The age-herald., 1898-07-17
ROOkS that Ar6 Read.

I have often wished that great authors,
 when their days of creation were over,
 would condescend to tell us the history
 of their books.
 During the early career of an author, while he is in his creative vigor. we want
 to hear about his fancied persons, not about himself and how he invented them; but later it is different we become so att tracted by the genius and personal char acteristics of the man that we uncen- sciously develop a yearning desire to know
 just how he did it all and why. Ameri- cans, believe, are credited with the pos session of an inordinate desire for per- sonal knowledge of this kind, and rather think the charge is true; as sure as we come to respect and admire a man for his literary qualities, then we also love to
 know all about his likes and dislikes, and especially how he lives and how he works.
 A great many authors humor this desire and allow themselves to be interviewed or write little fragmentary scraps which are as promptly and eagerly read. But this does not wholly satisfy. Anthony Hope has graciously allowed himself to be inter-
 viewed has assured Us that his life has been the unadventurous, commonplace, even humdrum, existence of the young Englishman; and that it was not until he was 26 years of age did he dream of writ ing for publication-all interesting enough in itself, I grant you. But what story that he can now concoct could possibly equal in interest to the public volume of his own literary confessions?
 Who that has read his varied and in- comparable work of it's kind has not wondered from what unseen and imagin- ary world he dreams those delightfully."- charming men and women, who throng the pages of his books? Who would not love to hear in the authors own sprightly style from whence come the original and unique ideas for the plots of his stories and the formulating of those incidents the occurrence of which lends such spice and piuuancy to his tales? That any man can take an maginary kingdom such as "Ru- ritania" certainly is and people it with live, breathing men and women wh0 not only entertain us, but enlist our sympathy, even to the verge of tears is marvellous; and, further, it demonstrates that author to be an artist and one of the finest quali- ty.
 The old-fashioned novels used to deal largely with the nobility; and duke or duchess was as necessary as a plot. Since
  ed on this point and if a duke or peer now walks into novel he must come in just as a man-just as if he were merch- antrnan or worker from the ranks. But nothing is sacred in the hands of An thony Hope in the romantic world. he cre- ates; and it matters not whether it's an ordinary man to be elevated to the king dom, or high and mighty king that must step down and out, it is all the same and the reader accepts the occurrences as the most natural postulates conceivable. As a drama the 'Prisoner of Zenda" gave the young actor a fair chance to distinguish himself in a new field. and I presume the play was success; but, as piece of fic- ton "The Prisoner of Zenda'' is as perfect a bit as any one need hope to evolve from the brain of manor woman either, for that matter. It has been read by thous- ands, and yet, thousands will still continue to read it. 1t contains every requisite for good and lasting work. The unity is so perfect that every word and every sen- tence seems but to contribute to he effect and power of the final scenes; the characterization Is superb. For who that has read the book and then travels abroad will not ask for tickets to s'Ruritania" and call upon the jolly Rudolph Rassendyll, erstwhile king of Ruritania? and good
 Queen Flavia, how strong and brave and tender and true! Then, what a style and what strong phrasai power the author pos sesses; making every description and ev-