The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-22

to natures heart for struggling young
authors that he. will be doing a great
service to literature 1t is doubtful if a
single publisher will agree with him.
There is too much stuff written now. Ir
one book is published out of ten written
there are produced in this country now
nearly one hundred thousand book MSS.
1t is not at all unlikely that the proper
ton is much smaller and consequently
the results of writing much larger.
Projects of this kind for the improve
ment of literature get little sympathy
from the men who are responsible for
the books now issued, but this is not at
all because they think the present
standard is good enough. The publish
ers, above all others are really most
anxious to issue better books, but they
do not believe better books are to be
had by making the task easier for the
ambitious writer's than a present.
AS a matter of fact, few take the plan
of the Californian seriously. any more
than they took seriously the report that
Booth Harrington will propose bill i'll
the Indiana legislature whereby prizes
will be offered for literary efforts of In
dianians.
Frank Norris in the few years of his
life in New York. advanced from q
oierkshin 10 a 7ublishing ho1se to the
independent position of a successful
novelist, and his death a few days ago
cut off most promising career as
most pronounced realistic novelist AS
1900 -
Norris li6 very creditable work, and the
short stories which preceded him east
ward made possible his connection with
a New York house. 1t was just at the
outbreak of the SDanish-American war
that Norris reached New York, and his
enthusiasm for the real activities of life
led him to the scenes of the skirmish
line and camp. When he returned to
New York he divided his time between
proofreadins and the handling of sub
mitted manuscripts and the labor of
writing. L think it was 'McTeague"
that came out of this arrangement. Then
came a fairly sufficient degree OF pros
perity, and the young author went back
west to claim his heroine, "Piix," whose
love story he had previously written.
1.-The Trilogy of Wheat was Mr.. Nor
ris' next work 1.-The Octopus" made n
success as a book a year ago, and THE
PITT is now appearing as serial; the
book is promised shortly, and those who
have read it say that it is. by all odds,
the best thing he wrote. Not more than
a month ago he completed his final re-
vision of the proofs.
Mr.. Norris death came at most I'M
fortunate time He had Just given up
his plans to sail on a wheat steamer out
of San Francisco in order to collect ma
terial for the last book of the trilogy.
The. Wolf because of his failing
health and had bought a ranch close
by the Slace of Mrs. Robert Louis
Stevenson. AS soon as it was learned
that he had appendicitis he was taken
10 a san FRANCISCO hospital. lie d1ed
two days after the operation. He left
a wife and one daughter.
Jack London. whose Daughter of
the Shows was recently published. is
making a study of East End slum life
in the worlds metropolis which serves
also as his surname. Mr.. LONDON is a
forceful writer OF the under side of
things but it is to be doubted If he
viii be able TO equal the present Dick
ems of that quarter-Nr. Arthur Morri-
son.
An astonishing fact about the latter
is that he is, at the same time so many
other things than the writer of Stun
stories He is said to be the best auth
Gritty in England on japanese art--he is
furniture and other rarities He lived
for six years in the East End, attain
ing considerable local fame as a Dugsl-
list and fighting while studying some of
the worst criminals in England
When his last book, The Hole in the
Wall was issued not long ago, great
many New Workers inquired of the pub
fishers whether the English author had.
by chance. copied the name from that
of a famous Sixth avenue saloon run
at one time by Carey WEIGH. The N
quiries were repeated to Mr.. Morrison
who writes that THE Hole in the Wall"
is a common name for a pub in Lon
don and occurs generally when the pub
lie house is surrounded by bigger build
ings which overlap its front. AS mat
ter of fact, Mr.. Morrison has never been
in this country, whereas the founder OF
the first Hole in the Wall at New
York so named his saloon shortly after