The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-17

that youthful readers will be repealed from
the adventures of Jim Hawkins and Daniel
Balfour even by the depressing influence of
Strange to say, the works of the last Pro-
lessor Drumnond are having a great sue
cess in Germany. 1.-THE Greatest Thing in
the World" has sold to the extent Of over
11S,000.
Mr.. Paul Lawrence Dunbar is now at
work on his novel, THE Uncalled' which
is said to be the first book of the kind ever
written by member of the colored race.
The book will probably appear in the au-
1umn, and all the characters are to be ne
groeS
Ihat stevenson as a young man "aped
good deal of eccentricity. which set people
against him. is the statement of a writer
in the Scots Pictorial. He adds that To-
quacity was failing with the novelist-that
he talked perpetually. was impulsive and al
most Historically excitable.
AS to the meaning of the word edition"
that usually depends upon the character of
the work and of the publisher. One thou
sand copies is usually included in one ''edi-
ton or reprint of the cloth-bound novel.
Thus, when it is announced that Mr.. Davis S
Soldiers of Fortune is in its ffty-hfth
edition, it probably means that very nearly
5000 copies Of that fascinating book have
been sold.
Says the New York Times: Robert Her
rick, the author of The Gospel of Free
DOM should not be COMPOUNDED with that
eminent divine and very excellent English
poet, Robert Herrick, who little over two
centuries ago passed on to fame and to the
silent majority. Some of the elder Herrlck
poems are very good verse; they stick IN
ones memory and it is quite natural to be-
leve their author very much alive. But
Robert Herrick, the novelist and essayist,
is a totally different person. He is grad
uate of Harvard and at present is a profess
SOr IN Chicago UnlV6rSltV-VGrY American,
in fact"
In a recent address at Oxford on literary
style Frederic Harrison said: Read Swift,
Defoe, Goldsmith, if you care to know what
is pure English. 1 need hardly tell you to
read another and greater book. The book
which begot English prose still remains its
supreme type. The English Bible is the
true' school of English literature. 1t pos
SeSseS every quality of our language in Its
highest form-except for scientific precision,
practical affairs and philosophical analysis
1t would be ridiculous to write an essay
on metaphysics, political article or novel
in the language of the Bible. Indeed, it
would be ridiculous to write anything at
all in the language of the Bible. But if
you care to know the best that our litera-
ture can give in simple. noble prose, mark,
learn and inward1y digest the Holy Scrip
lures in the English tongue"
A New York writer says: "a divorce suit
always makes complications more or less
unpleasant. Mrs. Burnett's threatens a
misunderstanding with her publishers, 1
hear. Frances Hodgson is an unknown
quantity to the reading public Mrs. Bur-
nett is known everywhere. Now it appears
that the name Burnett is as hateful to the
recent divorce was the man who gave
1t to her. She proposes to be known here
after as Mrs. Frances Hodgson. This may
De all very well in private life, but in bust
ness the name of Burnett is a very valuable
trademark, and Mrs. Hodgson's publishers
Will hardly consent to publish her books
without it. Mrs Burnett-Hodgson will find
a railing off in the market for her wares if
she persists in putting aside entirely her re-
cent husbands name. No publisher would
pay Mr. Clemens's price for a book unless
ne were at liberty to advertise it as by
Mark Twain; and Bret Harte' and An
thony Hope are names which command a
high premium on the intrinsic value of the
work to which they are subscribed"
An article on subscription books in a re-
cent number Of the Springfield Republican
contained this statement: you know, of
course. how the Harpers went wrong on
'Ben-Hur.' Wallace offered the whole thing
to them for $500 If they would take it; they
refused, and he told them to get it out at
his expense. The first year they paid him
SIS 900 in profits" To this the Harper
Brothers make the following reply: "INhe
statement is interesting, but it is not cor
rect While your writer seems to have
some appreciative idea of the great success
OF General Wallace's 'Ben-Hur,' he hardly
gives US credit for ordinary business sa-
gacity when he says that we refused Gen.
w alace's oner to sell the work for $500.
The fact is, General Wallace's work was
submitted to US in the usual way, was con-
sidered by US and promptly accepted with
author and ourselves. We are proud to he
the publishers of a work which has been
SO profitable to its author and publishers,
and which fills so creditable place in
American Htera ture.'