The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-30

gunsmith and asked that the discharged
clerk be reinstated in his position. 1t is
understood among the friends of DR..
Doyle that he prefers to be known by
them as before. He is most of all
anxious to avoid making literary capital
out of his title. 1t seems very sensi-
BILE sort of wish and there is no reason
why it should not be respected.
The story Of DIR. Doyle recalls the
book which, more than anything else
brought his knighthood. 1t was his de-
Tense of the English army, which was
tributed free in several countries of
Europe and in the United States anu
Canada. The way he came to write
the pamphlet was, in way, accidental.
He CHANGED to be travelling to London
one day when he overheard two men
discussing the many criticisms of the
army. One Of them lamented the fact
that there seemed to be no one who was
ready to take up the defense of the
army and the refutation of the charges
made by French and German papers.
Why couldn't do that?" thought
DR.. Doyle. Within a few days the
masses of information and writing as
rapidly as possible His former work
on the BOer war was doubtless a most
excellent preparation for the labor
intended the publication in various
countries and interested so many 9TH
ers in the work that the subscription to
defray the expense of distribution was
some six thousand dollars in excess of
the needs. Now DR.. Doyle proposed
to devote this sum to the establishment
of a military scholarship in one of the
schools of England.
George Barr McCutcheon has made
his second venture into the Zenda field
of fiction. Castle Craneycrow" is the
title Of the novel. and it has just beer
published. 1t is unusual to begin the
fall season in the middle of the sum-
mer. but doubtless Mr.. McCutcheon's
publishers wished to get the book out
ahead of the flood of fiction which is
sure to begin month or SO later on
Castle Craneycrow'' takes it's name
from a huge castle hid away in Luxem-
burg, where the surprising adventures
OF young American and his friends
who are leagued with him in his en-
deavor to capture his hearts desire,
come to an end, or perhaps we should
say, come to a real beginning. For the
story is not one of the new kind of
BOOKS which end disagreeably and hold
public favor because of their strength
and realism. 1t is pure romance and
without comparing the novel with the
authors previous story, we can at least
promise for him an interested lot OF
readers for it. Mr.. McCutcheon has re-
Gently moved to Chicago, where he will
devote himself entirely to writing. He
is one of the younger band of writer's in
which are included George AIDE. Booth
harrington, John T. McCutcheon and
several other natives of Indiana who
have attracted considerable attention
within the past two or three years.
When the literary map of the United
States is finally made up Holman Day
will doubtless be given large share of
Maine as his particular field. Mr. Day
mas brought out another book of verse
which brings the reader near to the gem
u1no New EsnQl9ndar His ,av.
ume Will perhaps stand first, but pine
Tree Ballads" will surely be appreciated
by the same readers.
Verse like the following is like to en-
dear the author at least to those who
have come out of the Pine Tree state:
Here" Her no for the masterful men o Maine,
South they go and west they flow,
The men that do and the men that know.
And Fame and Honor. Power and Gain
Come to the call of the men of Maine.
But away up back on the rock piled
Are the gnarled old dads with corded
arms
The dads that give these boys O. Maine
Health and strength and grit and brain.
Now the masterful men who have gone
their ways.
Need none of my humble words of praise
So here's best I have for the dads. the
Who have shaved and saved to raise these
sons.
Here's hail and again for the Maine.bred
lads.
Then a triple hail for the dear old dads
In the preface Mr.. Day has outlined
his purpose. to present these plain tales.
in verse of the men whose hands are
blistered by blow handle and ak or
whose calloused palms are gouged by
the travis. Their heads are as hard
as the stones piled round their acres.
Their wit is as keen as the bush scythes
with which they trim their rough pas
lures. But their hearts are as soft as
| the feather beds in their spare-rooms. -
| 1t seems unbelievable that a 1nild of
| ten years could have written five novels,
seven plays and one volume OF poems,
| but such is the account of Carmen
d'Assilva, a prodigy who is just now re-
ceiving much attention in Paris. Ac-
cording to the accounts received here
/ the girl is approved by Sardou as a
playwright. by lola as a novelist and
| by Rostand as poet
1.-The Confessions of a Wife" now
| running as an ANONYMOUS serial in one
!, of the magazines, will be published in
book form sometime IN September. A
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