The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-01-13

The records in the Scranton public
library for the year 1899 show that
there was an exceedingly large demand
for the prominent books of fiction
which made their appearance during
the year. Among them all. however,
Of the ten which would probably rank
highest. David Harum" stands cas-
lily first.
This story Of the homelv, honest,
hard. headed New York state
banker. as written by edward Noyes
Westcott. seemed to take the fancy
Of the Scranton boOk-"eadirg pubic
and throughout the entire year there
was never time when the book was
lying idle on the shelves.
Next to this In popularity comes
"Richard Carvcl," which emanated
from the fertile brain Of Winston
Churchill. The book bore a strong re-
semb.ance. in narration and thought.
70 Hugh Wynne." by s. Weir Nit
chell. and touching as it did on the
Revolutionary days Of this country.
stirred up patriotic feeling and by
introducing its readers to John Paul
Jones, Fox. Burke and other histor'
ical celebrities, proved as instructins
o. interesting.
"when Knighthood Was in Flower
that pretty love story Of the time OF
the Tudors. by Edwin Caskoden.
proved of rare value and would prob"
ably rank third in popularity. Forest
Lovers" by Maurice Hewlett, and
"Aylwin," by Theodore Watts Dunton'
both English productions. were con-
,r No N-..t n
in England, and in this country also
had vast circulation. Forest Low
ers'' proved the more popular In
Scranton.
AN ENGLISH STORY.
mo. 5, John Street" by Richard
Whiteing, was another imported book
from England, which, with its stories
OF the dark and dingy byways of a
great city, in q gloomy manner, proved
a big success here.
The works of Rudyard Kipling are
Of course. always In demand and dur
ing the year, From Sea to Sea-" a.
Days Work and countless others OF
his volumes were constantly sought
after. Kipling Is an author however
who is far more pleasing to the male
book lovers OF the city than to the
gentler sex and among the latter /:
probably not as popular as. say Rich
ard Harding Davis or Marion Craw
ford.
His latest production. "Stalky {
Co.." falls somewhat short Of his earl
Ter work. and being in the nature o
an experiment. treating as 1t does o
English schoolboy life, is rot nearly
50 well liked as his tales Of India
with the glowing back ground made Ill
of phantom rickshaws. long lines o
red clad TOnmies, and towering abov'
all the rest the superb trio, Mulvaney
Ortheris and LearOyd.
Among our younger American auth
ors Peter Dunno. Richard Hard n;
Davis and Jesse Lynch williams star
brilliantly forth. Davis published :
volume of short stories last year o
which 1.-The Lion and the Uni
corn" was the title. While tn
book was not as meritOriOus a
some Of the earlier volumes of tale
he sent forth. still it was far above tn
average, and was eagerly sough
after.
THE NEW HUMORIST.
Peter Dunno, the new American hu
morist. whose narratives Of Doolcy
the Hibernian philosopher, of Chica sc
have suddenly sent him into promin
ence. is rapidly rising to the fore O
American authors, and with the We
hicle that Messrs. Doolcy. McKcnn
and Hennessey afford is fast enterin
the hearts Of all lovers of true humol
He Is daily securing larger audienc
in this city.
Jesse Lynch Williams. with his ex
cellent stories of Princeton life, an
his still better tales Of newspaperdon
is rapidly attaining prominence. an
his "Stolen Story" is recognized as on
Of the best descriptions OF journalist
life ever written.
Toward the end OF the yea
two books making their ar
pearance were hailed with rapturou
toy and the library was fairly ovel
stacked with cards waiting for then
They were the "King'S Mirror"
Anthony Hope. the ever-popular auth
or Of the "Prisoner of Zenda," an
"Janice Meredith" by Paul Leiceste
Ford, the creator of peter Stirling.
"Janice Meredith" is like "Richar
Carvel," a tale Of the Revolution, an
IL a true and well depicted narratiy
Of the day.
1.-THE Marekt Place. by til
late Harold Frederic. and "Vi
Crucis," by Marion Crawford, bot
were very popular books Of the yes
in Scranton. the latter being a roman
tic story of medieval life in Englan
and proving Of rare interest.
Among other novels which prove
favorites here We're the prisoner
the Khalifa," by Neufeiit; "Prisonel
OF Hope" by Mary Johnston: Bullen
LOG Of the Sea Waif." Charles
Warmers THAT Fortune" Creator il
clinations." by Edith Wharton, ar
Concerning Isate! Carnaby" al
Double Thread" bv Ellen Fowler.