The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-29
LITERTRY NOTES.

The title of Mr.. Barries conclusion of
Sentimental Tommy" will probably be
The Celebrated Tommy
George Meredith has written a long poem
on the French revolution which will proba-
bly, be published very soon in Il volume by
itself.
In the Adirondack village OF Saranac Mr..
r. L. Stevenson is still pleasantly remem-
bered. He led retired life" in the Baker
cottage, and held scant converse with
the village folk; but his tal gaunt figure
was familiar to all.
Mrs. Sturgeon is editing the life of her
husband. MIR. Sturgeon left a mass of
papers relating to his career and work. In
her task Mrs. Spurgeon will be assisted by
Mr. Harrald who Tor many years was her
husbands private secretary.
Since Bret Harte-who has dropped his
first name, Francis-was United States con-
sui to Glasgow from 1880 to 1885 he has made
his residence in Great Britain. At present he
lives at "A Lancaster Gate, West London
Henry James, the novelist, is also Il resi-
dent abroad and his mail has TO be sent in
care of his publishers as he is erratic IN
his wanderings.
The title of Mrs Frances Hodgson Bur-
netts new novel Is to be His Grace the
Duke of Osmonde," and of course it is to
be a development of adventure of the duke
who won the Lady of Quality" Mrs. Bur-
nett has just been putting the finishing
touches on her book during her recent stay
in Washington, prior TO her departure for
England, where she will spend the winter
For more than twenty-five years Mr.
Henry M. Alden has been the editor of Har-
per's Magazine. These twenty-five years
represent the best years of his life, those
from thirty-flVe to sixty, so that the best
that is in him has been given to the service
of the magazine of which he is the editor
His personality has pervaded its pages
and it has been his ann to make Harper S
q distinctly American magazine.
Mr.. Barrie and his wife went to the En-
gadine after the copyright performance of
Mr. Barries new play, The Little Min
ister." Readers of The Little Minister
will find enormous changes made in the
plot, says the BOokman. The whole conclu-
sion is different and has been made bright
light and pleasant. The play will be pro-
duced In the early weeks OF October, and
all concerned are very sanguine that a
great success will be achieved both here
and in America.
QUO Vadis?' is to be dramatized for the
English and American stage. There is no
reason, says the Springfield Republican
why it should not be a success. 1t is paint
ed with a broom, and it makes the same
appeal to the church-going public that The
sign OF the cross dlu AS work of art
Sienkiewicz's work Is better than Mr.. Bar
rettS, but its merit has been grossly eX-
aggerated of late. 1t is by no means so
good as the Polish novelist's CORY novels
OF the With Fire and Sword series,
though 1t has had vastly more popularity
IN EngllSh-reading countries.
One of the most interesting American
books to be issued this year will be a
beautiful edition of Lucille" Illustrated by
facsimiles of water colors by Madeaine
Lemaire. The popularity of Lucille is
very curious. There are at least d hundred
editions of the book in this country. and
many thousands of copies are sold annual
~; In England the book is scarcely read.
When Madelaine Lemaire was asked to il
lustrate ii she could not find a French edi-
ton of the book, and as she did not read
English she had to have the book trans
lated for her In view of the popularity of
Lord Lytton in France it seems rather
strange that this book should never have
been translated into French.
According to Miss Gelder, Mr.. Hall Caine
holds the record for high prices. He may
not get much per word as Mr. Kipling.
but he has been paid more for his latest
book, The Christian than any novelist has
received even in this age of big prices
Major Pond who has Just returned from
a visit to Mr.. Game on the Isle of Man
says that he was at Greba Castle when Mr.
HeinemannS first cheQue was received
and that it was for $40, 900. This mind you.
is only an advance on royalty account and
Tor English book-rightS alone. The United
states and the colonies still to be heard
from. 1t is three years since Mr.. Caine has
published book, and during all that time
he has been working on The Christian
AT first he MADE notes and these notes
Major Pond tells me, filled six barrels The
complete book was rewritten three tir1eS