The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-10
LITERARY NOTES.

The services OF Mr. Walter Page,
| son of the late A. Frank Page of this
| city, have been engaged by the Mcclure
| Company to edit an encyclopaedia
| which it is proposed to publish within
| the next few years.
1t win be remembered that it was re-
| ported some months ago that a con-
solidation Of Harper 4 Brothers and
Doubleday & Mcclure had been practi-
cally completed. 1t was found, how
ever, when the time came to put the
suggested consolidation into effect that
the lines of publication OF the respective
companies differed, so widely that the
plan was impracticable. 1t was aban-
doned with the consent of Mr.. Mcclure
as soon rs several members of Harper
Il Brothers, who were not Within reach
at the time of the negotiations, returned
! to tile city.
From Mr.. S. S. Mcclure the following
statement in regard to the consolidation
has been made:
The agreement made last summer
looking toward an alliance was a con-
ditional one, and left many plans open
for later arrangement. Mr.. Mcclure
and his associates found it impossible to
adjust some Of the questions LETT "Opens
by the preliminary arrangements and
withdrew a week ago. 1t is needless TO
say that this action is the result Of the
mutual and friendly conclusion Of both
parties. There was cordial and
friendly spirit existing between the par
ties to the agreement, and there has
been no change in their friendly rela-
tons
Mr.. Mcclure and his associates will
carry out the plans for an encyclopedia
and other enterprises which Mr.. Nc
CluTe had hoped 10 undertake in con-
nection with Harper & Brothers. The
plan for the encyclopedia was entered
upon by Mr.. Mcclure some months be-
fore the Harper negotiations arose. and
when Mr.. Mcclure withdrew from Har-
per & Brothers, Mr. Page. who had
been secured by Mr. Mcclure to edit
the encyclopedia, joined the s. s. Nc
Chre Company, and will carry on the
development Of the encyclopedia. =
Two new volumes have receDtly been
added to the attractive series of Beacon
Biographies published by Messrs. SnIa4.,
Maynard & Co, of Boston. They are
John Brown" by Joseph Edgar Cham
berlain, and Aaron Burr" by Henry
0hilds Merwin. Planned for the busy gem
cral reader, rather than for the student.
they present succinetly the essential and
salient facts in the lives of the promi-
ment men ito whom they are devoted, and,
as the general reader is very numerous
parsonage in this community, we expect
that they Will have a large audience. In
addition to their scholarly value, the lit
tie volumes are handsome to behold, and
worthy of inclusion in amy library, To
render still more accessible the informa
ton they contain, the volumes are pro
vided with chronoIogies and blD-
Biographies.
Mrs. Burett's new novel "rhe De
Willoughby Claim promises to have u
great success, the first edition having
been over sold before publication. If SO
it will not be the first of her books to
reach in sales the hundred thousand
mark, at least two OF her novels having
lion copies having been sold of Little
Lord Fauntleroy"
Mr. John Hendricks Bangs becomes
editor of Halper's Weekly under the
new regime lie has been it's best con-
tributor for long time and now that
he is at the helm, we may look 10 see
further improvement.
Mrs Margaret Busbee Shipp had
charming story in last Sundays Char
lotte Observer. she writes well and
some Of the best magazines have been
glad to receive her contributions.