Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-06-21
CURRENT LITERATURE,

i
Richard Harding Davis will have in
the August number Of Scribner's
Magazine n most important article on
the situation IN South Africa, entitled
Pretoria in War Time" and contain
ing an Interesting interview which
Mr.. Davis had with Kruger. This
Mr.. Davis has written for Scrihner's
Magazine since he went to the Trans
yaal in January. The first Of his
articles appears in the June Scribner,
and tells Of the lighting of Buffers
column, while the second article,
which will appear in the July number,
will give an account of the relief of
l.adysmith, and the scenes and con-
ditions' that existed in the long
besieged city. These articles, which
are illustrated from photographs, show
Mr.. Davis at his best, ard as readers
have known him in his correspondence
from Cuba during the Spanish
American war. Mr.. Davis war articles
have been characterized as unique in
war correspondence, an estimate that
seems no more than Just, for certainly
no other writer brings US so near the
actual scenes. lie SECS In war some
thing more than strategy. and in the
army something more than fighting
machine. He sees the human aspect
OF it all, and notes with unfailing
l fidelity the varied humorous, pathetic
and dramatic touches which make US
| feel what war really means to the in
| dividual. He sees many things, too,
| that others less observing fail to catch,
| and his correspondence therefore, has
the freshness Of new reading even TO
| those who are already familiar with
the main incidents of the war.
Miss Cholmondeley, tho author Of
"Red Pottaee,'' has throughout her
literary career carefully avoided all
newspaper publicity, and only in
answer to inquiry has she consented
TO reply 10 the charges of a number Of
English papers, that in her portrayal
of the Rev Mr.. Gresley she has made
an Enthusiastically libellons attack on the
High Church clergy. Writing to Mr..
j. e. Holder Williams, Miss Chol
mondeley says; have attempted,
after years of patient observation, moi
party in the church amcng whom
count some of my best friends, but tt
create a character as individual as
hope Captain Pratt is individual, yet
no captain in the Guards, 80 far as
am aware, thinks that / am attacking
the army, or even their department O
it, when I describe Captain Pratt, who
is worse man than MIR. Gresley. Tht
whole point of Mr. GIesley's character
appears to me to be missed If he il
regarded as an accusation of q class o
as anything except what he is, namely
a man with d closed mind.
On the whole, Miss Cholmondeley'
Ioint is we'll taken, and if The crit
cisms of the American press may b.
, taken as evidence, the character Of tn
i Rev. Mr.. Gresley has been bette
, understood and more lSeenly appre
i ciated in this country than on th
other side-which, after all, is no
Nj. Robert W, Chambers recsn
/. novel, 1.-THE Conspirators, whic
3 many Of the critics have found faul
with on account Of the authors DARN
4 introduction of two no less parsonage
i than the Kaiser and Queen Wilhel
Z mipa, is, despite criticism, meetin
r with notable success. Although pub
: lished scarcely five weeks ago, it ha
h already gone through i've editions, nm
i il seems probable that it will prove th
/ most popular Of the authors many sue
Z cessful boolke.
!. A new volume Of short stories an
v ESSAYS nv Mark Twain, entitled eth
Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg," wi
be published by the HarpeTs thi
month. In addition to the story frol
is which the book has taken Its title ii
k new volume contains My Debut as
Literary Person. Stirring Times