The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-07

Houghton. Mifflin & Co.. will publish in
the early autumn four new farces by Mr..
W.. D. Howells. They will appear sepa-
rately and in very attractive form.
Deacon Bradbury" which was published
on March "a, is already out of print. the
first edition having been exhausted much
sooner than the publishers anticipated.
Mr.. Dix, who wrote ii, was previously I'M
known as a writer of fiction.
Hon. William d. Foulke, of Richmond.
Ind. who has made a study of the ancient
tribes of Central America, has written a
novel entitled Maya which will shortly
be published by Messrs. G.. p. Putnam's
Sons. Maya is the name of the heroine.
who is the last Of one of those early Yucca
tan tribes. The time of the story is set
around the first discoveries made by the
Spaniards.
Miss Mary z. wilkins has just completed
her new historical romance, 1.-THE Hearts
Highway which is now being prepared
for publication by Doubleday. Page & Co..
The scene of the story is laid in Virginia,
in the seventeenth century, and is full or
dramatic incidents, one of them being the
burning of an entire crop OF tobacco 10
avoid paymen. of taxes in accordance with
the newly -inaugurated navigation act. This
was actually the first sign of resentment
of the American colonies against the
mother country.
llOl. VIII II AohC . AoA6C oho
contribution to American history is to re-
ceive a valuable addition in a history of
1.-The Mississippi Valley in the Civil War"
The volume will be brought out soon by
Houghton. Mifhin & Co. With the excep-
ton of a treatment of the civil war, such
as was necessary for his school history of
the United States, the forthcoming volume
marks his first entrance into this important
field of historical research and writing. The
struggle for the possession of the Missis-
sippi valley was a lif~e-and-death struggle
for the Confederacy, and its history in
Mr.. Fiske's hands should be of the utmost
Importance and interest.
The American Illustrated Methodist
Magazine for May contains an article or
1.-The General Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, by Levi Gilbert,
ID. D.. The General Conference is the SUI
preme legislative body of the Methodist
Church. and represents about three mil
lion constituents distributed over the
world in Ia annual conferences. An
other timeIy article. Chicago Method
ISM" is contributed by d. D.. Thompson.
of the Christian Advocate.
1t gives a comprehensive account of the
growth and development of the church in
the city of Chicago. and Is illustrated with
portraits of the men who have been In
strumental in bringing Methodism TO the
place 1t now occupies in that city.
Admirers of the man and disciples of
Herbert Spencer's theories long ago came
to the conclusion that there should be an
authorized life of this logical yet fascinat-
ing writer of things scientific. For some
time, however, Mr.. Spencer remained OBJ
durate to all entreaties. At length he yield
ed. The announcement comes at an IN
teresting time, for yesterday Mr.. Spencer
entered upon his eighty-first year. This
authorized biography, Herbert Spencer,
His Life and Works." will be by Hector
Macpherson, editor of the Edinburgh Even
ing News, and author of Thomas Car
lyle" in the Famous Scots Series. Mr.
| Spencer. it is said. has personally assisted
the author in his work. which, when com
pleted. will be published in this country
by Doubleday, Page & Co.