The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-24
LITERARY 7

1t is understood that Richard Carvelp
and The Crisis" are only parts of a SER
les of American novels which Mr.. Wins
ton Churchill proposes to write.
The Critic for November says: "a reading
Of Lazarre' gives one the areeable sensa-
ton Of witnessing a romantic drama of
great beauty, that touches life on many
sides but never hopelessly or by amy appeal
TO the false or ugly, and that rises greatly
to a climax at once adequate and satisfy
ing"
G.. a.. Henty, famous as the author of
the Henty books, is now seventy years
of age, but he is still hale and hearty
and talks of his English and American
lecturing tour with some enthusiasm. The
boys OF both countries will surely flock
to hear him. He has published three new
boys books within the year.
An old friend of Ruskin has arranged for
an odd memorial to the author Of the
Stones of Venice" He has presented TO
the Ashmolean natural history society a
''Ruskin Plot"-a bit Of property near Alb
ington, consisting of about five acres of
woodland, marsh, bog and water, and con-
tanning many rare local specimens OF ami
NAL and vegetable life. The idea is TO pre-
serve it for all time in it's natural condition
as a place of sympathetic observation 1t
IL an idea eminently pleasant, poeucal and
practical.
The name of the heroine Of "Anne Scar
lett Mary INLAY Taylor's latest novel,
seems to belong SO naturally to the Pur-
itan times which the story describes, that
it is difficult to imagine it in a more modern
environment. Nevertheless Miss Taylor has
received a letter from an actual Anne
Scarlet" living in Newark, N. j., which
expresses a lively interest in the book, and,
naturally, the origin of the title. As in
this case the name was invented by the
author, its temperance in real life is all
the more curious.
Ibsen, plainly dressed, though he usual
ly is in a tightly buttoned. black frock-
coat, is something Of a dandy within his
limited scope. His shirts are ever spot
less and his ties are irreproachable. This
is the only form Of vanity of which the
stern-lookinS doctor is guilty. For the
rest, he is a rather taciturn individual,
given to few words, uttered in an abrupt
manner, and he pays little heed TO outward
manifestations Of pOliteness. He is at his
best after a hearty meal, but hardly a
clubable person at any time.
Many complaints are heard in the land
that the American public will not read Sc
rlous books, that we are wholly given up
to novels that carry the reader breath
less from page to page" What will these
cynicS say, asks a literary exchange. when
confronted with the fact that Hudson's
La of Psychic Phenomena" appears
among the ten most popular books in DC
tober at the public libraries OF New York.
Chicago, Los Angeles and Worcester,
Mass? Perhaps. however, there may be
some who do not regard HudsOn's book as
serious.
Some sweetly pathetic verses published
in last Sundays Journal, entitled Her
Little Boy were enormously credited to
Pearson's Weekly. They were written by
w. D.. Nesbit, of the Baltimore American,
and first published in that paper about a
year ago. In the course or their travels
the name of the author was dropped and
the verses eventually adopted" by the
British paper. Mr.. Nesbit. who formerly
an attache Of the Journal, is doing. good
work on the American and establishing
q reputation as a clever writer.
Mr.. Frankfort Moore's "a Nest of Lin
nets" is proving one OF the few really sue
cessful novels Of the season in England.
Mr.. Moore, says a London paper, has the
distinction-rare among authors who nave
arrived-of keeping the same publisher
from the beginning. His first novel was
published in 1915. His most successful book
has been II Forbid~the Banns,' published
in 1893, of which some 5000 copies have
been sold. the nearest in point of success
TO this being "A GRAY Eye or So" published
ia the same year. Mr.. Frankfort Moore IS
the author Of two volumes OF poems ana
eight plays.
The London, England, Daily Mail says
that many of the eloquent sermons heard
at the churches are composed by a lady
who makes her living thereby. There lives
In the north OF London the widow Of a
Clergyman, who, under the name of her
late husband, is writing sermons for cler-
gymen in the metropolis and elsewhere.
Most Of her sermons are bought by cler-
gymen OF the Church Of England, who
write 10 her under the impression that
they are communicating with a clergyman
retired from the ministry. The sermons
are excellent. and no doubt much better
than they could write themselves.