The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-26
Books and Authors
.sEARcHING ron TALENT.

An eastern publishing house has issued a
circular. expressing Its hunger for new, fresh
anu original writing talent. In the most
palmetto manner the plea is made. Through
the agency named many grateful writer's"
have been brought to the front "who have
found IN us an avenue to emolument as well
as literary fame" Further: 1--WE are cons
tinually looking for new writer's, seeking far
and wide over this great land, with the OBJ
1ect of discovering new talent and helping
those who are unable to help themselves.
- Have you a story, a novel,
poem, play--anything which you want
to publish and SELF We will give 1t every
opportunity that human power can bring
about to get probably into, print. We ask
nothing from you.''
This is interesting. It is whooping up new
talent In very robust and enticing way.
1t is giving ambition and will to thousands
to write short stories and books, and take
the 3narroWest of all chances. 1t is stimulate
ing the production of much very poor fiction
literature: 1t is deluding the new talent"
into the belief that literature is immensely
profitable. How many books of fiction get
prohtably. into print? 2" How many Of them
get beyond the thousandth Impression? Very,
very few And is it not assuming entirely
too much for the manuscript hungry pub
Usher to tell the new talent that your
work is probably plenty good; it is all be-
cause they don't know you" that it fails to
taste type! Successful authorship is not
easy. It cannot be made easy by the best
of publishers unless it. has intrinsic value
the quality which will make it go with
the public who read
NEW ROCKS
NIr Whitman: A story Of the. Esri-
gaMds. By Elizabeth Pullen (Mrs. Stan
ley T. Pullen). Boston Lothrop Publish
ing company.
There is some real humor in this story Of
an American, by instinct and inheritance, the
hero of the book, who upon receiving a
legacy of 5000 from a deceased uncle car
ried out lcng-cherished purpose Of visit
ing Italy, partly for recreation and partly
in the interest of his: business firm. He found
at Naples a former Italian friend who had
lived in New York and was introduced to his
family and fell in love with his sister. After
few days of bliss he went away to look
after his business; was captured by brigands
and made himself so popular with them that
they elected him their chief, and he had to
undertake the job, the hrst business" he
had being an. attack on the stage coach in
which happened to be his lady love. 9 Out of
this climax of, adventure Whitmans keen wit
brought him triumphantly with most anus
ing episodes Suffice it to say that >he had
reason to pay the cabman in New York more
than double fare for wheeling him from the
steamer to Is hotel. b. ,s,t'-... g. >.
What Is Religion: And Other New Arti-
cles and Letters. By Lyoff N. Tolstoy.
Translated by Y. #Tchertikoff and A. c.
Fifeld. New York: Z T. Y. Crowell5 & Co.
Tolstoy, in this book, emphasizes his re-
lgious views somewhat wore specifically
than heretofore, and includes among the pa
pers his reply to the synod of the Holy
Orthodox Greek church which last year ex-
communicated him, a proceeding which he
has rather courted than avoided, as 1T gave
him better opportunity to set forth his
convictions on religious tolerance. He de-
clares that he has certainly renowned the