The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-07-22
Dm Tho [l6G@paDY W@p0go

was thus interviewed in LOndon). he
wants to correct this false impression
and he hopes to do it by writing a series
Of five historical novels. The obvious
thing for American readers to do Is to
buy Mr.. Churchill's books as rapidly as
they are published and learn the mean
ing of patriotism. 1t is to be hoped
at the same time, though, that the great
reading public will not accept Mr..
Churchills descriptions of scenes, man
ners, ETC., as absolutely correct. "Rich-
ard Carvel' certainly did not give a
true picture Of colonial life, nor did
The Crisis give an accurate knowledge
of the Civil War period. Mr.. ChurchilTs
next novel will go pack further in point
of time than 1.-The Crisis" which will,
in fact, be the third or fourth in chrome
logical order in the series. 1t happened
that the author had several friends who
knew Lincoln intimately, and he gives
as his reason for writing The Crisis"
when he did the opportunity to collect
his material before it was too late.
-
The student of c~hirography would
doubtless be much interested in a COM
parison Of the writing of Conan Doyle
(now Sir Arthur Dcyle) and that of
Edgar Allan Poe. Each wrote a small,
regular hand and made few corrections.
The manuscript OF "The Hound of the
Baskervilles' is now being exhibited in
this country, and it is a most remark
able piece of work, from the point of
view of clear, legible handwriting. There
are very few changes or erasures; the
painstaking character Of the great de-
tective seems to be a quality of the
novelist who created him. There are
few erasures or changes even in the
most thrilling parts Of the story. and
when these ave been made, it is evil
IDENTIFY with the purpose of making the
story clearer. 1t is singular that both
Poe and Doyle should have the same
general characteristics in this regard,
and the question naturally arises as to
the handwriting expresses the
quality and manner of thought. Ger
talnly Doyle is a disciple Of Poe, so far
as his mystery stories are concerned. 1t
remains now for the ambitious novelist
to cultivate the chirography of Dickens |
or Thackeray or Scott and discover
whether the rule works both ways or not.
***
There can be little doubt that the Civil
War period is to be more and more the
field for our novelists for some time to |
come. "A novel Of reconstruction" will be
the subtitle Of more than a few stories. |
The Leopard's Spots" by Thomas !
Dixon, Jr, has attracted considerable at
tention because of it's virulence. Mr..
Dixon betrayed the fact that he was
trained as a preacher and born a South
erner; his hatred of the negro is inbred.
a matter of fact, most readers agree
with the author, but they will not all
ike his mpthn6S Tho cfnru 1oo1c ooc
tain elements of construction which even
he element Of strength will not conceal.
lt is a curious fact that all OF the really
good novels Of the Civil War period. at
east the stories which deal with the
of reconstruction, have been
by southern writer's. This con-
lltlon Will probably continue; the writer's
rom other parts Of the country do not
md cannot know with the same degree
II intimacy the truth about this matter.
And this reminds me of what will
probably be the most important novel
this fall. 1t is the latest, and
t has been said, the best work of Joel |
handler Harris, a long novel, entitled
Tolliver." Mr.. Harris has
robably a larger circle of admirers than
ny other Southern writer, and his novel
Ill be awaited with more than usual
|,
+.%
There have recently been published +
books about West Point. "Chevrons.' !
novel by Miss Lippincott, which will 6
lterest girls, and Life at West Point" /
men Will be Of particular interest to l
oys and young men. The national s
illltary academy has always been a t
'ulttul field for the romantic noyelists
lillian Bell, General Charles King and
lany other writer's have taken their a
eroes from among the cadets and their +
from the girls who, as sisters 1
40 SWeethearts, swarm about the place I
. various occasions. "Chevrons" is one t
these romances set down in black and Q
mite. Life at West Point" however. G
a serious account of the work of the a
'ademy from it's beginning down to the u
resent time, the system by which each il
ldet is trained. and a collection of in p
relating to the work required 6
enter and to graduate. If any one k
Is the idea that the cadet has an easy a
of it or that his education ia at p
| superficial he might well read this ii
'lume. Colonel Mills, the present su-
rlntendent, writes a preface, in which CT
Vouches for the authors dualifca- 81
Ons to write the book. tt