The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-03
ASTOR'S NEW NOVEL.
CliVedel'S Owner Has Written a Novel
EmbOdyins New Theories.
A Convert to SociaIism-An Answer
to Civilizations Riddles in
Forthcoming Work of Fiction.
Copyright.

J - NN~- - W 0OG4dA4SLl-G1l AASW CT
to Civilizations Riddles in
Forthcoming Work of Fiction.
Copyright.
New York, June 2.-Not long before
/ William Waldorf Astor attracted general
attention through the purchase Of Give
den, he was waited uponin London by the
representative of a widey-known pub
fishing house with proposal for the
next production of his pen. The firm of
| booksellers had been informed that the
multi-millionair was projecting a new
novel, and it was DESTROYS OF the honor
of bringing it out. MIR. Astor's reply
seems uncertain that is he appears not
to have clearly stated what he proposed
doing in the premises. His publishers
are Charles Scrioner's Sons, and he may
have felt unwilling to make change. At
! any rate he didn't.
But not long afterward the London pub
| IlSherS received manuscript novel all in
typewriting, which was sent in by an I'M
known who wanted to learn its cash
| value. The firm declared that it had no
time TO read manuscripts, was too we'll
stocked even, but the pertinacity of the
unknown resulted finally in that it was
read and an offer of 600 made for the
fer was declined, and the author got back
his manuscript.
1t was the work of William Waldorf
Astor. His o0ject was to find out whether
his name or his genius got his books into
print. No amount of persuasion has since
gotten out of him leave to print that
novel
The reason is that Mr.. Astor is project
| ing new work of fiction in a field that
to him is quite untrodden literarly. He
/ is engaged upon a novel EN- Lodying his
theories of the social system and eXpound-
ing that form of humane socialism. of
| which, unknown to many, he approves.
He has views on economic SUBJ ects based
upon a conservative philosophy, but
| which, nevertheless, have been mis-
! represented. Mr.. Astor is alleged TO look
upon certain radical tendencies in
the politics of his own country
with disapproval. but this is an error. 1t
is simply because Mr.. Aston is by nature
an artist that life abroad is agreeable to
him. He is now employing one of Lon
| don's rising young artists to elaborate on
| canvas conception OF his own In Italy
a sculptor has Just received a commission
| from him that means fame and money if
! properly executed. And in other ways
! MIR. Aston has, shown that he is by nature
a patron of the arts.
! 1t is, therefore, natural that his book
/ nhOulI nave 10 40 WIN ARTISTS. ne STORY
takes us at first to those Bohemian Lon
don studios in which English artists are
content to wait for patrons until it is time
! to go to Paris. The hero of the story is a
! young man of the people, a natural born
artist, whose friend has found his genius
out and pays for his tuition.
! Our youthful prOletarian belongs to a
society of kindred spirits pledged to de-
! strOy the social system and all its abuses
/ To this plrtum iS dine TpaptiuCr no
tween him and the heroine, woman of
| great wealth. widow, young earnest,
high-minded, and pledged to the ameli-
GRAFTON of mapkind's condition from
a conviction that it is wrong for her to be
living the possessOr of boundless riches,
while others are starving for bread.
So far Mr.. Astor would seem to have
! presented US with nothing extraordinary
But it is in the elaboration of his theme,
, the presentation of the rich mans side of
the protest against modern distributions
of wealth. that Mr.. Astor is most inter-
ested. The story itself is but slender
thread. The plot hardly exists. 1t is
really contribution to the literature of
social science.
Meanwhile the proletarian and the
feminine CrGsus live their respective
! lives. The lady finds that social move
ments spring largely from the appetite.
1t is the desire for better things to eat
and drink that inspires many reform
philosophy, she finds. At the same time
the proletarian learns to his surprise that
those whom ne has looked upon as enc
mics of his class are as socialisJic as him
Self-wllllng, even anxious to divide what
they have among the poor and end this
ceaseless social pickering, provided they
are given some assurance that ultimate
good will result, The lady knows of doz-
ems, nay hundreds among the rich who
! q M ffNn rrla To oil ha,,.
worldly possessions at the disposal
of him why can show wherein it is
possible to revolutioniZe our So
cial system to some good purpose.
This naturally causes the young proleta-
rian to rejoice, and with the easy conf
dence of youth, he promises to point the
way on the following morning He has
pet scheme of his own, of which he is to
make a syllabus. But when he comes to
write the system out there suddenly ap-
pears fatal OF. ection-a defect which he
wonders at not having sooner thought of.
His preceptor in revolution cannot get
him over the difficulty, and the young
fellow must regretfully send word to the
lady that he cannot let her have his plan
for some days.
Then begins an exploration among the
theoretical achievements of ages No
agreement is found anywhere. 1t seems
that the old-fashioned way of ruling the
world is as good, If it is not better, than
the novel theoretical way.
MIR Aston does not make his theme bur
densome. The story winds its way along
naturally 1t does not end at the point
indicated The conclusion is based upon
the general acceptance of that socialistic
Christianity which recognizes the dis
tinction between mine and thine The OBJ
lect of the book, in a word, is to show
that the rich are as socialstic as the poor
and Just as anxious that we shall all have
plenty to eat and drink. Their gifts and
charities are a proof of this Whether
there may be a still more effective way
of doing good. it is one of the designs of
Mr.. Astor's book to point out
Readers of Valentino" and "Sforza. -
his other novels, are already acquainted
with Mr.. Astors style. He uses the En-
glish language with elegance and effect.
and in his forthcoming book, which is not
likely to appear for some months, his
abilities in that line will be even more
.. manifest Mr.. Astor, of course, can not
devote much time to authorship. Ais
method is to dictate the chapters at ir
regular intervals and revise them himself
pen in hand. In this way he goes over
his work many times The manuscript
/ is then laid aside and not Iookad a ,rt;,