Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-16

The fun was quiet, but every one was in
good humOr end the speeches we're clever.
Among the many literary men present
were Richard Watson Glider, Il. HOpklu.
son Smith, -. Albert Shaw, Frank X.
Stockton, John burroughs aud Hamilton
W. Mable. Mr.. Aldrich delighted every
one by his speech, which was full Of grace
and of his characteristic wit. But the
most delightful features Of the evening
were the recitations Of some Of their own
poems 10y Eugene Field aud James Whit
comb Riley, both Of whom recite as well
as they write. / do not believe that he Is
as well known for his wit as he ought to
be. His poems, Of course, give him no
opportunity to display this quality, for
he has not devoted himself to that kind
Of verse with which DR. Holmes name il
allied; but his stories give evidences Of Il.
It is In conversation, however, that his
wit il brightest If some one were ia
collect all the brilliant speeches that are
attributed to him In Boston, most at.
tractive volume might be made of them.
~ know Of nothing better" said a
well-known author TO me the other day,
than the disappointment that comes TO
n novelist whose best work is not appre.
ciated by the public and whose inferior
work is recognized perhaps beyond its
/ considered to be my highest achieve.
ment in novel writing Perhaps an au-
thor is unable 20 form n fair judgment
Of his own wOrk-th is, ] believe, the
popular belief; but | am convinced that
in this instance my estimate was core
rect. Nevertheless only three or four
critics in the country saw what ] was
trying 10 do and appreciated my effort.
i did not receive as much praise for IL
as was given to my FIRST novel written 20
years ago-a Mind Of novel that l would
not think of riting now. for 1 believe
that / have acquired ability TO do better
work. Yet that novel Is still yielding me
handsome return every yeEE Ikil
nOyelists experience Is a very c0mAon
one. Authors as n rule find ~ those Of
their own works which they IKE best are
not the most popular with the public. /
know Of an author whose latest novel Is
now being published scrially and who Is
reviewing from all parts Of the country
letters saying that IL Is the greatest
work that he has ever done. These let
ters fill him with indignation, for he con-
siders the novel In question as distinctly
Inferior 10 others Of his stories, and II
Vexes him that his readers sLould show
what he regards us lack of discrlmiua.
tion.
Gen. Lew Wallace Is busily engaged IN
for the publication of his new
novel, 'The Prince of India, or Why !
Constantinople Fell" He has put an inn |
mense amount of painstnking research |
into II, aud it will be an accurate repro. !
duction of the life In the East. Gen. |
Wallace's experience IA Turkey while he |
was United States minister there en- |
abled him 20 catch the local color and |
gave him a vast amount of material ON |
which he has drawn. lie Is. moreover. q |
careful student Of history, manners and !
customs, and takes much pains to verify |
his facts ms q historian would do When /
for example. he was writing "Ben Ilur" /.
he made several trips to Boston, each of |
which was undertaken for the single pur-
pose of looking up IN the Boston Athe.
neum library some fact about which he
was In doubt.
'lSo notable nerrzNS are shortly 10 be
published in book form-W. ID. Howells' !
''rhc World Of Chance which has been
delayed for several weeks and Prof.
Boyesen's Social Struggleis." Mr..
Howcls has revised his story consider.
ably since its publication as serial.
One-half of Prof. Boyesen's novel. By a
curious arrangement, has been published
IN a periodical, aud It's forthcoming Pub.
Iication viii be its first appearance as
complete work.
All the efforts that have been mnde IN