The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-26

1t is understood that DR.. A. Conan
Doyle's new novel, "A Duet with an Occa-
sional Chorus is to appear in book form
at first. and thus avoid the loss of any OF
Its freshness through serial publication.
Professor William James, of Harvard, be-
lieves that American men and women live
too strenuously, and he has written for
Scribner, in an article called 1.-The Gospel
of Relaxation, a plea for the conservation
OF energy.
s. r. Crockett recently underwent pain
full surgical operation, from which he is
rapidly recovering. His literary labors
seem not to suffer from his illness. for the
number of his serials running in the mag
azincS has been increased from three TO
four which if not record" at least ought
to be.
Jules Verne says that his "Tour of the
World in Eighty Days" has been worth
100000 TO the Paris theaters. He got the
notion on which the book is based in scam
ming newspaper one day. Verne. like
Charles Reade and Sala, relies much on
newspapers, yellow books. reports, and SO
forth, for his subjects, and he Is member
of the learned societies.
The Literary World thinks that il confess
sion is good for the soul in proportion to its
honesty the benefit to Mr.. Ebert Hub
bards must be astonshingly great. He tells
Book News that he wrote Little Journeys
TO the Homes of American Statesmen be-
cause he was out OF a job, and q. Il. Put
MANS Sons, thinking the book would sell,
gave him 81. 40 day TO do the work" The
pleasant audacity of the statement is not
uncharacteristic of it's author.
Some years ago Rev. Mr.. Sheldon, of To-
peka, Kan, made the odd experiment of
writing Il serial socialistc novel called I'm
His Steps," which he delivered in his church
in weekly instruments i'm place of sermons.
1T took and he published 1t in book
form. 1t was rather overlooked in this
country. but now it is meeting with an
extraordinary, If belated, success in Eng
land. There have been seventeen editions,
of which eleven appeared in week. and
secular and religious publishers compete
vigorously, for the book was not copyright
ed in England. 1t is estimated that one
million copies have been sold. The novel
describes the extraordinary effect produced
by few leading men in a Western city,
who simply undertake to follow in the steps
of Christ.
A new terror of the literary life is re-
ported from England. The editor of "A three
penny magazine has forwarded to such men
of letters as he considers eminent or amiable
enough for his purpose pudding basin full
of gelatinous matter with the request tina.
they will have it warmed, press their feet
well into ii and send it back. This pleasing
performance is to the end that the intelii-
gent readers of the three-penny magazine
may be able to consider whether each writ
er has the sort OF foot that would be ex-
pected from perusal of his works or
like that seem likely to be worth reading.
1t is rumored that one man Of letters ia :
vored with this delicate attention sent back
the basin of gelatinouS matter to the editor
with the request that he press his head well
into ii.
Mrs. A. d. I. Whitney, author of Faith
Gartney's Girlhood, 1.-The Gayworthys'
and other books popular a generation ago, is
living in a suburb of Boston. One who has
lately visited her says: Although she is
now little past seventy-five, it is not fiat
terry to say that she looks much younger
than her years. Her blue eye is bright her
hair is not wholly gray, and her figure
though slight, does not lack vigor. In her
widows black, with small and becoming
cap. she has graceful dignity of manner,
which, added TO a certain nervous force,
charms all who meet her. With her son and
his children living next door to her, with
her daughter and her children not so very
tage is, indeed, happy. Her interest in all
the topics of the time-literary, political
and religious-is keener than that of many
woman fifty years her junior. In cOnVerSa-
ton she Is as witty and original as in her
printed works. She is busy now-her many
admirers will be glad to know-on a new
book.
Frank Norris, author of Moran of the
| Lady Betty" and the later much talked OF
''McTeague," was born in Chicago. and, as
| a young boy, he went with his family to live
in San Francisco. Ten years ago, when
| about eighteen, he went to Paris and
| studied for year at Julian's. He gave VI
| the idea of becoming a painter however
and he studied for time at the University
| or California and for one year at Harvard
| entering with the class of '95. 1t was al
| Harvard that he began "McTeague," writ
| ing 1t, oddly enough, as a short theme in
| the composition course conducted by Pro.
| fessor Gates, to whom the book is dedicated
| Two years ago, after his return to Sar
FRANCISCO, and after a period of service Oh
| the Chronicle there, he decided to make q
| book of the sketch Moran of the Lady
| Betty though published first, was writer
| after "McTeague." For q time Mr. Norri.
| served as one of the editors of the Sar
| Francisco Wave. coming to New York about
| year ago at the invitation Of the Double.
day & Mcclure Company to take position
| on their staff.