The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-02

to get out few novels in which Web
ster shall figure in time for the fab
trade. Seriously, Professor McMaster's
work on Webster will be, OF course. q
valuable production. Some of the chap
ters have already been published In
one OF the magazines, and If the rest
are as good, the book will be deserving
of every praise. The Letters Of Web
ster," curiously enough, was the out
come of Professor McMaster's work.
Mr.. Van Tyne. as an assistant in Pro-
lessor McMaster's department went up
to Concord nearly two years ago In
search OF Webster material for the BIZ
Tyne found that literally hundreds Of
Websterian letters had never been pub
1sbed. although volumes of Webster
:etters had already bee out. Mr.. Van
Tyne called the attention of Professor
Mem ster to the facts. and the histor ian
advised his young assistant to take up
the work of collecting the particular
material. Mr.. Van Tyne spent all Of
last summer going through private coll
lections. making copies and discovering
new and unusual material, with the re-
suit that his volume, to be issued this
fall. Is very fat and substantial vol
ume. and this, too, after taking out
fully one third of the matter which
was originally designed to go into the
work.
Miss Josephine Dodge Daskam's vol
Philip" fs adding to the fame OF the
author considerably as well as making
a creditable record Of sales Tor the pub
1ishers Most Of the stories in the book
were published in the magazines, where
they attracted attention because Of
their cleverness. There is little to be
added about the stories in their present
form, except that the volume Is taste
by Miss Fanny Cory add much to the
readers enjoyment Of the characters of
the various stories. There is abundant
humor in the tales themselves and a
thorough knowledge of children, but
Miss Cory has a way OF picturing chill
dren In mischief or at play that Is 20.
pecialiy attractive.
A New York newspaper had an artf-
Gle not long ago which was headed,
Americas Fastest Author" and fol-
lowed with an account of the work of
Cyrus Townsend Brady. Within day
GUS parts of the country against giving
this honor to Mr.. Brady. The article
in question stated that within a period
of seven months of active work Mr..
Brady had produced four long stories
amounting to 100000 Words short artic-
cles amount to 10000 words: book re-
views amounting to $4,000 words and
sermons amounting to 1880 words; a
grand total of 43S.5o0 words for seven
months. This meant that Mr.. Brady
had averaged over 1000 words a day for
the period. The title of fastest author
can not be claimed by Mr.. Brady.
There is now in New York city. says
one protest. a woman, Lurana Sheldon
who has written CSC, 900 words in seven
months. Even this record, however, can
not stand before the mighty efforts of
our old friend, the dime novel writer.
Colonel Prentiss 1ngraham who in
like period of time turn out over mil
lion words of manuscript without
making more than ordinary effort.
Mr.. Brady's efforts as champion auth
or also appear ludicrous when we stop
to consider that he does his writing by
debating to a stenographer, while Col
Ingraham scorns such methods, writing
every word out with a pen and going
over his manuscript very carefully be-
fore it is taken to the printer: In addi-
ton to these two examples of New York
authors who Surpass the Philadelphian
Oow removed to New York; there are
said to be several other writers in New
York city who write more than 1000
words on an average every day.
1.-THE Unspeakab1e Scot" is a book
just published in England and in this
country, which will arouse the ire of a
nation and of it's sympathizers: The
book was to have been pu--- shed just
before the coronation, but the author,
Mr.. T. w. H. Crosland, decided not to
disrupt the British empire with his
book at such a time, SO he graciously
the date set for the browning event.
The following apology" In the form
! of a final chapter to the book, is OF in
terest as showing the humble spirit in
which the author has undertaken the
work:
| Never apologize before the offense, IL
good rule, and in certain circumstan-
ces still better rule is. do not apollo
gize at all. I have not the smallest in
| tention of regretting anything that has
| been written in the foregoing chapters.
| But I am informed by a Scotchn1an
who has been kind enough to read them
in proof, that there is some likelihood of
| their being misunderstood. This, of
| course. would be thousand pities. So
| that 1 shall venture on what may be
| termed, for the want Of a better phrase,
an explanation. When d. johnson was
! asked to explain his reasons for dis
vaguest. Lamb also did not quite know
| why he disliked them; and, on the
whole, it is difficult to say fatty why
one can not get on with the simple child
| of Caledonia. AS a matter of fact, my
| own antipathy always amuses me.
| Whether it will amuse the Scotch Is an
| other matter. But for the sake of their
own peace of mind I should like to ask
| about various hard things I have said.
Since the time of Burns, Scotchmen ap-
| pear to have yearned for some one who
should show them their faults.
Oh wad some power the giftie gle US
To see oorsels as ithers see US!
| is as frequent on their 1ips as The best
laid schemes O. mice and men, "A man s
| a man for a. that and the rest of them.
And, in this instance. have simply
done my best to play the role of some
power To put an ugly man in front
of a mirror Is not, perhaps. to do him
the most tender of services, especially
if you comment upon his style of beau
ty the while. For all that, I am hoping
| that in some small measure I may be
| doing great and useful things for the
Scotch as a nation If they would only
! be- at little pains to discover their
| faults and a little more pains tc
| correct them, one could encourage hope
| for Scotland. Much may be done with
the Scotchman,' said DIR. johnson, II
| you catch him young or words to that
effect. 1 am afraid that to all Scotch
| men who have passed the age of forty
| the present volume will be a wasted
lesson. But there appears to be a very