The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-11

they can hardly fail, think to be read
with great interest.
There has been appearing lately in a
number of the leading newspapers OF
the country a novel entitled Arms and
the Woman that has attracted a good
deal OF attention aud induced consider
able inquiry regarding the author 1t is
a lively romantic tale of the present day
that introduces the reader 10 a company
of quite attractive people, and carries him
through a rare round of engaging and Of
ten thrilling incidents, ana the name of
The author Of it is Harold McGrath. 1t is
his first novel. but not his first writing.
For some years he has been on the staff
of the Syracuse Herald, contributing espe-
cially TO il a regular column of humorous
matter, and he has contributed more or
less-especially of humorous verse-to
other publications, among them the Cen
fury magazine. His success with his first
venture in novel writing has encour-
aged him to continue. and he has
already two other novels well under
way, the one nearest completion being
story of the revolution, which he expects
to call THE Swash-BucRlers" His news
paper position is exacting, as newspaper
positions are apt to be. and for the writ
ing of verses and stories he has only such
time as he can catch. But ample energy
and fair facility make amends with him,
as with so many other authors, for scant
opportunity. He is a young man-not
above 30 years of age-and shows In his
speech and address the same preference
for what is cheerful and pleasing that ap-
pears In his writings. lie is an addition
to that school that may be said to have
come into existence among us only with
primarily for the publics present enter
tainment, and without any special lust
to verify literary principles and produce
immortal masterpieces. There have long
been distinct groups of such writer's In
England and France; there have almost
always been instances Of them In this
country, but until quite lately the number
of them here has always remained few at
any given time, because Of the ingenious
disposition to regard literary employments
as a devotion rather than simply as bust
ness. There is plenty or opportunity for
discussion as to whether the recent weak
ening of this disposition is In the main a
gain or a loss. 1t is not my function to
so into that; my office ends with simply
noting the change.
1t isn't long since noted that Herbert
r. Hamblen had finished a boys story
for publication this fall He has now lust
finished another but it will not be brought
out for more than a year. And this. nv
the way, is very good illustration of .he
long intervals that the necessities of the
trade" are, in these days, apt to impose
between the completion of a manuscript
and its publication. To wait a year or
even two years for the qualification of see
ing his production in print is no uncom-
mon experience with an author NOWADAYS
no ~ ba
the greatest readiness. / know of one
instance in which one OF the best novels
of a well-known and very popular writer
lay in the publishers safe, accepted and
the author paid for it, all of four Years
before il was published.
Returning TO Mr.. Hamblen. He has al
lowed me to look over the manuscript OF
his new story. and can say for il that
it is as full of striking incident as any
"Scotty," a Scotch lad who comes 10
America at 10, and soon becomes a mem
Der of the volunteer fire department. ANY
one can see what an opportunity this
would become In the hands of a man like
Hamblen, who knows all about engines
of all kinds and has himself had more
strange adventures with them, than any
other ten men.
the variety of comment called out by
Conan Doyle's strange Chat is, strange
for HIM new novel, "a Duet" In it he
turned sharply away from his former
aims and manner and gave us a realistic.
a semi-realistic, novel, of present-day life
written with a confessed purpose; and the
Judgments on the performance range from
the curtest, most unreserved disapproval
to admiration wrought out with all the
40. It'll
final result will be, IL is SIM too early 10
say; but l suspect that, on the whole. the
book will prove to be not very successful
1t was a pretty bold venture; in making
it, DR.. Doyle sacrificed an assurance Ia
an uncertainty. Writing in his wonted
manner he never lacks for profitable aud
fence now. His readiness to run the risk
of turning il away is the more remarla BILE
in view of the fact that he labored many
a long year to get it. Speaking of his
early struggles, he once said
Il have heard folk talk as though there
were some hidden back door by which enc
may creep into literature, but / can saw
/ myself that l never had an introduction
! to any editor or publisher before doiue
business with them. and that L do not
/ think that I suffered on that account Yet
! my apprenticeship was a long and TRYING
/ one. During ten years of hard work /
: dNCIdAtQ ttSS IMAM ltN Il year from nav
/ pen. l won my way into the best Jour
nails Cornhill. Temple Bar, and so on;
! but what is the use of that when the con-
/ tributions to these journals must be anon
/ ymous2 II is system which tells very
| hardly against young authors saw
with astonishment and pride that 'Ha-
| bakkuk Jepson's Statement in the Corn
| hill was attributed by critic after critic
| to Stevenson; but, overwhelmed as l was
| by the compliment a word Of the most
! lukewarm praise sent straight to my own
| address would have been of greater use
| to me. After ten years of such work
was as unknown as If had never dipped
| a pen in an ink bottle" =. c. Martin.
Then your papa has met with re-
| verses, has he ?" Il think SO. As soon
! as | told him l was bent on going to the
| seaside, he said he WAS in straitened cir
! cumstances. Chicago Tribune
"A man with a good voice went to
obllge kirk social the other evening. and
the ruling elder who introduced him
| equivocally referred TO the artist as an