The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1901-06-23


other older communities which have
had more time to devote to the pursuits
of culture, but they form a "goodly COM
panic" Their work covers n wide
range of literature. but fiction seems
mainly to have been the forte of the
Chicago writer.
Among tie Chicago novelists who
have l"to'v come into prominence and
whose work gives promise of a success
full career is Miss Florence Wilkinson.
whose second novel, The Strength of
the Hills" has been accepted by Har-
per & Bros. as the September story In
the Contemporary American Novels
Series. which this house is publishing
monthly during the present year. "The
Strength of the Hills" as its title sug-
gests, is story of the hill country in
the AdirOndacks. and is said to be thor
oughly characteristic Of American life.
Her first novel was published two
years ago by Herbert S. Stone & Co.
under the title The Lady of the Flag
Flowers" which attracted especially
favorable comment.
Miss Wilkinson is also a poet of no
little merit, having produced number
of clever short poems, among them
being the ode delivered at the dedica-
ton ceremonies of the Woman's build
ing at the Worlds fair in 1893. She
has likewise done something in journal
ism and touched upon the dramatic
art. f. III. Sothern, the actor, has in
his hands a serious drama on David"
which he accepted from her last win
ter.
Hiss Wilkinson is a native of larry
town on II udson, N. Y, but has been
resident of Chicago for half a dozen
years or more. She comes of distinct
ly literary and scholarly family. Her
father, w. G. Wilkinson. is professor of
poetry and criticism in the University
of Chicago. and has written a number
of books himself.
Another literary woman of promise
whom Chicago can claim as her own is
Mrs. Reginald De Koven. the author
of "By the Waters of Babylon" a new
novel which is likely to make some
thing of stir Though now a resident
of Washington. Mrs. De Koven former
~ lived in this city. her father being
the late Charles y. Farwell. some years
ago United States senator from Illinois.
II. G. Chatfield Taylor. the author of
''The Idle Born" is now at work upon
quite a different kind of novel 1t is a
story Of the Franco Prussian war. the
result of tie most careful study and re-
search. Mr.. Taylor is fortunately not
afraid of work, and he is going into
this serious effort with an enthusiasm
which should carry him far. Yet he is
of a delightful sense of
humor, which keeps him from taking
himself or his work too seriously.
George AIDE has transferred his desk
for the time to Ashevlle. N. c., and
from there he sends out bis witty little
"Fab'gs Ia Slang to an eager press.
On tho surface no successful book would
see. TO be more obviously barred out of
tie theater than Mr.. AIDES Fables In
Slang" yet several dramatists are seek
ing the privilege of putting it upon the
stage. And if the work were done in
the right way 1t might not make such
a bad play after all. There is life
enough in its characters to animate any
number of theatrical lay figures.
Eugene Field a few months before
his death said that his most cherished |
ambition was to collect the myths and
traditions of America-the folklore of |
the Indians and the white pioneers
and tell the tales again for the glory of !
the land and its romance. Unfortu-
nately, he did not live to carry out this |
poetic idea, and no one has yet arisen
to claim the laurels he coveted. Yet in |
IA Child of the Sun" Charles Eugene
Banks has rescued at least one of these
exquisite romances from oblivion. 1t |
is so captivating n story that it makes |
one wonder if there are other Indian
myths of its kind.
George Barr McCutcheon. the author |
Of "Graustark," lately published by |
Herbert S. Stone & Co. of this city, |
was born in Indiana and Is another of |
the young HoOsiers who are making |
that state famous in letters. He is a |
journalist. He began as a reporter in |
1889. and four years later he became |
city editor of the Lafayette Morning |
Journal. position which he still holds. |
For three months in his early youth he |
tried to be an actor, but during his |
walk home after this experience he |
waa ourod NJ fhof ambition