The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-28


ever, the shocker element dropped out,
and An Irish Cousin" was the result
of their joint labors. Since then the
two have made several tours together,
each of which has been followed by a
book which relates their experiences
Probably the Irish r. NJ" story is the
best known and best executed story
they have written It is understood
that another book will come from them
this fall.
Within a short time a complete edi-
ton of the works of John Ruskin will
be issued, and strange as it may seem,
It viii contain more matter than such
an edition would have contained had
Mr.. RuSkin been living. The present
editors and publishers are OF the Opin-
ion that Mr. Rusl1in was too careful
and too exacting with his own work.
Take the case Of 1.-The Seven Lamps
The manuscript as it now stands ready
for publication has had restored to 1t
some good words which Mr.. Ruskin had
cut out. There are also numerous notes
from diaries which the editors declare
are not personal chronicle, but are
pages OF set literature.
Mr.. Ruskin had peculiar methods OF
writing, and as we have noted, he held
himself rigidly to a standard of per
fectlon- Nothing was too much for
him, says Mr.. George Allen, his pub
Usher, and nothing could be too we'll
done. He would get up in the night.
forthwith to put it on record. He once
said, what was very true, that he never
wrote a line for money. He wrote be-
cause he had something to say. If he
had not been a rapid as well as a care
ful writer, he could never have got
through so much work I am thinking
not only Of his books, but of the many
letters which he was in the habit of
writing. I think I have myself a thou
sand letters from him. and most inter
esting they are"
Two of the best historical novels of
the present season locate the scenes of
their actions mainly in the Mississippi
valley. 1.-The Mississippi Bubble" is
fairly we'll known. and in spite of the
fact that it is a popular" book, it is a
piece of fiction which does credit to the
author, Mr.. Emerson HOugh. 1t is said
that the publishers have delegated to
representative the task of making the
book the best selling volume in twenty
cities. No reasonable expense is to be
spared in this plan Just what effect
these methods will have on the book
trade is not clear. At any rate. Mr.
Hough is to be congratulated, provided
his contract calls for a royalty on every
copy of his book sold, regardless of the
expense of its selling. The other Mis-
sissippi novel in mind is In the Eagles
Talon, a story of the Louisiana Pur-
chase. The author, Mrs. Sheppard
Stevens, is not unknown to the book
world, out II IS doubtful II she mas done
50 good a book as this last. The ca gle
in the title is the great Napoleon, who
has become infatuated with a cousin
Of the hero. This young man, Louis
Lefreniere, leaves the wild country
where St. Louis now stands. and goes
to France to rescue his cousin. The
new and old worlds are contrasted in
a way which makes the reader prefer
the purer atmosphere of the great
Louisiana territory, but there is moth
ing impure in the story or unpleasant
The revelation of NaDoleOn's character
is saved by his own act in signing the
Louisiana Purchase treaty and thus
making the young girl a subject of the
United States.
Theodore DRESSER was so unfortunate
a year so ago to publish book
through a firm which, for some reason
or other refused to place more than a
half dozen copies of the book sale.
The fact that the London Academy called
this book one of the two best American
novels of the year did not seem to alter
the publishers determination to kill the
work. Mr.. DRESSER. however, has finally
arranged for the purchase and transfer
Of the plates and contract to another firm.
and Sister Carrie viii shortly appear
in new and attractive edition Mr..
DRESSER is now at work on the proofs of
another novel which he completed re-
Gently. The theme is moral one. as may
be inferred from the title THE Trans
gressor." It is the life story of a young
woman who feels justified in making GER
tain changes in the accepted standards
and who sacrifices herself because of