The age-herald., 1901-01-06

To most people it may seem an enviable occupation to be chaperoned over the coun- try delivering hour-long lectures at figures something like $500 a night; and yet there are people who refuse the opportunity. at- tractiye as it may appear. It will be re- membered that Major Pond offered Mark Twain a fabulous sum for a very few lee lures, but he very promptly declined, say. ing that he enjoyed featuring about twice a year, but not for money. It seems that Major Pond has again been trying to in- duce Rudyard Kipling to come over here and lecture, notwithstanding the fact that several years ago he emphatically refused to lecture, expressing himself on the sub ject in part as follows: There is such thing paying hundred and twenty-five cents for dollar, and, though I suppose there is money in the featuring business, 1t seems to me that the bother. the fuss, the being at eyerybody's beck and call, the night journeys, and so on, make it very dear. l have seen few men who lived through the fight, but they did not look happy"
 Emile Zola's latest novel, Labor" a powerful narrative dealing with factory life in France. and with the conflict be- tween labor and capital in that country, will begun it's run as a serial in Harper's Weekly early in the new year. It will prob ,ibly appear in book form some time next summer
 Apropos of Sarah Bernhardts unusually successful and brilliant appearance in this country, an enterprising publisher ds about to issue an interesting souvenir of Sarah Bernhardt It will be a brochure of nearly 100 pages, with a historical and critical sketch of Mime. Bernhardt, together with an autograph introduction by herself.
 There will be sixty-fve half-tone pie lures, showing the actress in various roles in her home and in her infancy; there will also be reproductions of many cartoons of her by well-known artists This will un- doubtedly be an interesting record. given in this personal sort of way, of one of the worlds most famous actresses, which will be very valuable possession.
 
 Recent authentic statements are to the effect that half million copies of David Harufn' have already been sold and the sales still average 800 copies a day. The calls for the illustrated edition are at pres- ent greater than can be supplied by the publishers. And also that seventy-five thousand copies of F. Marion Crawford s new novel, "In the Palace of the King" have been sold since its publication a month ago. And "Eben Holden" adds an- other thousand to it's circulation every few days. Is It any wonder that with such per- sistent and wonder-creating announce fnents that we forget the old in our vain endeavor to keep up with and read all of the new in literature? Then, too, when added to these statements of enormous sales we have commendations and criti- cisms that engender curiosity and interest by reason of the lavish praise bestowed, how can one resist the temptation to neg 1ect the old and give all of ones time and devotion to the new? And ever the cry Is ''still they come" for there seems to be no limit to these popular sellers and almost each day witnesses the advent of new and apparently worthy asprant for lter- ary fame and fortune.
 There is a very interesting map In the current number of The Boolman, which shows what 1t calls ''some recently staked literary claims" The idea, though a unique and original one. is a very good one, and is very convenient step to enable one to remember just the part of the United States "staked'' out by our different we'll known writers. The map, which is in dot ted outlines, merely giving all the States, has written upon 1t such names as Hamlin Garland and Ernest Seton-Thompson In