Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-01

IL
one misht be justified in thinking Jack
hoii""ii' author of The God of His
fa'hcrs' thoroughgoins Britishcr
on inc contrary. however. Mr.. London
Is very much of an American. ON both
Siccs OF his family he can trace an
american resident dating prior to the
revolution. He was born in San Fran
cisco twenty-four years ago: lived on
California ranches until he was 10
years old and worked at various oc-
equations to pay for n grammar school
education until he was fifteen At
seventeen he shipped before the mast.
ana engaged in seal hunting off the
russian coast. A year later. having
taken an interest in economics and
sociology. he went tramping through
the United States and Canada. After
a year at this. he entered the State
University of California Without COM
plotting his course there he left for the
klondike. where. during an extended
sojourn, he learned the life of the ad-
NcnturouS miners and natives of that
far Northrand. His stories are realistic
and sympathetic and attest to the keen
strenuous" life has made part of
his very nature.
The House of de Mailly" which APP
pcared in an abridged form in Har-
pcrS Bazar the past winter. has been
published in book form. this month, by
Messrs. Harper and Brothers. We pre-
diet for it large place in popular
favor as it is on CT the most inter-
esting and cleverly written of the
hsx.tA wi l. hot hnx
peared of late. 1t is rich in dramatic
possibilities, and if dramatized, as we
trust it will be- will prove a gold mine
for the fortunate manager, who Sc
cures ii as a play.
The House of de Mailly' is a study
of contrasted social life about the mid
die of the eighteenth century. The
first portion of the book gives a min
ute and interesting picture of life at
the court of France when Louis XIV.
was king. All the intrigues. joys. and
art-burnings of the life of Versailles
and Paris are laid bare as the love
story progresses. The scene then
moves to Annapolis. in Maryland.
where the simple life of our colonial
forefathers is pictured. Finally the
book carries the reader back to the
court of France, and here the two in
teresting characters of the book are
wildly Observation-Disclosures de Chat
eaurouX, the faVorite of the king, and
Deborah Trevor. a little colonial maid
en-. Miss Potter has drawn these
| characters so accurately and con-
vincingly that the contrast makes the
novel intensely interesting not only
| ,,ln h,lt
| incidents which develope the peculiar
| characteristics of these two types.
Miss Margaret Horton Potter, the
| author, is the daughter of wealthy
and distinguished Chicago man. This
| is her third book. and the history OF
her literary work is perhaps as re-
markable as that of any American
| author of recent years. At the age OF
| seventeen Miss Potter wrote mover
| of Chicago life called "A Social Lion.
! The book attracted so much attention
that social Chicago was stirred TO lts
depths, and Miss Potter became known
throughout the country as writer OF
| remarkable insight and ability. Inc
next wear she published a book en-
titled sJTncanonized," treating OF lie
at court and in the Catholic monas-
| ferries of England during the reign OF
| King john The difference OF treat
| mcnt. the equally acute knowledge ana
Interpretation of life at two such d'i
fercnt times and places, again poie
! witness to the talent OF the auti"i
| Now. at the age of twenty. MISS fot'ei
has written The House of de Manly
which depicts life in France ana the
American colonies in the middle OF 'n'
eighteenth century. with the Same re-
markable verisimilitude. Probably 1T
American author has written ana pun
lished. at so early an age. three Doors
81 totally different and SO high aooN.
the average.