The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-17
IN THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.

In one OF his letters to Henry James. pub
lished In the July number of Scribner's Rob-
er, Louis stevenson touches on the question
OF the technique OF literary art. and says:
Seriously, from the dearth of interest In
the art OF literature. those who try to prac-
tice II with any deliberate purpose run the
risk OF finding no ut audience. People sup.
pose 1t is the stuff that interests them; they
think for instance that the prodigious fine
thoughts and sentiments In Shakespeare i'm
rfess by thei. own weight, not understanding
that the unpublished diamond Ia but a ston..
They think that striking situations for good
dialogue are got by studying life; they viii
ro' rse TO understand that they are prepared
by deliberate artihce ana set OF by painful
suIpressions. Now. l want the whole thing
well ventilated, for my own education all i
the pubiic's. and beg you TO look as quick
az you can to follow me up with every circuni-
stance Of defeat where we differ and 10 pre-
vent the iouting OF the lalty) TO emphasize
the points where we agree
Elsewhere in this letter Stevenson says.
Each man among us prefers his own aim,
OF performance recognize myself, compared
with you, TO be lout and SLOUGH of the first
water"
How to Win at Poker Is by a Denver
author. Garrett Brown. illustrated by Garrett
Brown. Jr. The author studies the waiy
payer, the lucky player. the foolish player,
in very drol fashion; defines poker, its proba-
bilties and peculiarities; gives hints oil
dealing and discusses technical terms, all in
the most humorous and fetching manner. He
remarks that Jack pots are usually opened
with money and chips, but are In some iii
stances closed with chairs, pistols and razors.
The chapter on THE Ladies' Came though
written in a light vein, carries with 1t a les
son. and those who care to read between the
tlprpin n he -
Ing influence OF the game on the colored
brother is considered. But the idea will strike
the way to win is to quit playing" as Uncle
Rastus said.
The Lippincott house announces new sdi-
ton Of DR., C. w. Doyle's 1.-THE Tanning Of the
Jungle" justly styled the most notable new
book of the hour" Though Klpllngesque-
for who OF those that know india could write
OF her without becoming Kiplngesque Tho
Tanning o the Jungle" is new In subject AMI
study of the people of the jungle
rather than OF the animals Few of this sea
son 8 books have met with such instant and
wipe appreciation. II is indeed the latest
81 eat literary success.
Following Heart and Sword, the July
number of tho Lippincott series of select
novels Is Nigel Ferrurd," novel in all way
beyond the average-ln some, of exceptionally |
hlEh order. Few plots are more carefully
elaborated, while the setting and dramatis
personae are altogether unusual. Nigel Fer
fard' VIII be q great relief from the general |
run of summer reading.
\
THE Ambassador" the brilliant play by |
John oliver Hobbies, that was published in
book form last November. has been purchased
by Daniel Frohman OF the Lyceum theater. |
New York. and it will probably be produce |
this fall. 1t Is a most sparkling work, a- |
though the plot is slight and it had great
iucces0 in London, where 1t was played 10, |
some months. 1t Is reasonable to predict A |
ike success in this country.
~
d. Appleton & Co. New York. have issued |
! very interesting volume entitled Imperial
Democracy" II contains eight addresses bear
rG on the policy of the United states. especi-
lily concerning the war with Spain aud its |
esults. The first address Lest We Forget
vas delivered before the Leland Stanford
ns 9'n nnS Mans a
Colonial Lessons of Alaska Lessons OF
be r P, Tribunal Go THd city,
iHvid starr Jordan. president of Leland
stanford. Jr.. University and are mainly IA
avor Of Imperialism and a colonial policy
'n the part Of this government.
4 ~
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly for Au-
gan oh the result Of the last five years of |
legislation AGAINST drunkenness. Two very
conclusions may be drawn from
he authors statistics: first. that the fewer
he places where liquor Is sold the larger the
consumption OF lauor; and second that the
arger the consumption OF liquor the less the
Drunkenness.
~
THE Kingdom of Hate" by T. Gallon. has
seen received from d. Appleton a Co, New
York. Mr., Gallon has proved his imaginative
luality in his previous books, but THE King
lom OF Hate" shows more Ylvidly than tile
lthers the arresting aGect Of imagination,
but controlled. which Eliminates
he dramatic possibilities Of modern life, This
icwer, which Stevenson and Hope have Illus
rated In different ways. is shared by Mr..
Salon whose new novel is absorbing without
esort to cheap sensationalism. sinsularlv
thrins and effective without descent into
molodrama. and sympathetic without senu-
~
Tho success OF tho The Market Place"
Harold Fredoric's last work. has proved very
gratifying TO his publishers 1t has been
published but n brief time, but is In It's third
arge edition. and by the time these pages
each their readers 1t will probably have ap-
preached the 10000 mark.