The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-09-06

With the Green Shutters" died sud-
oS Soey G To lis lis Az me r ndmrers
these there were assuredly very many.
The grim story Of Scotch life made =
deep impression on everyone who read
the author, Ee was hailed as the COM
ing Balxac of his people. Literally, Mr..
Brown became famous in day. The
book fell almost still-born from the
press in both England and America.
Then one of the editors OF the London
Times got hold Of q copy and shortly
there appeared review of the story
which made everyone wonder who this
young writer was that had come down
from the north to conquer literary Eng
land. In this country the book was on
sale for several months before the pub
lie began to talk of It; then suddenly
interest was awakened and edition after
edition was sold by the publishers.
George Douglass Brown was 80 years
old at his death. He had been a hard
working journalist In London ever since
leaving Oxford. but when his first book
made the success 1t did he retired from
Halsemere where Tyndan lived, and
where Grant Allen and Conan Doyle live
now. Everything was going well for the
young man: he had been in tubilant
state for the previous year. He had
planned trip to the continent. tramp
through Scotland and several other
pleasure trips. but the fame of his book
actually brought so many visitors to his
home that he could not get away. Then
| he decided that he had lost too much
time, and he went to work hard on his
second story. This story was to have
been finished this fall. Meantime he had
become engaged, and was to have been
married early this fall. after which event
ne had planned a wedding journey to
Italy.
AS young man the author was curl
GUS Indifferent to study at one time and
most laborious at books at another.
When he went to school at Glasgow
he neglected his studies for two years,
but in the last year there he worked
hard and succeeded in winning scholar
These funds enabled him to go to Ok
ford, where he obtained a degree. He
had ideas of his own as to the way in
which man should get an education
once told friend that reading did not
| count for much Its what man
learns from life himself that counts" he
| said.
When he went to London he first
found employment as reader for
| publishing house. Later on he did re-
viewing for the Illustrated London
News, sketches for the Spectator and
general newspaper work 1.-The House
| With the Green Shutters" was written
| first as novelette,, 10000 words long
The publisher to whom it was first sub
mitted said he would take it if the
author would cut 1t down to a shor:
| story of four or five thousand words
The young man was much angered at
the publishers suggestion, he heightened
the story to its present proportions.
Physically, Mr.. Brown was a giant, SO
! far as strength of constitution and vital
ity We're concerned. An American friend
| who dined with him no longer than
three weeks ago in London reported
him the very picture of health. Up to
the present writing no details as to the
manner of his death have come to hand,
nor is there any information to be had
| regaI ding the amount of work he had
done on his second novel. It is not like
ly, however, that he had written enough
of the story to justify it's completion by
another writer. SO that 1t is probable
that his lit airy fame must rest entirely
ters."
Sir Gilbert Parker has gone TO con-
siderable trouble to deny any knowl-
edge of a supposed original to his hero.
Charley Steele, in 1.-The Right of Way"
1t seems that some Chicago newspaper
man discovered a Mr.. Cantwele whose
real experience corresponded SO closely
to those attributed to the young Canad-
ian lawyer in Sir Gilbert Parker's story,
that he jumped at the conclusion that
the author must have drawn his char
acter from real life. The author how
ever, writes that he never knew Cant.
wele, never saw him and never heard Of
him until the newspaper story of the
identity appeared.
I
books by men in the public eye is very
often amusing in its results. A case in
point was noted on the arrival Of the
Boer generals in England. Several
publishers were at the pier, the partic-
ular desire OF each being to secure the
forthcoming story by General DeWet on
the Boer side of the war in South Afri-
ca General DeWet, however, was not
SO anxious to make a contract and the
publishers were not only successfully
repulsed but also routed as well Fail
iniscences of DeWet, they fell upon
General Deiarey, but he executed a
flank movement and succeeded in MAX
ing his English visit without being per-
suaded to write book.
The scramble for public men is prob
ably just as strenuous in this country.
The Boer generals are likely to be met
by a delegation of publishers when they
hand in New York. In some cases. the
anxiety to secure the work of some
great man has been sogreat that a pub
| Usher has secured pass on the GUS
toms boat and met the incoming steam-
J er down the bay. Not long ago scien-
| fist connected with one of the museums
| in New York returned from an explora-
| ton trip in the heart of Mexico. The
fact that he had proved to his own sat-
isfaction tht there were existing tribes
Of Aztecs living in Mexico was occasion
| for the interest of several publishers
The scientist replied, to their requests
| for book to be brought out right away
that it would take him at least five years
: to complete the work necessary to the
| writing of such a book and the publish
ers turned away disappointed
: In the days when Kipling was 3
, bachelor, he wrote a line which has
served as a slogan for many who argue
that greatness and genius is more conn
mon among the unyoked than the yoked.
He travels fastest who travels alone. -
wrote Kipling, but that, it must be re-
] membered. was before he was married.
Not long ago a young friend of the au-
: | thor's was married and Kipling, in q
letter of congratulation, wrote II wish
= you as much happiness in your married
life as has come to me in mine GER
I tainly cannot wish you anything more
Z or better than that"
: Now 1t may be argued by these same