The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-18
MRS. WARDS NEW NOVEL.
Its Publication Suggests Interesting Lit
erary "Reminiscences.
Especial Correspondence.J


Especial correspondence
NEW YORK, Feb 1.-The publication of
Mrs. Humphry Wards new novel is the
literary event of the month. Among pub
fishers and in cultivated circles it has been
the absorbing topic. Yet, now that the
book is before the public, there is a general
expression of disappointment. This may
be due perhaps to too high anticipations,
but the shrewder of the New York pub
fishers declare that it is an evidence that
the excitement created by the appearance
of Mrs. Wards first book, Robert Els
mere" was purely fictitious and not due to
any genuine merit in the story.
That is an experience which always fol-
lows the publication of book which has
attained notoriety rather than fame. Mrs.
Stowe found it to be true. No other book
published in the English language, except
ing the Bible and Webster's spelling book,
has had such a sale as Uncle Toms
Cabin" The interest in this book was
created not SO much by the story as by the
fact that it handled question so momen-
tous as to afterward involve the United
States in civil war None of Mrs. Stoves
novels published after it began to ap
proach it in circulation, and most of her
stories would have had trivial sale COM
paratively had it not been for the great
name she established for herself by the
writing of Uncle Toms Cabin"
John Habberton had a similar expe-
rience. Some twenty years ago he wrote,
mainly for the pu ose Of amusing an in
valid wife, "a short story in which he de-
picted the pranks and mischief of his own
charming children. Mrs Habberton was
SO delighted with it that it occurred to the
author to offer it for publication. He had
some difficulty in securing a publisher,
but when it appeared it scored hit, sell
ing in one season some 200, 600 copies, and is
still in demand. But Mr.. Habberton has
never been able to produce anything which
has begun to rival the popularity of
"Helen's Babies"
n little over twenty years ago Bret
Harte astonished and delighted not only
the literary world but the common people,
with one or two tales of California life
He seemed on the high road to such popu-
larity as only Dickens or Walter Scott OBJ
tanned He was offered a large sum Of
money for a long story, and he wrote
three or four installments, which were
published in the New York Sun, and then
the tale came to an abrupt conclusion.
Another story of his-"Gabriel Conroy"-
was dismal failure, and today Mr.. Harte's
sketches have greater favor in England
than in this country.
Mrs. Wards first story, Robert Els
mere" attracted no attention when it was
issued. 1t had been offered to publishers
in New York, and they had rejected the
right to purchase advance sheets. They
did not believe that enough copies would
be sold to pay for publication. 1t was not
until Mr.. Gladstone had written a favor
able notice of it that public attention was
called to it~and then it became fashion
able and even fad. Some Of the pub
fishers in this country who had declined
the advance sheets put their printing
presses TO work and literally flooded the
country with the book. Its sales amounted
to over 400 900 copies, and then there came
a sudden drop. One publisher in New
York was left with several tons Of the
book on his hands. much of which was
converted into paper rags.
For this reason some of the wiser pub
fishers have been inclined to think that
Mrs. Wards second novel would have d
far different fate from that which made
the first a work of notoriety, II not of fame.
Word came here, however, from those who
have seen Mrs. Ward. that she was bestow
ing infinite pains upon the writing OF the
book. Some days, like George Eliot, she
would not write more than was sufficient
to cover a single letter page. Many Of the
paragraphs were rewritten innumerable
times. She gave herself up 10 the intens
est character study. 50 that It was thought
here that possibly she would produce a
greater wors OF art thsn was Robert
ElsInere.7 SO that her second book migl;
have a longer life though not SO brilliant
a birth as did Robert Eismena
Ii is perhaps too sOoa TO give a Judgment
respecting this work which will stand the
test OF time bat the opinion it has already
created is that il is not even 50 good q
character stUdy or 50 exciting a story os
was Robert Elsmere. It suggests too
much of that philosophy disguised rs tic-
ton which made the later works Of George
Eliot most wearisoine and causes them 70
be read now only by patient students.
But II Ms Ward has made less Of lit
erary success with this novel than she did
with the first she i Tar better paid pecu1-
iariiy. She cot almost uotbing for the
American publication OF Robert Els
mere. +" aud had 70 he content with the or
binary royalties in Great Britain II vhe
reports which publishers have received
here are true. she was guaranteed solae-
thing ike Syo059 before she Inanus<ripS
went t. the printers. F. ! EDW ARDS