The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-12
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.
sPAuLPRY.

HE Reverend pr. Henry Van
 Dyke in recent article in
 New York daily ventures the as sertion that in all probability there are not two score of writers in America who make good living by literature alone. And adds What slight burden is the support of thirty-five authors among 75.- 100000 people, Your share in the burden is Just one-half of one-millionth part of an author. What Is that compared with the pleasure that you get out of new books even though you are one of those severe people who profess to read none but old ones?'
 So that if we are disposed sometimes output Of new books, and the number of new writers that appear with each sea- son 1t is somewhat soothing to remem- Der that the individual burden or re- 1 sponsibility is after all very very slight. And as pr. Van Dyke suggests is 1t not better that a hundred unnecessary books should be published than that one good and useful book should be lost? At any rate this cheerful and charitable point of view is a very comfortable one to as sume And 1t will be needed during the coming autumn and winter months for nearly every writer of note has new work announced and the ranks seem to be largely reinforced by the announce ments of first books"
 A new work just published by one of the greatest fayorites is 'The Two Van revels" by Booth Tarkington which has just issued from the press. That 1t will be popular book goes without saying and it Is by no means surprising to note that 50,000 were sold before publication. The successor to "The Gentlemen from Indiana" and Monsieur Beaucaire" could not fall to succeed. The former work was the authors first book and the story goes that it was refused by many of | the eastern publishers and after being l pigeon-holed for a season was at last l published by an Indiana publisher, with the result of its immediate and splendid success as Is well known. Monsieur Beau caire had an even greater popularity. and in addition to the pleasing story most readers recall also the fascinating DOT trayal by Richerd Mansfield. Few stories satisfy and please us completely as ooes Monsieur Beaueaire. It is full of the gayety and the joy of life, and it's swift, dramatic power and delicacy and grace of style makes 1t a truly exceptional piece of fiction. In ""rhe Two Vanrevels," Mir. Tarkington has again selected the scenes which were utilized in his first story. It is a romance of Indiana life in the 40's. The new work Is a distinct disappointment after Beaucalre, and believe it is due more to the difference in theme and fascination of the subject matter selected rather than to the quail ity of the work. And if the subject mat ter Is not to be compared with the form CT work, still less can the characterize. tions bear favorable comparison. In Beaucaire, our foremost American actor found an adequate and really great char acter, while the Lady Mary may justly be considered a worthy second. In "The Two Vanrevels" no such creative work has been accomplished and in spirited ac- tion and forcefulness of situation 1t falls | far short of its charming predecessor. | Tho plot of "The Two Vanrevels" and the sequence of action is rather well con- eeived and adroitly executed. But the fundamental hypothesis of the story IS based upon untrue assumptions, and the consequent deception and immortality Is beneath the dignity of such a writer as Booth Tarkington. The most popular pieces of fiction may teach no pronounce | ed moral lesson, but the are nevertheless pure and healthy giving only examples of exemplary, honest creations. For this reason the central human inteest of tho stoy is not geat enough The love story between Tom Vanrevel and Elizabeth | SrHA-A%-%-&-N-@-AA->-eA