The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-06-22
The Literary Outlook.
(By Herbert Brewster.)

(By HERBERT bFeWSIeT.J
Collaboration is an art which seems to
flourish in England more than in Amer
lea. Witness the long period of literary
partnership which existed between Sir
Walter Besant and Mr. James Rice.
Kipling and Wolcott Balestier> might
have been doing novels together to this
day, but for his untimely death of the
latter shortly after the completion of
1.-The Nanlahka'' Perhaps it is the
English disposition, though in the case
just cited Balestier was transplanted
American For out on thePacifc-wash-
ed shores of Samoa. Robert Louis Stew
enson and Lloyd Osborne found combined
literary efforts congenial-another case
of international amity in the province
of letters AS a matter of fact. how
ever, few literary partnerships exist in
this country, and, proportionately, many
more exist in England.
One of the most successful of these
writing firms came into wide prominence
not so long ago under the names.
Martin Ross and o.. E. Someryille.
There was considerable surprise when
it was learned that the pseudonyms
concealed the identity of two Irish girls
cousins, Miss Violet Martin and Miss
Somervlle. 1t had been supposed by
many, at least by those in this country
who read 1.-The Experiences of An Irish
r. NJ" that the authors were men.
Even the editors who correspondent with
them about their MSS. used to address
them as men until the authors would
one day walk in and announce them
selves by their pen names.
Miss Martin ind Miss Somerville are
granddaughter of Charles Ken
dali Bushe, formerly chief justice OF
Ireland and a great wit and orator in
his day. He must have been man of
extraordinary literary and artistic
tastes because all of his descendants
have been more or less imbued with one
or the other talent. Among the best
known of these are w. G. Wills, the
dramatist; the Hon. Mrs. Greene,
writer of short stories; Mr.. Plunket
Greene, the singer, and Robert Martin,
q poet of no mean ability.
The two girl cousins had written a
little separately before they met. One
day they CHANGED upon a curious old
house, which suggested the plot of a
story. sprained knee of one of them
started the work together. They decided
to write Shilling shocker," what We
in America would call yellow back.
Before they had gone far, however. the
shocker element dropped out, and "An
Irish Cousin was the result of their
joint labors. Sinse then the two have
made several tours together, each of
which has been followed by book which
relates their experiences. Probably the
Irish r. M" story is the best known
and best executed story they have writ
ten. 1t is understood that another book
will come from them this fall
Within a short time q complete edition
of the works of John Ruskin will be is
sued, and strange as it may seem, it
will contain more matter than such an
edition would have contained had >.
Ruskin been living The present editors
and publishers are of the opinion that
Mr.. Ruskin was too careful and too ex-
acting with his own work. Take the
case of THE Seven Lamps" The manu-
script as it now stands ready for pub
LEGATION has had restored to it 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 we have noted, he held
himself rigidly to a standard of perfec-
ton. Nothing was too much for him. -
says Mr.. George Allen, his publisher,
land nothing could be too we'll done. He
would get up in the night, if an idea oc-
CURED to him, in order forthwith to put
it on record. He once said what was
very true, that he never wrote a line for
money He wrote because he had some
thing to say. If he had not been rapid
as we'll as a careful writer. he could
never have got through so mucn work
/ am thinking not only of his books, but
of the many letters which he was in the
habit of writing. l think | have myself
thousand letters from him, and most
interesting they are
Two of the best historical novels of the
present season locate the scenes of their
actions mainly in the Mississippi Valley.
THE Mississippi Bubble" is fairly well
known and in spite of the fact that ii
is a popular" book, it is a piece of ic-