The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-03

evidence of it's wide popularity next to
the large number sold is the dematl
that it be dramatized, and it is now tleii-
nitely announced that the decentralization
Of When Knightho0d was in Flower
will be produced by Charles Frohman
dining the coming winter with julia
MaIlowe in the role Of Mary Tlle..
Certain it is that Ito one could be found
to better present the w.nSCme, willful
princess of this captivating story than
can Miss Marlowe ard the books host
Of readers already form a vast audience
eager fer tae play. or the heroine, Mary
Tudor. she has said: alters is the only
literary character that | have met with
in all my histliollic career that deserves
a place in Shakespearean repertoire.
The stoi;y is OF the love Of Mary TlIdos..
sister of Henry VIII, for Charles Bl'sG-
den. a conrtier OF the day, and is Il de-
lightful word-Ea.nting Of the life and love
in those adventurous times. Book News
for July SAYS that the script of When
Knighthood was in Flower" was SUBJ
mitted to The PowcrrAIerrill Co. early
in the summer of 1887. The name Sc
lected for the book Tx the author was
Charles Brandon, Duke Of Suffolk.
bllt with the suggestion that the real
title should be Sunday" as most Of It
had been written on Sunday afternoons.
Mr.. Major stated that it had been Of
fered to cme Of the Oldest New York
publishing houses and he had declined To
make the many changes they desired AMI
had requested its return. The Ms. was
first read and passed lmlon favorably by
Mr.. John j. Curtis. the secretary cf
The weD-Melrill Company. who also
had the honor of manning the book
when Knighthocd was III Flower
Not being satisfied with the various
names suggested, Mr. Curtis bagaa To
search for one more romantic which
he at last found in a couplet from
the poem called The Gentle Amour"
by Leigh Hunt. which read as follows:
There lived Il knight. when knighthood
was in fiow'r
Who charln'd alike the tit-yard and
the bower
The selection Of this title was in itself
a happy stroke Of genius as It has un-
doubtedly alllmed many a reader. IGie
poem from which il was taken has been
withdrawn from the later editions o.
Leigh Hunts works and it WAS the mer-
est accident that Mr.. Curtis came across
it in an unexpected copy.
The author thought--the work being
his first bookthat ii was not important
that his name should be disclosed and
that he might safely hide his identity be-
hind nom de plume. II was a capital
notion to choose .4Ifdwin Caskoden'' rs
thc pseudonym. and to make this pur-
ported author the descendant Of ore Of
the leading characters of the story.
or course it was not possible after the
sensation made by Edwin Caskoden's"
hook 10 further conceal the fact that the
author was Mr.. Charles Major.
The book lay in type for more thaa a
year. awaiting what seemed to be to tie
publishers a favorable opportunity. This
came September of last year, and almost
Immediately followed the beginnings Of
that astounding recognition whereof the
tnd is by no means yet In very few
Gays after publication The Times Herald
If Chicago aorded the book a ''leader" re-
view. summing mp its praise in the dec
laration that it is worthy of Anthony
Hope" as romance. Thereafter the
reviews followed thick and fast one
more enthusiastic than the other. and
Iy October 18th. when the second edi-
Ton was called for, the book by an un-
Known, even unnamed, writer was an as
snred success. Two more editions were
allied for in November. three in Deeen-
| her, three in January, two in February
five in March. three in April, three in
May. four in june, and the number has
| Increased month by month.
| Beware of the man who insists npon
J Giving You his word of honor. From IN
/ honest man it is superfluous. and from
a rascal it is worse tban useless.