Two years
ago she taste of the average New York girl
in her choice of reading. Was something to
make decent people ashamed. She would
ask you in the most brazen manner for
some of the worst books ever printed, and
be very much astoniehed when told we did
not keep such books. and could not import
them. One girl. q new hand In that line OF
reading. judged. asked me- once II had
any books by Fannie Hill. She asked
me in the most innocent manner. buo
it nearly nearly ti0S or me made nsi N. up
explained her mistake. She blushed vio-
lently. never said q word. and have never
seen the poor girl In our store since, al
though she was a frequent visitor before
that incident. Girls of this type casually
hear some indiscreot woman talk of titles
and authors of certain books, and they get
every thing mixed up. and the way they
ask for what they want 10 positively anus
ing. However, the tide has decidedly
turned. and New York girls are reading q
far safer clase of books. 1t is in books az
in every thing else: people Got tired of the
nasty and suggestive. and they alw~5s
seem glad TO get good, clean literary
washing Some of the best books published
OF late are finding their most assiduous
readers in the girls, and the demand for
French books and translations from the
French Is very much on the wane. Al
though there was great deal Of money in
that class of literature for Us. am never
theless glad that the demand Is over. It
makes man feel guilty 70 sell bad book
to q nice girl, and / never did il but the
thought came to me how 1 would like some
other man to sell such a book to one of my
daughters. But business is business. and
IL these girls didn't get these books from
US they would get them somewhere else.
That's the only way q man can clear his
tell you. tho change 10 welcome. and now
it Ia pleasure TO sell tho girls the books
they are asking for. / believelt is in every
way o good Sign of the times"
POPULARITY OF WAGNER LITERATURE.
The interest in the works and life of
Richard Wagner seems only 10 deepen and
broaden as time goes on. lt has evidently
taken firm hold on the American public.
as evidenced by the rapidly.increasing
literature on the sal ject, and the eagerness
with which every new work is bought and
read. The Wagner correspondence with
List and others. translated Tot long ago,
sells most readily. and immediately in Its
train came Mr.. KrehbiePs and Mr.. Hender-
sons studies in the WaGnorian drama.
which have been very successfui. Recent
~. Pracger's book. Wagner As Knew
Him." was translated, and Is meeting with
edition, Handsomely illustrated, and on
large paper. of Jullien's famous Life of
Wagner translated from the French
for tho first time. Although but
inst published, the publishers tell
me the edition is rapidly becoming ex-
hsusted. Henry Fincks life of Wagner
will be published early 10 the fall, adding
another important work 10 the list Wag-
nerites are now looking forward eagerly TO
the publication of Wagnerss sutobiogra-
ply. IL may not be generally known that
Wagner wrote his biography, tut he did. and
under rather peculiar conditions No one has
been allowed TO touch IL. 1t covers more
than two-thirds of his life. aud must natur-
terest. But it has never been published.
1t lies still in manuscript in Mrs. Wagners
possession. In strict Observance Of Wagner q
stipulation that it should not be publish ed
until his son Siefried, had arrived &C the
age of asurity. As this 10 the year of his
maturity. We may look for IN early an
nouncement of the publication. both in
German and English. of this eagerly ex-
pectcd Work. There Is some talk also
among certain publishers of Publishing in
this country a translation of the ton vol
umn Leipzig edition of Wagners complete
literary works.
A LITERARY SOCIAL LEADER.
An editorial friend OF mine was recently
telling mo of q manuscript which came 10
him IN his regular mail. 1t dealt with some
phase of the refined side of the home. and
q casual reading of il at once demonstrated
TO him that he bad not only found new
writer. but one who evidently wrote from
tho inside" of the best society of the city
in which she lived. He immediately wrote
the author. Enclosing her n handsoms
check. and asking whether she had any
further ideas OF similar nature. In about
a fortnIg ht he W as astonished TO receive q
letter from the author, questioning his sta
ton as a gentleman because he had never
written the author regarding the manu-
script. At once he sat down and wrote 3
personal explanatory letter. A few davs
later and his first letter came back with
the postofficf comment mo such party at
address" lnen came back his second let
ter. The addresses of both Tailed precisely
with that given IN the two letters
by the author. A week later brought q
third letter from the author-thIs time
tir dan h. faf Ia