Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-26
GOSSIP FROM BOOKLAM.

Charles Egbert Craddock has written new novel, ''His Vanished Star.'' It is disappointing in that it bears such a strik- ing resemblance in many points to her other books. One of her critics says: "If Miss Murfree could only leave Tennessee for awhile, tell us of some other land, not make her women 80 spasmodic and her men all moonshiners, her many readers would rejoice.'' And we feel this critic but voices our own sentiments, for, while we enjoy her fine descriptions, and they are frequent and lengthy, the unfamiliar dia- lect of the moonshiners and mountain men and women is well nigh unintslligible. But two women figure in the plot.
 However, we are proud to class her splendid efforts among our southern litera- ture, and appreciate the distinct niche she has carved in the temple of fame by her own individual style. How many writers of today are starting out along new paths, unaided and unguided, save by their own innate ability and originality? l feel kindly sympathy for New England life as depicted by Miss Wilkins, a responsive humor for each of Howells' every day characters, a sob and sigh for New York's misery, tender pity and despair at the stern life and fate of the farm folks, as de- picted by western writers, and my great
 
 son of the soil, and who has taken as his life work broad awakening of sympathy with the homely, stern, hard life of the humble western farmer, and so earnest and true has been his efforts that much has been accomplished by his worthy pen.
 Ard what pathetic and kindly reminis- cence of ye old time darkey and plantation life is found among the leaves of Thomas Nelson Page, and an attentive ear and ap- preciation for all that is said or written of nlr v,nn i0 md on striving earnestly and with ability to por- tray some particular section or native char acteristic unnot led and unseen by less ob serving and poe Ter intuitive perceptions.
 Speaking of dialect, we remember a charming rural story of young farmer who hired a travelling photographer to surreptitiousy take picture of his, the farmer's, sweetheart. The artist could utilize only one opportunity and took a standing on the other side of a high plank paling, and he hastened with the precious specimen to the lover, expecting of course grateful acknowledgme nt, but the latter indignantly rejected 1t with the comment that ''thar's too much fence and too little gall" Too much dialect some- times serves to obscure the subject and is disappointing.
 When the Authors club of New Yo ork was lOOkluR HDOuL WILL VIEW Oi SSbtiluB III lbS own comfortable quarters, the idea of pub fishing a book, "Liber Scriptorum,' was proposed by Rossiter Johnston and aG- cepted, and 109 members were asked to contribute. It was presented in the best typographical dress that could be furnished by the De Vinne press.
 Every article in every copy of the book is signed by it's author with pen and ink.
 This feature is unique. The obtaining of these signatures proved to be the most diff okaA xx,ith ho Several of the contributors were in Europe; another was just setting out for Japan; an other was suddenly ordered by his physi- clan to cruise in the Mediterranean; an- other was possessed by desire to see the Hawaiian islands, and two others appeared to the committee to have nothing to do but cross the Atlantic in the wrong direction while the sheets they were to sign were passing them in mid-ocean on another steamer.
 At length, after much tribulation and many adventures, all returned in safety to the anxious committee. One set had been signed in Rome, another in Naples, one in Paris, three in England, three on the Pa cifc slope and one in Constantiuople. more than 27 900 signatures in all.
 Of this superb and remarkable volume 250 have been printed-251, for one copy goes to the library of the club. All but few have been sold at $100 apiece. The original manuscripts have been inlaid and
 
 highest bidder.
 MT. Stanley J. Weyman took his degree of B. A. at Christ church, Oxford, in 1878. We learn from a recent biographical sketch that he began writing stories about ten years ago, and of the Trollope school; that f'The House of the Wolf,o in three vol umes, gained him his first reputation in 1887, and thai his great ambition is to write historical novels. In this he has succeeded in his splendid work, "Under the Red Robe" Many are the stories woven from the history of the great cardinal, Riche- lieu, but none is better in its way than this one by MT. Weyman.
 Gil de Berault is gambler and bully; gentleman, though sunk to the foul soil of desperate adventurer, he guarded his tarnished reputation with his sword. He was despised, feared, hated furiously. He was nick named s'The Black Death.' At last, having slain a mere boy in a quarrel over cards, the cardinal, who dominates the story, has him seized as he swaggers from the field and decides to use hlm for an example in his determination to stamp out
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