The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-01

There are SO many new books an.
nounced it is confusing. You cannor
even learn their names, much less taste
OF their quality. There are a half dozer
! books published each year hat it is
we'll to read if no more. Carlyle said
the best way was to wait two years be-
fore reading any new book. In that
time the ephemeral are forgotten, push
ed gu of the way, and only those OF
power and unusual merit remain. We
are persuaded that the very excessive
multiplication of books is an injury, for
it induces superficiality and causes the
standard works to be neglected.
There is a fad now among maya
zine publishers to get from contempor-
ary authors accounts of "how they
write" their books. A very much
more important thing is what they
write" What do you care whether
John Smith walked and dictated; or sat
and indited; or lay down or sat in a
window, or wrote at night or dictated
in the morning or anything else con-
nected with his labors? Here is this
from Miss Braddon: She works, now
adays, in the mornings from II to 1
o'clock, and then she goes for a con-
stitutional before lunch. But in by
gone days it vas no ncomm thing
with her to work all day long, not even
leaving her dem for luncheon" That
is very Intellectually refreshing and
stimulating.
DR.. Weir MitchelPs Hugh Wynne" is
out in two volumes. It is a work of
merit. He will publish another novel
in he same Century" the next year.
Lafcadio Hearne, the gifted writer,
has another boo ready on Japanese
life n character. He calls it Clean
ings in Buddha Fields" He was at
one time a journalist in the United
States, but foreign born. He went to
Japan several years ago, taught in the
English college, and married a Jap.
Whether he has become a Buddhist is
more than we know.
Miss Murfree, the Tennessee author
of genius, and well won fame, has a
book Of stories for. boys called 1.-The
Young Mountaineers." She has been
to us an author of very real interest
from the start. She has produced more
and better books than any southern au-
thor. James lane Allen is in the cad
now in reputation. His asst novel is
giving him a very fine reputation both
abroad and at home. He is beyond
doubt the most artistic, the most fin
ised of all southern writer's, but wheth-
er he has as much or more genius than
Miss Murfree we are not prepared to
deliver Judgment. In the last Atlantic
Monthly there is an essay by him that
is the most deliberately polished and
elegant as to style of any of that class
of writing which we have read from a
southern pen. How sound his conten-
quisite polish Of phrasing and the lit |
erary perfection of style canno be
fairly questioned.
It is pleasant to note that John Hal
flax Gentleman" loses none Of it's popu- |
larity. Quite recently two new edi-
tions have appeared. It is a very
charming novel, SO full Of a ender hu- f
man interest, so sane, so pure To fail
to e it is to miss much enjoyment.
Bellamy's Equality" is meeting with
unfavorable criticism in the north. It
is said to be something radical and dan /
gerous. It is conceded that he writes |
well and entertainingly. We never read
a line from him, not even his famous
Looking Backward" that had such a |
great sale. There are many books we |
not desire to read.
1.-The Chevalier d'Auriac" is a new |
novel praised by the critics. It is Of the |
same class as "a Gentleman of
France" and is by S. L. Yeats. Like so !
many recent historical it
can be enjoyed. 1t is said to be some |
thing strong in dramatic situation and ;
shows imaginative force.
Let us note a new edition and cheap |
of a worldwide famous classic. You |
can buy it for $500, Boswelrs John |
SON. and the Tour to the Hebrides," |
in one volume, printed in large and |
readable type, yet not too heavy, de- |
spite its 722 pages, to hold in the hand. |
1t is edited by Percy Fitzgerald and
published by Whitaker. Here is the
greatest of all biographies and a IA |
mons Tour easily accessible and at q
low figure.
Aubrey de We're was a very elegant
and capable writer. His "Recollec- /
tons" are soon to appear in book form.
Stedman's new volume of verse is
out and very well received in the north.
He is doubtless a true poet. We have
to confess ignorance OF nearly all he
has written, while valuing his critical
writings highly.
Mark Twain's last book 4 successful :
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