Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-26

The marked tendency of the period in the
writing of books is to conform their con-
struction to the possible requirements of
a future dramatist. So many popular
novels have found favor with the thea
tergoing public, thus greatly charging
the profit-sharing range of publishers
and authors. that a new principle has
seemingly crept into the literary COM
mandments Just whether this tendency is
hurtful or helpful to the best interests OF
literature remains to be seen when the
perspective has been established. But con-
sidered in the light of what literature has
meant to scores of past generations, the
thought cannot be avoided that better per-
manent results would be obtained If the
author were to write solely for his reader
and not for the spectator. leaving the
stage to it's own devices, to find what 1t
can out of his work. For it is inevitable
that the author writing with one eye on
the stage while he follows his own muse
will subordinate TO the chance that by
compromising here and there he may faCll-
itate the dramatist in his work. or, per
haps, that he may prevent the dramat1st
from Obliterating too much of the original
personality of the creation. 1t is a nice
question whether the author should thus
who transforms a novel into play 1t is
another nice question which one of these
cOllaboratOrs the public remembers with
the greater warmth of gratitude for fur
nishing an enjoyable entertainment Such
considerations lead to the assumption that
perhaps the author, naturally desiring to
share with no one the credit and the profits
of his theme and finished work, may evolve
into the dramatst himself. ASsuredly II
the present drift continues. and novels de-
yelop as they do now Enthusiastically toward
the stage, the line of demarkation be-
tween the book-craft and the stage-Craft
will become less and less distinct, and the
author with an eye for the dramatics will
find 1t easy to cross 1t.
A number of books have of late shown
the dramatic impulse, most recently and
noticeably Miss Seawen's Papa BOuch-
ard" which IS in its book form almost
qualities of The Eternal City may be
easily discerned when the readers eye
searches fer them. So also with tGrau-
stark, now on the theatrical ways. Scarcely
give evidence Of a recognition by its
writers of its dramatic future. The play
wrights have shown so much adrOitness in
matchmaking scenes disassOCiated in the
books to form strong acts for the plays
that no longer can the reader who loves
book for its own sake lay it aside with the
assurance that it. at least, may be con-
sidered on its own intrinsic merits,
Those who have been looking for a
change from the persistent popularity of
the novels of adventure. with historical
fayOrs more or less ancient, have Vet to
ind substantial proof that the new Vine has
been established Nature books have had
their vogue more or less marked during
the past season, and here and there a
story of trifiing Hghtness has scored a
booksellers success for a brief time. But
the sales lists have continued to demon
strate that the favor of the public is still
being bestowed upon the tales of strife
and love, intrigue and adventure. prefer
ably those sufficiently remote in their pc
RODS to warrant the introduction of pictur-
eSque costumes for the artists best Cp-
pOrtunity in illustration and the employ
ment OF more or less archaic English for
the deleCtatiOn Of those readers who love
the dear old days of gadzooks and faith.
The author-correspondents who from the
South African war field brought home
materials for books and have published
them as representing the complete story of
the Boer struggle are in some distress be-
cause Of the persistence with which the
armed burgheTS remain in the field. The
events of the past few months have rem
dered many an appendix necessary, ard
Df- conan Doyle now proposes to prepare
second edition of his own work THE
Great Boer War" in which the last chap
ter bore the title. THE End of the War"
rms chapter Is to become How to Cap
ture the Boer Government" with practical
suggestions to the British war office 1t
viii be an interesting commentary on the
enterprise Of the feld-writers il they are
10 be now compelled to turn in on the con-
tinuous performance plan and render re-
ports I'm book form on the progress Cf the
struggle until il has been definitely con-
GUIDED
Mrs Sarah p. Mclean Greene has pro-
duced another story of the down-east coast
folks which is soon to appear under the
title 'FlOOd-Tide" This will be her third
distinct novel venture along these lines of
character delineatiOn, her first having been
Cape Cod Folks" which cost her and her
publishers so much trouble that she now
prefers to be known the author Of that
entirely innOcuOus but widely popular story.
''Vesty Of the Basins" Mrs. Greene learn
cd by painful experience that there is
such thing as too much realism In the
drawing Of portraits and the Identification
OF localities in a story.
Captain Mahan IS shortly to produce a
new work on naval affairs, under the title
Types of Naval officers" which Will per-
haps have bearing upon the unfortunate
controversy between two officers of high
rank Just about Culninat ting Captain Ma
hans talent for naval historical analysis
has not heretofore been employed so dis
tinctly upon the personal phase OF the sea
power
promised book which is certain to inter
est the lovers of the far eastern atmos-
phere Is Lafcadio Hearn's Japanese Mis-
cellany," which will contain chapters on
dragon fies and the songs OF JaDanese
children Mr.. Hearn is Analysing Japan
with a minute care and has already pre-
scented some delightful pictures of the life
and thought Of the island empire as a re-
suit.
NJ EW PIIRI IHhTI ON Q