The age-herald., 1900-02-11

widely read, and 1n many instances con- sidered strong and able work. Trooper Peter Halket'' was perhaps her earliest published expression of her intense feeling on the situation in South Africa Her lat est expression upon South African matters is the pamphlet giving ''an English wom- ans" views of the crisis. This is an elo- quent appeal rather than a logical state- ment However, her work has been coldly received in England, and in English South Africa. Her opinions from an English standpoint are repudiated on the ground of her German origin and of her Dutch traditions and associations. It Is stated that at the time she wrote HThe Story of an African Farm" she was living as a governess in Boer family. Mrs. schrelner is an exceptionally strong and forceful writer, though the pervasive bitterness of her pen destroys much of the good she might otherwise accomplish Just like man, recent critic seeks to account for Mrs. Schre.ner's implacable hatred of Mir. Cecil Rhodes, by affirming an earlier cher ished infa atuation for the arch woman hater.
 Nothing since "The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table," the publishers say, has had so marked an effect on the circula- tion of the "Atlantic" as Miss Mary John ston's new story. '@To Have and To Hold" The story has been running as a serial in the Atlantic, and 1t is said nearly doubled the sales of the magazine. Possibly this will account for the rumors to the effect that the publishers made Miss Johnston Christmas present of $1 900 This already popular work will be published in book form the middle of this month, and will be illustrated by Howard Pyle and his pupils. The dramatic possibilities of mod ern successful books are soon discovered, and word comes that "To Have and To Hold' will soon be placed upon the stage.
 The first half of NJ. sienloiewiczs new historical romance, "The Knights of the Cross." has just been published in this country. The work has been running as a serial in Poland, and takes us back to the atmosphere of his old time works. with Fire and Sword" ''The Deluge,' and Pan Michael" At the age of 22. after Sien- kiewicz had left the University of War saw, he began a gypsy life, which led him to every ccrner of Poland. To this period of his career, it is said, he owes the won derful knowledge of his native land which is So striking a feature of his historical novels. From Poland he drifted to Russia, at one time editing a newspaper in St. Petersburg. His new novel will come to us through the usual medium of Jeremiah Curtins translation.
 There has recently been quite discus sion going on in the New York papers in regard to the "uncut edges of books. In fact the discussion has resolved itself into a protest Not only-the majority of read CTS. but nine-tenths of the trade are in favor of doing away with this clumsy inn itation of the English" One dealer, with an experience of over thirty-five years, says that it mars the stability of books, and adds that it is a nuisance to the read- CT to try to enjoy a siesta with some popu- lar author, and be under the necessity of having to stop every five minutes to cut edges. The discussion and demand seems to come mainly from booksellers and mas culine readers. I have an idea that if the feminine readers were heard from, they would most likely admit an indescribable charm and subtle witchery found in the uncut leaves.
 Did you ever form vivid mental im- age of an author whilA reading the wo-K, and then discover the personality of the author to be totally the reverse of your coneer4on? What a real shock it is! The first time I saw Mary Cholmondeley'' in print, the oddty of the name caught my attention and fancy at once. The impress sion did not stop here, for when I read her book, Red Pottage,' I unconsciously for mulated in my mind a picture of her. fancied her young, ambitious, clever, but a woman w5th an exceedingly attractive per- sonality. Clever she may be, but it was quite a shock to see her picture and find her neither young nor attractive looking;
 
 ing I would like to profound one question to these people who seem to know every thing. Why is it that so many women writers, and especially English women, seem to think it necessary to be mannish simply because they happen to have pub lished book or two? Has the literary ef- fort had this detrimental effect upon the mortality; or, do they think it adds value in the estimination of a critical public to be masculine in appearance? Somehow this does not seem extraordinary when the women are authors of the so-called "pu.- pose novels and books which harass a kindly disposed public by their restless opinions and views upon a variety of sex questions.
 Fortunately, though, we do have num- Der of women writers who, notwithstand- ing the fact that they write forcible, clever books, ever remain modest and womaniy women.
 It is matter of self congra tulation that this Is particularly and most emphatically true of our southern women writers. No matter how long the list of work finished and published, nor how prominent they may be upon lecture platforms, they ever remain true. to their hereditary ideas of r:opriety, and are ever modest and wom- anly. PAUL PRY.