Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-20
en- up In despair and never been known
by the reading public,

en- up In despair and never been known
by the reading public,
1t Is not often now that James Whit
comb Riley gives a public reading but
when be does II is safe to say that he
Is not permitted 10 make his final bow
until he has recited IAN Old Sweet
heart Of Mine" The demand always
comes for 1t, and the poet always gives
II, graciously and with the perfection OF
his wonderful dramatic art-for Riley
Is an actor by the gift OF the gods
Many after hearing him reclte IAN Old
Sweetheart have taken the volume
containing this famous poem from the
shelf and have read II with a definite
sense of something lacking. This lack
was seven verses Mr. Riley never
having permitted his publishers 10
print his complete reading version
This year however the Bowen Merrill
con'rpnv g0ined bis CONSENT, and have
published the entire is stanzas IN o
a.t,.u. ..o.uoy VOume. To celebrate
their victory over Mr. Rileys long
cherished aversion, the publishers de-
Clded 10 make the Christmas "Old
Sweetheart one Of the most beautiful
as well as one Of the mos, important
gift books of the year with special
hand-set type on heavy paper, each
page embellshed by graceful decora-
lions designed by Virginia Keep, and
the whole exquisite story pictured In
10 full page illustrations from drawings
In color by Howard Chandler Chrlsty.
These Illustrations show Christy at his
best, and at the same time In field
that he has never before entered-ths
drawing Of children. lie has never done
anything better than the little Sweet
heart In pink sunbonnet. or the bare
foot boy as he cuts her initials In the
bark OF the old tree. When Mr. Chris
ty had finished his drawings he took
them TO Indianapolis 10 submit them TO
Mr.. Riley The author was delighted
with the artists Interpretation Of his
poem, and said, when he heard that Mr.
Christy was born and brought up on an
Ohio farm, We'll | didn't think you
could ever learn by walking on Fifth
Ave that an embarrassed barefoot boy
stood with the toes Of one foot clngng
for comfort and encouragement to the
instep OF the other" The illustrator
was charmed with the poet, as Is every
one who comes under the spell Of his
personality. and was happy over having
drawn Mr.. Rileys types to his enthus-
astlc satisfaction
II has been pointed out that "Our
Lady of the Beeches' has a charm
which was found In Elizabeth and Her
German Garden and a very few other
books the precise merit of which Is not
easily defined. Reviews Of such books
can be no more convincing than a de-
scripton of beautiful day. Perhaps
this is because the characters are thor
oughbred and are presented TO the read
er In a thoroughbred manner
=
Mark Twain is long suffering in the
matter Of correspondence loaded
with requests for favors from unknown
people, He has consequently received
the impression that when people find
time hanging heavily on their hands,
they sit down and write letter to him
asking for something These requests
are always preceded by profuse compli-
ments In my judgment" said Mark
Twain recently mo compliment has the
slightest value when It is charged for.
yet ] think | never get one unaccom- |
panied by the bill" The latest letter |
he has received Is somewhat In the ma
ture Of a climax even TO those that |
have gone before. 4 schoolteacher asks |
for his portrait in oil. There Is moth |
Ing we would appreciate so much,
wrote this admirer. with true naiyete !
at could be used for years and years
in the school" But the fact that 1t |
would cost the author a thousand dol
lars or so entered nowhere into the en-
thuslastic brain OF the correspondent.
Amusing interpretations are some
times given TO titles Of books, Within
a week d. Appleton & Co. have received