The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-25

When KipIing was at the height Of his
popularity in this country-it was at the
time when a severe illness some three
years ago threatened his life-a popular
edition of his works was gotten out.
Twenty thousand sets of fifteen vol
umes each We're issued and so great was
the confidence at the time in the lasting
qualities of sales Of Kipling that one
jobbing firm contracted for the whole
edition. AS it happened, Kipling recov-
cred his health and shortly began an
action against a firm of American pub
fishers for infringement. The public
did not understand and later when the
school boy stories appeared. there was
considerable turning of feeling against
the author whom they had just been
praising to the skies. OF course the
present attitude of the majority of reac-
erS toward kipling may not be right
public opinion is often wrong because
the general public is a tickle and senti-
mental body-but the fact remains,
though there may be shame for it, that
Kipling no longer stands in the same
high rank which the public gives its
favorites as he stood three years ago.
Barely, two-thirds of the popular edi-
ton of Kipling have been sold, though
the prices have gradually declined from
fifteen to six dollars a set. At the pres
ent time more than 5000 sets are in the
hands of New York house and these
are to be disposed of at d very low rate
| in order to be clear of the edition. There
are some facts relative to Kipling which
should be kept in mind. OF his works
prOba bly, nearly three million volumes
have been sold; he is still in highest de
mand by the publishers and commands
! the best prices for his short stories; his
yearly income from his writings
amounts to at least thirty thousand dol
! lars. and there is an army of leading
critics who still regard him as the
greatest living writer of fiction. Lovers
of Kipling are not yet called upon to
mourn his passing
There should be some sort of law
! compelling authors to indicate their sex
in their nomdeDlumes. Too much con-
fusion results in such discoveries as that
THE Love Letters of an Englishwoman"
was written by a man, that The Con-
LESSONS of a Wife" may be the work
] Adams or Mrs Ward. Agnes G. Iaut,
who writes stirring tales of the west
and northwest. has a habit of signing
her books "A. c. Laut," and the review
ers remark that Mr. Laut must have
been a hunter and traDDer on the
| fringes of civilization to have written
such convincing stories of that country
when reality and romance change
~ taken for man. George Madden
Martin the creator of the little school
girl, Emmy Lou is Mrs. George Mad
den Martin in real life. but those who
do not know it will be puzzled by the
display of intuitive knowledge on the
part of Mrs Martin Henry Somerville
is Mary Gay HumDhries, and she de-
ceived not only the public but her pub
fishers as well until a visit to their
| offices became necessary. There are
some readers who do not care whether
the author be man or woman--the
quality of the story Is their only re-
gard-but the patient reviewer and the
reader curious to learn something
about the author suffer because of this
confusion of the sexes.
The process of publication of a book
contains no more interesting department
than that in which the publishers read
ers figure The reader is an unknown
person, who. in the opinion of the re-
jected, is a brainless substitute for a
person of ability to appreciate good lit
erature; to the accepted the parsonage
may never be known. Indeed, it is the
object of the reader to remain unknown.
They have to be a mystery as to their
identity, purposes and methods of work
because the wrath of disappointed au-
thors and the scorn of the public hang
over them. They are constantly reject
ing MINIS. which afterwards become
| famous, and they are often the humble
instruments which influence the publica-
ton of the veriest rot 1t is said that
tends to be wool salesman. He carries
/ MSS. to and from his home in cylinders
similar to those used for wool samples.
In spite of all precaution. however, one
writer at least suspects him. Not long