The San Francisco call., 1895-11-03

Books in verse and prose, books for chill
dren and grown people, books with broad
margins and rivulets of beautiful type, all
inclosed in superb binding, will comprise
some OF the holiday attractions of the ap-
preaching season.
Emile Bauer of the San Francisco News
Company notes orders and letters coming
from coast correspondents and forms the
idea that the holiday trade will be good.
Doxey's observations lead to the same
conclusion. Other booksellers hope that
these views are correct.
During the holiday season dealers ex-
pect to sell books Of poetry. Somehow
this perverse generation prefers rather
10 read about poets than read their
poetry. Still if verses are cleverly illus
trated, printed in the handsomest stvle of
art, Oh paper OF the highest quality, and
bound in material delightful to the touch
and agreeable to the sight, they will sell
Tor Christmas gifts.
The popular authors of the present dav
in this City are the writers of novels.
Several booksellers agree in placing first
in demand Ian MacIaren's book, Beside
the Bonnie Briar Bush.n As good Sec
ond The Manxman," by Hall Caine is
on the list. Then comes "The Minister of
france" by Stanley Weyman, and the
books Of Conan Doyle. There is quite a
call for Richard Henry Savage's book.
Miss Devereux OF the Marquita," a story
OF bonanza days in Nevada.
e. W. Townsend's last book, the "Daugh-
ters of the Tenements," is often called for.
Savage and Townsend lived in San Fran
cisco for many years, and each should have
readers in this City, by reasons of personal
acquaintance. In Nevada Mr.. Savage's
book will have many readers, as the story
deals mainly with individuals and events
familiar TO old-timers on the Comstock.
Doxey would like to publish Richard
Realf's poems in volume of the forth
coming California Authors series, but
Richard ]. Hinton of New York is sup
posed to have possession of Realfs unpub-
hshed manuscripts and the verses that
have been published from time to time in
the daily press. For some cause, not
wholly explained or ascertained. Colonel
Hinton neglects TO publish the book in the
East. The sum OF $50 was advanced from
the Realf monument fund about three
yesrs ago TO hasten the publication, yet
lie expected volume does not appear.
In a reckoning of California writers
Richard Realf could hardly be included.
he lived here but short time, made but
few hcquaintances and did but little liter
Rry work in this State.
Annie Laurie's book for boys and girls
will be out next week, but will not be
placed on sale for three weeks, as copy
righting in London cannot be effected be-
fore November 81.
J. NJ. Barrie's mother and sister, who
were the prototypes of Jess and Leeby in
"A Window i'll Thrums," died within a
few hours of each other, and not long after
the death of the man to whom Miss Barrie
was engaged. The novelist has laid his
mother and sister in one grave in the
cemetery on the hill overlooking kirrie-
muir, the original of Thrums. 1t was in
the very house where his mother and his
only year ago to Miss Mary Ansell.
Not long before his death the poet Long
fellow told Hezekiah Butterworth one
evening in his library how he came to
write THE Psalm of Life, 1.-The Bridge -
Excelsior" i" "Hiawatha," !" ''The Old Clock
on the Stairs" and some of his other
poems. Mr.. Butterworth has embodied
the evenings talk in an article on How
Longfellow Wrote His Best known
Poems,' which the Ladies' Home Jour
nal will publish in its next number.
The opening chapter of Mrs. Humphry
Wards new novel, 'Sir George Tressady," b"
which begins in the November Century,
describes an election in England. Mrs.
Wards well remembered heroine, Mar
celia, reappears early in this story.