The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-24

book will not be, by any means, his
first contribution to the geologic or ge-
ographic literature. The book is to
be well illustrated with reproductions
of photographs and drawings made on
she spot.
AT the last meeting of the Authors
Club in London, Conan Doyle related
the manner in which he was informed
of his knighthood in the distribution
of coronation nonoTs In his mail one
morning he found letter addressed to
''Sir Sherlock Holmes" The envelope
contained a statement from his gun
smith, respectable tradesman of Lon
don. Filled with indignation, the au-
thor Immediately wrote a letter to the
firm to the effect that hereafter he
would not have any dealings with
them. Early the next morning he was
confronted by most abject individual
who exclaimed to him:
Il am TO blame. It.was I, Sir, who
addressed the letter. 1 read in an
evening paper that you were about to
be knighted and, as l always thought
man changed his name when he re-
ceived title and the paper stated you
would be known as Sir Sherlock
Holmes, 1 addressed the letter that
way" "a
Whereupon the author wrote to the
gunsmiths and asked that the dis
charged clerk be reinstated in his po-
sition. 1t is understood among the
friends of DR.. Doyle that he prefers to
be known by them as before. He is
most OF all anxious to avoid making
literary capital out of his title. 1t
seems very sensible sort of wish, and
there is no reason why it should not
be respected.
The story of DR.. Doyle recalls the
book which, more than anything else
brought him knighthood. 1t was his
defense of the English army which was
brought out and sold at cost or dis
tributed free in several countries of
Europe, and in the United States and
Canada. The way he came to write
the pamphlet was, in way, accidental.
He CHANGED to be travelling to London
one day when he overheard two men
discussing the many criticisms of the
army. One of them lamented the fact
that there seemed to be no one who
was ready to take UP the defense of
the army, and the refutation of the
charges made by French and German
papers.
why couldn't I do that?" thought
DR.. Doyle. Within a few days the
author was hard at work, collecting
masses of information and writing as
rapidly as possible. His former work
on the Boer war was doubtless a most
excellent preparation for the labor.
When it was all done, Mr.. Doyle sup
erintended the publication in various
countries, and interested so many 9TH
ers in the work that the subscription
to defray the expense of distribution
was some six thousand dollars in ex-
cess of the needs. Now DR.. Doyle
proposed to devote this sum to the
establishment of a military scholarship
in one of the schools of England.
George Barr McCutcheon has made
his second venture into the Zenda field
of fiction. Castle Craneycrow' is
the title of novel and it has just been
published. 1t is unusual to begin the
fall season in the middle of the sum-
mer but, doubtless, Mr.. McCutcheon's
publishers wished to get the book out
ahead of the flood of fiction which is
sure to begin a month or so later on.
Castle Craneycrow" takes it's name
from huge castle hid away in Lux
emburg where the surprising adven-
lures of young American and his
his endeavor to capture his hearts de-
sire, come to an end. or, perhaps we
should say, come to a real beginning
For the story is not one of the new
kind of books which end disagreeably
and hold public favor because of their
strength and realism. 1t is a pure
romance, and, without comparing the
novel with the authors previous story,
we can at least promise for him an in
terested lot of readers for it. Mr.. Nc
Cutcheon has recently moved to Chi
cago, where he will devote himself en-
tirely to writing. He is one of the
younger band of writer's in which are
included George AIDE, Booth Tarking-
ton, John T. McCutcheon and several
others natives of Indiana who have
attracted considerable attention within
the past two or three years.
When the literary map of the Uni
ted States. is finally made up Holman
Day will doubtless be given a large
share of Maine as his particular field.
Mr.. Day has brought out another book
of verse which brings the reader near
to the genuine New Englander. His
former volume will perhaps stand first.
but pine Tree Ballads" will surely
be appreciated by the same readers.
Verse like the following is like to
endear the author at least to those
who have come out of the Pine Tree
State:
Here's no for the masterful men O.
Maine,
Grit and gumption, Drawn and
brainl
South they go and West they flow,
The men that do and the men that
know.
And Fame and Honor, Power and
Gain
Come to the call of the men o. Maine.
But away up back on the rock-piled
farms
Are the gnarled old dads with corded
arms,
The dads that give these bovs n
Health and strength and grit and
brain.
Now the masterful men who have gone
their ways
Need none of my humble words of
praise.
So here's best have for the dads, the
ones
Who have shaved and saved to raise
these sons.
Here's hail and again for the Maine
bred lads,
Then a triple hail for the dear cid
dads"
In the preface Mr. Day has outlined
his purpose, to present these nlain
tales, in verse of the men whose hands
are blistered by pillow handle and az
or whose calloused palms are gouged
by the travis. Their heads are as
hard as the stones piled round tbeir
acres. Their wit is as keen as the
bush scythes with which they trim
their rough tpasfnrac