The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-12-08

LITERATURE" says a leading American
critical journal, nowadays means novels
II a librarian OF bookseller Is asked what
new books are coming out. he genefaii!
understands that what the inquirer refers
NO Is new novels. The flood Of novels
brought out. in the Enslish-speaking world.
Sat least. swells from year to year an.
yet We do not know what we are saved
nv the business conservatism of the pup
lisbers. II they were 10 publish one-haif
-zos the manuscripts OF novels sent to them
a..up should. indeed. be overwhelmed. rms
$EaAt year has been no exception TO the rue
III Former years. The lead is taken by "The
IErfsis,'' with an issue of 33o,cO copies.
There have been about half a dozen other
fnovels that have reached $4,000: several
zN8h an issue of 10000. twenty with 5000,
forty to fifty ranging from 900 to 3D.
kUGbesides hundreds with what might be
E46Iled an ordinary circulation. As remarked
Above. this multitudinous procession Is led
XIV the st. Louis novel, The Crisis The
Esxceeding popularity OF this book was to
ne expected in ST. Louis; but It has had
the same run all over the country,
4Ss1hown by statistics-both of booksellers
OF public Libraries. Hitherto. the high
Sx6Euumber OF copies OF a new novel that
~ Public Library ever purchased was
H1rin the case Of "Trilby."
'--0f The Crisis" $50 copies have been In
ejaculation for all these months since it
Game oul. dAu w " AZ PkSSNAs
o 10 never allowed to reach the shelves. Oh
the other popular novels. none have reached
the degree of popularity that was attained
b several others Of last year. and the year
iseefere-such as David Harum.' Richard
JuGsrvel," and ITO Have and to Hold" But
-~,Raeere were several OF the products OF this
, tyears fiction mill that reached very high
lfgures. and others which have started out
Wen, but whose popularity cannot yet be
o. determined. Among the popular books Of
she present day are Gilbert Parkers Right
and Klpiing's "Kim"+egarding
4: 18th of which there is the g-eatesttdiversi-
!, ~ Of ~opinion-both among ordinary read
,es and among critics. Ono of the latter.
epeaking Of Parker's book. can think OF
10 other novel that shows an equally skill
if6f handling Of both incident and charac-
ter: while an opposing critic pronounces It
fsnachlne-made tale Of the baser sort"
Hall Caine's Eternal City, also has called
forth adverse opinions. 1t is generally adj
united that he is not as much at home In
Rome a. he b on the Isle Of Man: but the
Srsnd scale Of his latest work. and the au-
"1acity of its plot. cannot but command at
tention an repay. in some measure, the
.noaAing Of thoughtful persons. Lucas Maiet.
tie author Of . strong book Of q decade
lore ago. called THE Wages OF Sin"
appears this year with the History Of Sir
3RIchard ~Calmady." . powerful. but disa-
greeable. story.
Miss Wilkins's Portion Of Labor IL a
hreful study, Of the fortunes and sunerHgs
If bfead-WfnnersL Among other notable
pUtUrfes Of the year are Cables Cavalier"
kNor4s's The Octopus strong picture OF
oome Of the most dangerous tendencies OF
EAmerican NfS'The White Cottage by
kZack; Mrs. Catherwood's "LAzarre." found
ed on the Legend OF the Dauphin's appear
ance in this country a. Eleazar Williams:
Doctor g Weir, Mitchelis Circumstance"
eand J. A. Mitch:ll's pines Of Lory." More
7populaf than most OF these last named has
been Irving Bachelors "D'ri and l." a
natural conseque nee Of the popularity OF
ihis ~Eb.n Holden Few OF the other nov |
els Of the year ha We attracted any particu- |
eae sattention. though they include many |
GoGa stories. 1t VIII not do. however. to
81 mention of Nils Runkles Helmet OF
0caSarre." Hewlettie New Canterbury
&Tstfs' and seton-ThHmpson's Lives Of the