The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-24
AMONG The BOOKS
Herbert Brewster on the Liter
airy Outlook.
How Kipling's "Kim" Is Re-
garded by Literary Men.
STANDS AT THE HEAD.
Interesting Preferences of Well
Known Authors.
STANDS AT THE HEAD
Mr.. Kipling's Suit Against
American Publishers.

A score or more Of leading authors
were recently asked to name the novels
of 1902 they had read and considered
good enough to read second time.
Most of the number placed kipi1nR
kim first. one author adding that shc
had already read the book six times. AS
second fayOrite came fThe Nlrglnlan,
followed by THE Blazed Trail, The
Valley of Decision and The Two van
revels." The question is not entirely
novel one but the usual query put TO
present day authors IS;
What is your favorite nOvel2'
Thus the whole field Of fiction is left
omen for their choice If a company OF
people were asked which novel is most
I praised by the Aleading authors. it is
doubtful If many could reply correctly.
Fielding s Tom JONES' one of the
first novels ever written, is not only re-
loeiving more praise today than any
other. but almost from the time It was
published it has ranked as the greatest
novel. The opinions Of various well
known writer's on novels are oftentines
as diverse as they are interesting.
Conan Doyle says that, in his opinion.
THE ClOister and the Hearth" is with
works of Scott, and of recent writer's he
says that James M. Rarries writings
give him the most pleasure. AS to his
own work he considers THE White
Company" Tar and away the best he has
done.
Sir Walter Besant placed Lorna
DOone" first, as did G. A. Henty. There
are many writer's still living who agree
with these two. Sir Walter also had
much to say in praise of Thomas Hardy,
ranking Tess of the D'Urbervilles'' sec
Ond. OF the writer's still living, he re-.
garded Meredith as the best.
There seemed to be much exchanging
Of compliments along this line among
the authors. for Meredith is said to
place Thomas Hardy first of living
writer's. He mentions Scott. Thackeray
and Dickens as the greatest novelists Of
H Rider Haggard places Stanley
Weyman's a Gentleman Of France" in
the first position so far as present day
writer's are concerned. but he confesses
a great admiration for Doyle's THE
White Company" He does not venture
to pass Judgment on the novelists who
have passed away, but one can imagine
him favOring Scott above all others
Edna LyaIl thinks Dickens the great.
est novelist, but recommends also
George Eliot and Thacl1eray, George
Gissing faeors Charlotte Bronte, Mere
Robert Louis Stevenson placed Scott
ahead Of all others. his favorite books
being Guy Mannering," Red Gaunt-
let and Rob Roy" in the order named
Henry Esmond."
Thackeray. himself. always had the
highest admiration for Tom Jones'"
and placed Fielding head and shoulders
Rudyard Kipling has lost his suit
against an American publisher for an
alleged infringement of trade mark a
litigation which has been dragged along
for nearly three years. No more than
fifteen sets OF his works were involved
IN the matter and the courts held that
kipling had no legal claim in a trade
mark which he had failed to register at
the time he entered the suit 1t Is not
at all unlikely that this suit turned
many of his American admirers from
him because It came just after the great
food Of sympathy for him because of
his very severe illness, but it must be
admitted that Kipling was greatly mis-
understood IN the matter. 1t was not
a matter of dollars and cents with him
as is shown by the statement which he
had made a the time.
In this matter" he wrote, Mr. Kip
4 ling feels that he owes it to his profess
sion to ascertain if under the laws of
the United States, persons without au-
thOrity are q liberty to advertise. pub
/ lish and sell as an edition of an authors
I works a collection of writings consisting
I in part Of matter authorized By him in
part of matter not written by him, in
part Of matter not authorized BY him
/ and bearing upon its face indications of
that authors personal approval and au-
thorization, ia sufficient measure to mis-
I lead the public"
Doubtless the thing which angered
mr.. kipling more than anything else
was the inclusion in the unauthorized
I edition of biography which to speak
/ the truth. was filed with inaccura ciea.
Unfortunately a great many stories
have been circulated about KiplIng
which are not in the least true and the
I compiler Of this Kipling biography had
evidently collected together all Of these
/ stories he could finds
The matter is probably closed now,
| however.