The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-30
LITERARY NOTES.

y letter from Harriet Stark to her publishers
casts some light upon the origin OF the odd,
unusual plot Of THE Bacillus OF Beauty"
Three years ago. she writes, Il spent a day
with Prof. II. W. Conn, Of Wesleyan university,
who applying bacillus culture methods to
butter making. lie was educating cream by
indoctrinating it with microbes OF ferment from
older, better cream | could see with my own
eyes in his tcsttubes the little clusters of spores
which not only fastened ripening but made the
new cream richer than it would have been il
left TO nature. OF course bacillus culture is Il
dairy commonplace now, and drumn,ers hawk
rival butter germs all over the country; but the
idea was newer then, and it made upon me
deep impression. That night took way train
from Mid lletown to Hartford At one station.
niuway, Il group OF factory girls came aboard.
Nearly very pretty; their bright eyes,
their merry chatter made everybody in the car
more cheerful. The very lamps burned more
smilingly. The strange alchemy had seen. the
beauty before me--was it any wonder that the
idea flashed upon me: :What ii there We're
Bacillus of Beauty! Would not all the world be
at the feet OF its discovercr? What would hap.
pen to his first cent?' Forthwith I resolved
that there should be, in fiction at least, one
perfectly beautiful woman, one creature so radi-
antly lovely, so glowing with health and happi.
ness and color, so rare in face and unapproachci
in form, that all should marvel at her. And
whether the slow train stopped or craw'cd
ahead thereafter, failed to notice. My thoughts,
had begun to weave the story of Helen Win.
ship"
Many thousands of copies Of strange book
entitled "Yutzo" have been Sold partly because
of the unusual details of the manufacture of the
and partly because of the excellence OF
the aphorisms contained in it, 1t is roughly
bound in sackcloth, is printed on tobacco wrap
ping wrapper in brown ink, and is made to look
as old in appearance as possible. The author
of "Yutzo'' is Lord Gilhooley, otherwise known
as Frederick H. Seymour of Detroit, AM he
has just prepared companion to "Yutzo" enti-
t.... ''Ye Wisdom oI Confucius, or ie Mummy.
iyed Fynger," by Lord Glhooley The hook con-
sists OF an Introductory story OF "Yc Mummy
fyed Fynger," followed by large number Of
naNinls of Conrucius as interpreted by his dis.
ciple. Like Yntzo" the book is printed on
tobacco paper, but the ink used is Chinese
red, and the cover is Of bright red duck printed
in gold. 1t is ornamented with Chinese churac.
tiers Will, dragons, etc, and has decidedly
Chinese and rather remarkable appearance.
honors in the field Of fiction, says the Pocket
Magazine. His novel iour Uncle Lew has hecn
accepted for publication in book form early in
1901 by New York house. The scenes are
placed in and about Syracuse, and the various
.roteslue incidents that occurred at the time
OF lhc great 'aIuiH bi"'i iiauu aIc alhHsiHgiy
treated. The hero !, one Lewis Dunbar whose
designation Of himself is used in the title, and
who is the source Of much quaint and honlely
philosophy. The book was written before "Davd
IIarum" and this fact is well attcsted by per-
sons interested in the late Mr. Wescott who
was wcll-known to the author OF Your Uncle
Lew" and at whose suggestion, In fact, Mr.,
sherlock's book was written,
The Outlook was the first Of the weekly papers
TO publish, not long before Christmas, an illus
literature, This year, in its twelfth annual book
number, it furnishes a group of carcfnlly'written
articles on the really important books OF the
present season and particularly In the depart.
mcnts OF art, biography and fiction. Many nor
traits OF contcnporaneous authors add 10 the
interest OF this group of articles. 4 quaint
picture of an old.time book lover serves as
cover design.
Mrs. stephen Crane has received letter from
Rudyard kipling stating that he has read
wounds in the RAIN with admiration" This
work OF stephen Crane has been more favorably
received than anything written by him since
The Red Badge of Courage" with which Il has
been fayorably compared by many reviewers Its
sales have required four editions to be put on
the press in the short time since its publication
Frank 4. Bullen has dedicated his new work.
"The Men OF the Merchant Service" $50 Rudy.
ard kipling in grateful recognition OF both his
wonderful genius and his great kindness to the
author"
WI Ting Fang, Chinese minister at Washington
is made the subject OF timely and interest
ing charaeterskeeh in the December number
q The Worlds Work.