The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-27

work in this country should have received
a much greater notice than fell to its lot.
Edmund Gosse in a recent article tells
the story of the first meeting of Thomas
Hardy and George Meredith 1t so hap
pened that Meredith was one of the read
ers for the publishing house TO which
Thomas Hardy, then a very young man,
submitted his first book. 1.-The Poor Man
and the Lady" Meredith recommended
the book TO the publishers, but at the same
time asked Hardy 20 come to see him. The
book as a matter of fact. says Mr.. Gosse.
was full of revolutionary and anti-social
extravagancies native to unripeness of the
youth of genius. Meredith recognized a
certain literary power in the book, but ne
urged Hardy to soften the story. Hardy
Immediately withdrew 1.-The Poor Man and
the Lady and set about writing "Desper-
ate Remedies" As a result of this provi-
Dental meeting with Meredith his first
book never saw the light of publication,
and, doubtless, his future reputation was
saved considerably.
TITLES FOR BOOKS.
It is a curious fact that many authors
find more difficulty in getting a salts
factory title for their books than in writ
ing many chapters of a story. John Uri
Lloyd avoided trouble and. at the same
time, mystifed the public, by selecting
name and then spelling it backwards.
Etidorpha might be regarded a newly
coined word until one had read it Hebrew
fashion. from right to left. Samuel Butler
was guilty Of a like offense in "Erewon,'
though he transferred two letters in SPELL
ing Nowhere backwards.
The following story is told of an en-
thusiastic admirer of Ian MacLaren, evil
IDENTIFY an American admirer. He was tall,
thin and alert and followed his card so
quickly that DR.. Watson had barely time
to read it before his visitor was in the
room.
My name is Elijah Higgins he began,
"and l am a busy man. You are also
busy and have time to fool away. Four
days is all can give to the United King
dom, and I wished to shake hands with
you. Goodbye, am off TO Drumtochy"
He left the room swiftly, but the novelist
caught him at the front door and asked
him if he knew where Drumtochy was.
Guess L do replied Mr.. Higgins. Got
the route in my pocket. northwest from
Perth, n. B."
Dr. Doyle, who supposed he had prac-
tically written a complete work in his
History of the BOer War" published last
year, has evidently realized that his last
chapter. ''The End of the War;" belongs to
some future edition. At any rate, he has
thoroughly revised his book of a year ago
and will bring out shortly a new edition,
which will include all operations up to the
second year of the war. DR.. Doyle has
changed his chapter on THE End of the
War" TO How to Capture the Boer Gov
eminent" his main theme being the ne
cessity of this action the principle that
the best way to kill a serpent is to cut off
it's head instead of looping at its tail. To
accomplish this, says the author in the re-
vised version, one should choose 5000 of
the lightest and hardest men in the army,
give them 5000 of the best horses Zone led
horse for every NAM, no guns or baggage,
and a young leader like Plumer or De
Lisle for choice. Let them loose with a
free hand and help them by stopping the
drifts and let them follow their chase
across Africa if necessary, but let them
ride it down, at least.
HERBERT BREWSTER.