The age-herald., 1902-05-11
Stockton's Death a Great Loss to Literary World.
By PauIPU

new book. No one knows what the theme is, just as no one knew she had written the former book until it was accepted by the publisher. Miss Runkle's mother, by the way, is well known figure am ong tffe literary women of New York. For time she held the position of reader for a prominent publishing house, and also conducted classes and delivered lectures. When Miss Runkle first realized that she had made a literary success, 1t is re- ported, she declared to her mother Now you arn't going to do any more work. It was perfectly easy for me to write that story, and I shall go on and write some more, and earn lot of money"
 It Is said that Booth Tarkington draws his stories before he writes them. He not only maps out the success, but makes a complete picture OF each one of them. MT. Tar5ington was asked to illustrate his Indiana book with his own draw ings but he objected, saying they were too crude and that he did not have the time to finish them up properly. His next book will be brought out in the fall, and will be a story of love and politics in the middle west
 Speaking of Miss Lillian Bells "Expa- triates" Mir William l.. Alden says, Miss Bells book resembles the boomer ang that is alleged to get out of control, and to come back and hit the thrower. She flung her boomerang at the French man, expecting to annihilate them, but 1t came back knocked her American wo- men on the head. The book Is worthless as a novel, but 1t Is interesting as a specimen of what the wild and woolly west can do when 1t undertakes to show its superiority to all that Is French It seems that Miss Bell detests Frenchmen and wrote the book to prove that they have not one redeeming quality.
 No writer seems to possess a greater number of admirers than W. D. Howells, and yet few authors have as many en- emies as he, if we may so term those who take no interest whatever in his stories. With his new story "The Ken tons" MT. Howells has broken away from his custom of phrase titles and it is said that in searching for the right title of this story he decided that he re- quired name distinctly native to Ohio. He recalled one Simon Kenton, one of the early Ohio Indian fighters, a friend of Daniel Boone, who like him was held captive by the red men. We can hardly imagine the characters of MT Howells' book indulging in any fighting" though a couple of incidents related do suggest the fighting ancestry.
 The first edition of John Kendrick Bangs new story Uncle Sam Trustee" was sold before publication. There are ninety excellent illustrations, and besides the personal observations of MT. Bangs, there is a wealth of information regard ing the wonderful improvements already wrought in Cubas sanitary, educational, social and political condition. The au- thor's charming style has never shown to better advantage.
 Of the new novel 'Hardwicke" by Hen ry Edward Rood a good story is told of it's origin and evolution. It is said that MT Rood. city born and bred, had long thought that he could write novel if only he could tear him self away, even for a few hours a day, from metropoli- tan life and the stress of literary affairs for he has long been identified with the department of criticism. So he went to live at the Magnolia Farm" and titled the soil-after office hours.-thought out his book in solitude and put it on paper under the traditional midnight lamp.
 PAUL PRY.