The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25
LITERARY NOTES.

Mr.. w E. Henley does not long work in
peace. He has only just recovered from a
severe illness, and has promptly hurt his
right hand so badly that for some months
he will be unable to write.
The December Century is out of print, ex-
cept for such copies as are now on the deal
ers counters. No more can be supplied. as
the colored covers were printed in France
and a new edition cannot be had in time to
be available.
Mr.. Maurice Thompson has said that lit
erary style is that characteristic flavor and
fragrance of individuality coming through a
writer's thought and dfction and affecting
the reader as if by personal contact with the
author himself, all of which is very good
saying to commit to memory.
w. D. Howells whose socialistic leanings
grow more pronounced from year to year,
approves of Professor Wyckoffs studies of
the unemployed poor, but thinks that even
more benefit might result from a con-
scientious study of the life. habits and men,
tai condition of the unemployed rich
Mr. Edward Bennett, in the Century,
writes thus of Jane Austen: ITO Jane Aus
ten the fuss that was made about her writ
ings seemed trife absurd. She said, with
beautiful modesty: They cost me so little
When strange lady asked to be introduced
to her, she declared, testify: If / am a wild
beast, / cannot help it, it is not INV fault
Like every true artist, Jane Austen wrote
simply because she could not help herself.
Bjornson,- as described by Mrs. Hanson,
in her volume, I'VE Women and Our Au-
thors,' shows an amiable vanity. ''You
see" said he, exhibiting the silk lining of
his oVercOat, Il am fond of fine clothes.
When L get new suit from the tailor
spend half the day in front of the looking
glass; but for all that l never for a single
instant forget the great work of civilization
10 which we must devote our whole energy
How far Zola's action in the Dreyfus af-
fair affected his popularity in France as
writer is to be tested Immediately by Fas-
quelle the Paris publisher, who announces
that he is bringing out a special edition of
La Fete CoqueVille," one of the realiSt's
earliest works. When lola left Paris it was
not expected that any issue of his books
new or old, would be made until the Drey-
fus affair was finally settled but the recent
change in sentiment in favor of the prisoner
of DEVILS island prompted FaSQuelle to
make the experiment.
The other day, says a London paper,
well-known literary man went up to the
nursery of friends children at Brighton.
The sound OF his steps on the stairs was
hailed with a shrek of delight, and the
children tumbed over each other in their
eagernesS to meet him. Then they stopped
short in dismay. Whats the matter?" he
asked. 1--WE fought it was Mr.. Kipling"
said the youngest, with tears in her voice.
1t appeared that Mr. Kipling was in the
habit of telling them stories and they
> 81
Mr.. Kipling is very sympathetic with child
hood and is often to be found romping with
his own children.
Mr.. Andrew Lang writes in the December
Longman's Magazine: II have counted more
than fifty new novels in the advertisements
of the last number of the Athenaeum. Five
or six are by authors of known reputation.
Many of the others are by writer's with
names unknown to me, who yet appear as
authors of this or that and the other They
must have had some encouragement or must
lie? The underwriting profession is the
most overcrowded of all, and the critics
heart is broken by the swelling multitude of
printed tales which are all so very like each
other, and so very remote from what senSi-
Bile people could read for pleasure" 1t is
said that Mr.. Lang is himself about to pub
lish novel;
The London Mail says: DIR. Conan Doyle
is very good public speaker, but always
prepares his speech carefully beforehand. In
this respect he resembles another dis
night before he is to speak his speech "sits
heavy on his midriff at about in the morn
ing" Mr.. Anthony Hope can speak charm
ingly at a moments notice, Mr.. J. X.
Jerome laboriously prepares his speeches.
and has a bad delivery. Mrs. f. A. Steel
speaks well and wittily; Annie Swan speaks
Wen. Mrs. Humphry Ward avoids public
speaking as much as possible; Mrs. Hodgson
Burnett speaks like a schoolgirl reciting
poem; Miss Morelli, although an eloquent
converSatiOnaliSt, never speaks in public.
Mr.. PETIT Ridge is rapidly training as
speaker; Mr.. Savage Lander is painfully
nervous. The best speaker among the
younger generation of authors is Mr. Allen
Upward, who is a proficient in all the arts
Of oratory."