The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-30
CURRENT LITERARY GOSSIP.


The Ladies' Home Journal Is t,,s. o,,t
ana has its full quota OF things to interest
the ladies.
A portrait OF John Vance Cheney. ranro-
o1cea from drawing, forms the frontls-
piece O. the February Current Literature.
The illustrated American should be In
al family circles, the reading is pure
timely and possessed OF facts 10 interest
everyone in the household.
The Pail Mall. one of the finest family
magazines, comes to US with It's February
issue richly frsighted with superb illus
trations. and the contents are especiall,
tempting.
IN the February Cosmopolitan is the con-
ciusion Of the article on "A Brief History
OF our Late War With SPAIN Harold
Frederlc's charming story Gloria Mundr'
enters upon It's third chapter.
Capt Mahan's books are to be translated
into German. and Mittler. the Berlin pub
Usher. IL to Introduce them. Since Ger
many Is bound 10 be a sea power. she NAV
rea!Ize her dreams by the careful study of
Capt, Mahan's works
The Strand and The New illustrated are
two of the best English magazines that
the literary inclined on this side of the At
iantic are privileged 10 read. The topics
In both are always fresh and IL they are
possessed OF historical facts they are writ
ten with truthfuIness
Godey's Magazine for February appears
with a new makeup and various typo
graphical embellishments which give II a
me appearance. It's contents-table con-
tains nine illustrated articles. essays, etc.
seven new stories. and two strong poems
besides the work OF the various DEPART
meats.
There is marked variety In the February
number of The Century. The second part
of DR. Weir Mitchell's new story. "The
Adventures OF Francois" deals with the
experiences OF the hero as thief and a
1uggler, and describes the exciting scenes
attending the outbreak of the French
Revolution.
The plates OF ''Ziska." by Marie CorelH
together with the right 10 publish The
novel in this country. have been secured
by The Frederick A. Stokes Company. ow-
ing TO the failure of its former publishers
A new and cheaper edition of the work will
be issued as soon as possible, as the de-
mand for the book still continues. although
Ii has been out of print for some little time.
John Payne's translation of Omar Khay-
yam Will be read with much interest by
those who may be able 10 read Ii all. for
IL viii appear only as a subscription
volume, issued by the viilon Society
Payne has made a metrical version OF all
the quatrains. some 500 or 900 In number.
nearly three-fourths of which have never
before appeared In English. He has also
attt mpted to preserve the characteristics
of the original as TO rhyme and rhythms.
Mr.. Rider Haggard Is devoted to farming.
He spends the early part OF every day In
wandering around his farm at Ditching-
ham, and does not settle down to writing
until past II o'clock. He dictates his nov
els TO a lady secretary, who types from his
dietaton-taking them down on the type
writer al lightning speed. instead of merely
in shorthand first. The scene of Mr.. Rider
Haggard's new story is Holland, many
centuries ago.
Few that read Caroline Fox's Memories
of Old Friends" published sixteen years
ago. can have forgotten the work. 1t was
n charming book in many ways-for its
simplicity. its freshness fits modesty its
unfaiiing interest. Better glimpses of Car
lyle. Mil and John Sterling have been
given by no one. Miss Fox's knowledge of
them was. IL seems. fully shared by a sis
ter. Anna Maria, three years her senior.
and this sister. born in Isle, has just died.
With the aim of encouraging literary
activity among college graduates. the Cen
fury magazine offers to give, annually,
during four successive years three prizes
OF $50 each. open to the competition OF
persons who receive the degree of Bache-
lor OF Arts in any college or university Of
the United States during the commence
ment seasons of 1897 1855 1899 and 1890 A
circular giving full details concerning the
competition Will be sent by the Century
company. This IS something that the Uni
versity OF Washington students might find
to their advantage.
"Gyp." the famous novelist, possesses
the name OF Gabrielle. Sybille. Marie An
tciuette de NegnettI de Msrabeau. Com
tesse de Martei This lady Il an artist
with the brush as well as the pen, for she
Is able. in about half an hours time 70
produce, without any model. charming
cabinet In oiis-some fancy head usually.
The wonderful earicatures which she can
knock of in about dozen pen or pencil
sketches are world-famous. In private
life she Is said n he a great tease. but so
merry and good tempered that only very
sour natured folk can resent the brilliant
saiies Of her tongue.
The London Publishers Circular knows
a publisher who Is a rara avis. He IS
Young man and he had confidence in n
young author. 10 whom he said; You
devote yourself 10 writing and IN see
that your weekly bits are paid tn the
public pays Us both" That is a rare In
stance of faith, the Circular admits. hut
II shows that the publisher stu does
so nethtng TO encourage genius. As to
issuing books that are not literature.
they mist. make the best OF the material
provided BY authors and relished by
readers But that they az least try 90
exercise Judgment Is proved by The num-
berthe enormous number-of manu-
scripts they decline"
His brain was not an empty conven-
-fcis stored With none but the ue@e~sartes
of devotion: Il was hung round with the
spolls OF paganisr and garlanded with