The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-01

with an eagerness and Hberality almost
unequaled. They knew, ne said,-no peo-
pie better-what kind of books they liked:
and the kind they liked were apt TO be
a kind well worth liking, and what they
liked they were quick 20 buy. DR.. Conan
Doyle, who introduced Anthony Hope on
the occasion, also spoke, with no less en-
thusasm, to the same purpose. The COM
pany they addressed was composed
largely of authors and publishers. No one
dissented. Whatever some may have Sc
cretly thought of the American literary
appetite in some of it's qualities. all pres
ent, am sure, agreed that it was beauti-
full in it's capaciousness, and that to have
settled share in the feeding of it would
be just nuts"
A further proof Of the clearing sense
of our excellence as a literary market is
had in the novel way in which the Amer
lean copyright of DR.. Alfred Wa,lace's
forthcoming book, '9The Wonderful Cent
ury." was disposed of a few days ago
DR.. Wallace, with all his contributions to
science and scientific literature, is not, I
should say, a great name commercially,
nor book by him, or any one treating
OF the scientific, social and industrial
achievements of the century anything like
a sure winner" Nevertheless there has
rights of DR.. Wallace's book; and the Eng
lish publishers, seeing their opportunity.
hit upon the device-a device never en-
ployed before in disposing of wares of this
kind-of an auction, with an upset price
of $500. That is to ssy, those who wanted
the American rights Of the book were COM
PEELED into public bidding against each
other, and the starting bid had to be
above $500
II the American writer's could do what
some other American producers have done
get the American market exclusively in
TO their own hands-they would have
what, in the rude speech of trade, is
known as a "cinch."
The rapidly lengthening list of histori-
cal romances is to receive two important
additions this spring. William O'Brien
the Irish Journalist and politician has
written a novel dealing with Cromwell's
war in Ireland. With such an inaaming
theme Mr.. O'Brien, Of course, could not
fail to produce a most stirring and spirited
story. HIS book is full of heroic incident
and fervid patriotism, and will keep read
ers awake o nights without any trouble.
The other book is by Joseph Hooking. He
has published several other stories in
England. but as yet is not so very we'll
known there, and is scarcely known at
all over here. Mistress Nancy NIoles-
worth" the forthcoming story. however
is likely to bring him into as general rep
utation as Conan Doyle Anthony Hope
and Stanley j. Weyman, for it is really
one of the most interesting of it's kind, be-
ing attractive In its characters and most
thrilling in its incidents. The scene is
laid in England, in the time of Charles
II, the same period lately covered by An
thony Hope in his novel, 'tSimon Dale"
Hezekiah Butterworth has Just return
ed from a second visit to South America
to collect material for a book on South
America, on which he is engaged. This
is no new interest with Mr.. Butterworth
Though he is best known to the general
reading public as a writer of stories he
has long been pursuing special researches
in Spanish and French colonial history.
Stephen Crane, who continues 10 be iden
tilted as the author of Red Badge of
Courage" though following that he has
produced several books that have had no
less success, went 10 Europe at the time
of the Graeco-Turk!sh war and served. as
correspondent in the field for several i'm
portant journals. After the war. he went
to London, and there he had lately begun
work on q new novel, and apparently es-
tablished himself for a considerable time
to come But, like Richard Harding Davis /
he could not resist prospect of new war
experiences, and, to the SUI prise Of all his |
friends here. on the very day the Amerl |
can fleet sailed from Key West toward |
Cuba, he landed in New York BY The ear
lest train. he plunged on southwark. rot
in the execution of a commission to see
whatever important war events befel and
give his pen its own peculiar play upon |
them, in behalf of the New York World
the London Chronfcle, and Blackwood,s |
Magazine.
l talked with Mr.. Crane while he swal-
lowed the cup of coffee which was about
the only retardaticn he allowed himself in |
his swift passage through New York II |
was only a few moments; but at was lone
enough for him 10 prove himself immense |
ly picturesque aud entertaining on the al |
titude~sf the English toward America in |
the present embodiment They're with ms /
all right enough said he; "and they know,
we can do the task without any trouble.
but what they can not understand IS wbv |
we have not done it months age, and WHY