The San Francisco call., 1897-05-09

Windus will publish.
OuIdas last fiction is called sThe Massa-
renes," and Messrs. Sampson Low & Co. are
the publishers It has to do with a duchess
and pork-butcher, and the pig-man is an
American, who is greatswell.
If word from Washington can be credited,
Mrs. Grant has written the home story of her
life with her illustrious husband. But
whether the matter is to be published at once
or after her death is not known.
It was Thackeray who wrote at Athens in
1S45: 81 swear solemnly thai 1 would rather
have two hundred year in Fleet street than
be King of the Creeks with Basieus write n
before my name round their beggarly coin."
Ibsens honors came late to him. He has
just celebrated his sxty-ninth birthday. Ii
there was any difference between lbsen and
his son-in-law, Bjornson, there was recon-
ciliation on this occasion. On his SEVENTEEN
birthday Berlin publisher viii issue superb
edition of Ibsens works.
Mr.. Bryan (there is but one Mr.. Bryan) is go
ing to give his first book to the world. Its
title is "The First Battle" and in England
Sampson Low, so it is reported, will be the
publisher. 1t is Mrs. Bryan who writes a
sketch of her husband, and the bulk of the
volume will be made up of Mr.. Bryan's
speeches.
Captain Mahan's "Life OF Nelson" is liter
ary event in England. the publishers of the
English edition tMessrs. sampson Low Coz
having in process OF manufacture large new
edition. In this eulogy of the greatest OF
naval heroes the EnglIshman is forced to ac-
cept "harbor'' without "u" and "splendor"
bereft in the same wav, but your Br1ton will get
oil =, haf
Most of US know of NJ. victorien Sardou's
early studies. He was to have been doctor,
and his means were so reStric ed that he gave
lessons in Greek and Latin at 20 cents q
ticket. Sardou was also booksei iler's hack
and made translations. 1t is stated that for
one job he under took. over which he labored
for three weeks, working most of mis- time in
the National Library, he was paid 80 francs
that is, less than Sc so.
Once the printer took the liberty of correct
ing a line of Cowper's, and the poet wrote ::
There is a roughnass on plum which nobody
who understands fruit would rub off, though
the plum would be much more polished with
out It. Twill only add that wish y you
to guard me from all such meddling, assuring
you that 1 always write as smoothly as can,
but that never did, never will, sacrifice the
spirit or sense Of q passage to the sound OF It !"
In connection with the death of Dr. Brewer
an interesting fact is recorded by the London
Literary World concerning his "Guide to Sci
ence," which well illustrates the speculative
nature of book publishing. DR.. Brewer orig
inally offered the work to Messrs Jarrold of
Norwich, England, for ESQ, who refus ed the
offer, but afterward agreed to issue it on a
royalty of a penny in the shilling for the copy
right little later DIR. Brewer offered $4,000
to get back his rights in 1t. His yearly in come
from royalties on the book has been good
deal more than the modest ESQ for which he
offered it at first.
Mr. Harris, who was so dread fully mixed about
Charles S umner is wriggling all he knows how to
get out Of the snar. His explanation is that he
did not mean Charles Sumner, but Charles A.
sumner Of California-and who M light Charles A.
Sumner be?
The foregoing is from the New York Times,
usually accurate and well informed. Query /:
Who is 'Mr Harris?" Or perhaps our contem-
porary refers to the pess1mlstic Hawe1s? And
for information as to "Who might Charles A.
Sumner be-" the Times might turn to Lam
mans Biographical Annals of the Civil Gov
eminent of the United States edition of 1887,
page 485.
Are literary people so singularly constructed
that their ha bits or fads should be particu-
larly signalized? What does it avail us to
know that Smith had q mania for accumu-
lating old slippers, or that Jones collects
tops and marbles, or that Robinson's entire
leisure is devoted to the finding of mus
tard spoons? Suppose the favorite recre-
alton of Miss Angelica Ia to play blind
mans buff or copenhagen, or Miss Eudoxia
to turn handsprings, or that the historian
Williamson eats a pound of mInt-stick every
;y,to tl;0
public care about such things? "This ere
wild man." said the proprietor of the side
show, "devours, ladies and gents, ten pound
of raw onions sprinkled with red pepper
every blessed mornin' as a happetizer before
his regular brekfus' of seven bucketfuls of
sleeps trotters and tripe. He's very ex-
pensivs animal as to his boardin'."
Some weeks ago the Academy gave q por-
trait of Walter Savage Landor with q sketch
of his life. and received later letter ad.
dressed to "Walter Savage Landor ESQ.,"
which read: s'Sir: We are very anxious
TO include your portrait in our Series
of Celebrities and should be very
pleased If you could kindly grant us q sit
ting for the purpose at your convenience,
especially az only a few minutes will be
required. We shall be happy to take you
any time that you may be able to appoint,
traits for your inspection before making use
of them in any way. We are, sir, yours faith
fully, -" Not long ago journal gave
some space to the description OF fine fiddle
attributed to Stradivarius. A few days after
ward the paper received letter from New
Jersey, which ran as follows: "Mr. Editor:
You did not print Mr.. Stradivarius' address,
and have looked all over your paper for his
advertisement If he will send me violin on
trial, he might find cash customer"
There is an old Spanish maxim which reads,
"Seldom lend your horse to sailor, never to
q Frenchman, and as little as you can to any
body else." As to obliging friend with q book
the wisdom of the proverb holds equally good
Mr.. Arthur L. Humphrey in the Private Library
formulated certain rules regarding books
and their treatment, brought forth one might
say by "dire experience" Here are some of
the principal ones: "Do not bite your paper
knife until it has the edge of a saw. Do not
cut books except with proper ivory paper
knife. 1t is ruination to a good book not
to cut 1t right through into the cor
ners. Do not turn the leaves OF books
down; particularly do not turn down the
leaves of books printed on plate paper.
If you are in the habit OF lending books do
not mark them; these two habits together
constitute an act of indscretion. 1t is better
to give book than to lend it Never write
upon q title page or half title; the blank fly
leaf Is the right place. Books are neither
card racks, crumb baskets nor receptacles for
dead leaves. Books were not meant IS cush-
ions, nor were they meant to be toasted before
= fire."