Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-01


shrewdest publisher predict the fate
of book. The public simply takes
the bit in it's teeth now and then and
runs away with the play or book-why,
nobody knows. Last fall the public
was much interested in Gilbert Park
er's novel, The Right of Way" and
in order, if possible, to ascertain why.
the publishers printed several adver-
tsements in the daily press of the
country asking readers to kindly say
why they read this book. The replies
were curious. From all over America
and Canada came letters,-1,4S6 in all.
These were carefully tabulated with
this result:
I'll said they had heard it favorably
spoken Of by friends who had
either read it serially or in book
form.
46S had seen it advertised or both
advertised and reviewed.
ia had read reviews of it.
sc had read something the author
had written previously and liked
his style.
81 had read the serial themselves,
and wanted the book in conse-
quence.
% replies gave frivolous reasons
because they had the price,"
because "a fool and his money
are soon parted" because they
We're dull and wanted something
exciting" because they wanted
something to talk about" be-
cause they read all the new
books" they wanted to be up
to date" etc, etc.
All this leaves the publisher pretty
much where he started. But one thing
is clear. While readers, in the long
run, are the best advertisers, it is the
review, and in some cases, as in this
one, the serial publication at the out
set, that sets them talking. In other
words. the first vogue of the popular
| novel is due apparently to the man
who reviews it.
People who are still wondering about
the authorship of AN Englishwoman's
Love Letters will shortly have their
curiosity gratified, as the London
| BOokman announces that it has rea-
son to believe 1.-The secret of the au-
| thorship will shortly be made public"
| Mr.. Barry Pain having shifted the re-
| sponsibility from his shoulders and no
| one having been able to fix it upon
Mr.. Laurence Housman, the mystery
has only deepened with the discussion.
There is a love story in the February
Harper written by this unknown lady
of literary quality-if, indeed it be a
lady-and appropriately called THE
Story of Amabel and Amoris."
| In recent number of Harper's
Weekly there is an article entitled
1 al 90
the Year." in which the writer, crit
ic of authority, cites 1.-THE House of
the Green Shutters" by George Doug
las, and 1.-THE Strength of the Hills"
by Florence Wilkinson, as the two
novels Of the year which have most
engaged his interest. The critic draws
an analogy between the work of Mr..
Douglas and that of Thomas Hardy.
and compares Miss Wilkinson's work
to Wordsworths in it's deep sympathy
with man and nature. and it's serenity
of spirit. Miss Wilkinson has recently
returned from a long visit to the Adj
rondacks, in the region whence she
drew her inspiration for THE Strength
of the Hills"
1t has been announced that Miss
4
MIA. is the original of the character of
Rosalie Evanturel in The Right of
Way" 1t is stated that Mr.. Gilbert
Parker, the author. met the young
lady at Oberammergau. and was
struck by her resemblance to the type
of woman he had in mind for the
heroine of his novel. Miss Roland is
described as a typical young American
woman, who goes much into society,
is fond of horses and dogs, and is as
sympathetic and devoted to duty as
Resale was. The report comes from
the other side that 1.-The Right of Way"
is now selling faster in Scotland than
in England, where the reading habit
is not so strong as in the north.
Mark Twain has added two new
maxims to the worlds already valuable
collection. They are as follows: I'VE
ought never to do wrong when people
are looking" and mo real gentleman
will tell the naked truth in the pres
ence of ladies'" These nuggets of
wisdom appear in his new novelette,,
"A Double barrelled Detective Story"
which is completed in the February
number Of Harper's Magazine. The
London Academy is SO pleased with
these new witticisms that it is moved
to suggest the publication Of Mark
Twain's Own Book of Maxins," which
ought certainly to be Illuminating as
practical guide to conduct. "A
Double barrefied- Detective Story" will
be issued in book form in the spring.
The friends of Miss Margherita Ar
lima Hamm, formerly of Bangor. will
be interested to know that James
, Potts & Co, the New York publishers.
! announce for immediate issuance, her
latest book, entitled, Visits to the
Homes of Great Actors and Actresses.
Owing to the great interest in all
matters pertaining to the stage. 1t is
expected that Miss Hamm's volume
will De in great demand.
Mary E. Wilkins-who is now, ac-
cordiig to the cards sent out from
Randolph. Mass. in January l. Mrs.
Charles Manning Freeman-was So
journing in Washington when new
acquaintance encountered there asked
her what she thought Of the rough
handling which popular heroes as Ad-
miraJ Dewey Lieutenant. General