Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-21


Sphinx" had been the most successful
OF his recent books which 10 rather In
teresting as the work Is claimed by Its
author as one of the only two real
novels which he has written--the other
being Whom God Hath Joined" Be-
sides these, Hume has written nearly 10
books. but the latter he prefers to call
Just stories"
Fergus Hume's name has been IA
miliar one for 30 long that most people
suppose him to be an old man, As a
matter of fact, he Is only 40, the eN-
PLANTATION being that his first success
with THE Mystery OF Hanson Cab
was made when he was only %. The
story of how this romance came to be
written Is an uncommonly interesting
one. As boy Of II Hume, who origin
ally had settled In his mind to be a law
yer got his inspiration toward author.
ship through reading Monte Cristo,'
but his first try for fame was made
with play. II was disastrous, Then
the young man decided to try his hand
at a novel, but being Of practical turn
of mind, he had no idea Of wasting timo
upon unlucrative forms Of literature, 81
he went to a Melbourne publisher and
asked frankly for what kind OF stories
he found the best sale. Detective stor-
les, especially Gaboriau's," was the re-
ply of the man of books. Hume had
not read the Frenchman, but he
promptly bought a complete edition or
his works and started In to find out how
successful detective stories were writ
ten. That he did find out THE Mystery
OF Hanson Cab" ia proof, 1t made
Hume's reputation, and the young au-
thor lost no time In following up this
frat success with Madam Midas"
THE Man who Vanished and The
Girl from Malta all of which used to
be favorites at home.
Hume came to England In 1888, ana
since then has lived and worked down
In Essex. He Is fairly tall, compact or
frame, and a great walker. HIS hair IL
dark, he wears haVy mustache, and
his face Is virie, with a strong Jaw
and a firm chin. Writing Is business
with Fergus Hume, He goes to ms
desk every morning as regularly as
business man goes down town. ana
generally works eight hours day. All
his work IL done on typewriter. VI
late. he has returned to his first love-
dramatic authorship and with success,
a play of his In blank verse having been
accepted by Sir Henry Irving ana an
other. called "Iionors Divided, by an
other London manager.
Hume is full Of stories about his eN-
perlences, but none OF them IS Detter
than that which relates how the author
once unintentlonally frightened an ola
lady out Of a railway carriage Travel
ing down toward London with a friend
one morning, i'm 'Conpartneht
which was also occupied by an elderly
dame. Hume was discussing literary
difficulty I'm which he suddenly found
hn
know how to murder any one In new
way" He noticed that the old lady
prlcked up her ears, but. interested IN
his subject went on 1--WE killed at
least 20 people, and I'm looking for q
new method II must be brand new
The elderly female got out at the next
station.
IL IL long time since Mr.. Zangwill,
occupied as he has been with his zion
Isl work. has treated readers 70 MS
views on current topics, ana the galey
OF nations has suffered In consequence,
but he Is about to do so once more, IN
the columns OF the London weekly, To
day" OF which Jerome *. Jerome USED
10 he editor the famous Jewish writer
will contribute a lengthy series OF aru; ,
cles. apropos of passing events, ana
be called without Prejudice,
The statement has been challenged
here which was made by the late Frank
Norris 10 the effect that George Mere
dlth has only within the last few years
made more than $500 out OF any one
Of his world famous novels IL IL
stated that the usual price paid 70
Meredith by hls publishers for ro-
nance was between $1,000 and s2,5oO.
The surprise Of the sale Of the fam
Gus shelley" hook for $4,000 at Sothe-
by'a the other day was that none OF the
several American agents were success
ful In bidding II in. The prize was, OF
course. the pamphlet OF Original Poe.
try bv Victor and Cazlre"-Shelley and
his sister--of which only two copies
| exist This copy was given ORIGINALLY
| by lie printer 10 Charles Phl''ips, tho
| collector, At the auction Sothebv's
was filed with n crowd OF book dealers
| and connosseurs, and the bidding was
lively The first offer OF $500 was ig
| nored by the auctioneer, and the next
bid was 1880, Then the price went nv
rapidly, $50 at time. the Americans
being especially eager, but finally the
latter dropped out and n competition
followed between an ENGLISH prIvnte
! collector and dealer. the former final-
| w winning. oddly enough. this gentle-
| man. I. j. Wise. also possesses the
other copy OF "Victor and Ca2ire.' Ry
| the way this sale brought out the fact
| that the highest uriCe ever paid FOR n
onok WAS s22, 7bO, this gum having been
given for volume OF psalms at the
| famous Syston Park sale IN this coun-
Try
| A rather queer literary coincidence Il
the fact that day or two after the
publication here Of Bliss Garments new
| volume of poens, "The Pipes OF Pan
Mrs. Craigie copyrighted az Biming
ham her latest play, which Is o'illei
1.-THE Flute Of Pan H. e.