The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-06
THE LITERARY OUTLOOK.

A Newark gentleman, who is interested
in literature and whose hobby is dates, re-
Gently read Charles Wagner's book. The
Simple Life and noticed that in the IN
PRODUCTION Wagner's birthday was set
down as January 3. 1852. born on Sunday
morning. By chronological formula
which he carries in his head, the New
arker figured that January 3, 1852, did not
come on Sunday but on Saturday Com
mun1cating with Wagner's publishers, Nc
Clure. Phillips & Co.. he was by them re-
ferred to Miss Grace King, who wrote the
Charles Wagner. and in the course Of time
the Jerseyman received a chara acteristic
communication from the French divine and
author It was postal card in English
parts. April. 1908.
Answer to the question made to Miss
Grace King IN your letter from 7 April
Sunday. the and not the g January, 1852
morning at 10 o'clock With VT k kind regards.
This was addressed Newark, n. J., New
York O. S Az, and the eminent
letter, as he did not receive the note Of in
quiry until April 18th, yet dated his reply
April 2. So Mr.. Vail has a literary curl
osity which he justly prizes.
Arthur stanwood Pier the author Of the
novel Of the oil fields. THE Triumph - Just
published by Mcclure, Phillips & Co.. is
one Of the many whom the siren literature
Mr. Pier was to have been lawyer, but
a combination of gifts, fate and success,
EdlQ nay. ana now, Win three SuCCeSSTul
novels to his credit, he is not likely to give
rein to his legal aspirations.
He was born in Pittsburg in 1873. His
father, who was a lawyer wished his son
to be one and took charge of the young
ster's education. When Mr.. Pier entered
Harvard university, however, he tell
among the literary sharks" proved him
self soon an able writer and thereafter had
ambitions for himself Immediately on
graduating he was offered an editorial po-
sition on the Youths Companion, which
he accepted This, with. the success that
fr4I chi aTf rf0 nd
sketches TO the current magazines. had
met with. decided him finally TO give up
lished his first book, The Pedagogues."
story Of the Haryard sumner school His
story. Of modern American life.
late as did Shan F. Bullock's Writers of
novels are usually the most vorac1ous
readers of them, and behind every novel
lists work extends a romance-readlng
habit leading back into the days Of child
hood and to the nursery. Mr.. Bullock was
almost a full grown man before he ever
fact IN my fathers house. says Mr..
Bullock IN explanation. novel reading
was unknown and forbidden. The strict
PuritaniSm of such North ireland homes
mine IS almost incredible. but 1t is the
usual not the uncommon thing" It was
only after having departed from the pa
ternal roof and having enrolled himself as
a student in Kings college, London, that
he had the opportunity to do as he liked
in the matter Of reading. I snail never
forget how I read in those days, he says.
7 read continuously every spare moment.
George Eliot's works made the greatest
impression on me. / can never forget how
l enjoyed Adam Bede.' That comes first
of ALL I have been reading George Eliot
recently but you may be sure not with the
same pleasure. Time seems to have rob
bed her of some of its charm
The efforts Of Prof. Simon Newcomb Of
Johns Hopkins university. author of the
popular book on astronomy. Astronomy
for Everybody have been enlisted to
make the scientific side of the St Louis
exposition a success. During the year II
the fair an lntsUEa tlo1al oong1 ess of sci
ence will be held in St. Louis and Prof
Newcomb has been sent to France as the
official representative of the exposition to
arouse interest in the congress among the
scientists of France and secure their AZ
tendance and cooperation He sailed for
Europe the latter part of May.