The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-26
The Literary Outlook.


1t is now definite fact that Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle will write another series
Of Sherlock Holmes stories. A leading
American weekly has acquired the
American serial rights to the work, and
the rumor that il has agreed to pay at
the rate of one dollar a word has gained
the paper considerable advertising, as
we'll as turned the heads of many young
ambitious American writers. The dollar
a-word story cannot be vouched for;
doubtless Sir Arthur is to receive one
dollar a word, more or less, for the serial
rights of his further Sherlock Holmes
adventures, not alone in this country,
but including England and it's colonies
If the American publishers of the serial
matter are paying twenty-five cents
word, they are perhaps paying all they
should though no character in fiction has
such a vogue as this remarkable detective
creation of Doyle's. 1t is understood
that the matter will not appear serially
before next spring; the book publication
will probably take place in the follow
ing fall and will be managed in this
country by the same house that brought
out "The Hound of the Baskervilles."
Writing of Sherlock Holmes brings up
the question of an authors property
right in his characters. Certainly, II an
author is entitled to the sole use OF his
characters, provided his book is duly
copyrighted, DR.. Doyle Cor Sir Arthur,
which he prefers not to be called) mas
been a much abused man. Though Sher-
lock Holmes has not been bodily stolen,
he has furnished many an author with a
caricature 'The Adventures of Shylock
| Homes" is one example "Shedlock
Homes is another Not only has the
| thing been done by writer's; the comic
artists have freely appropriated the char
acter However, after all, the copying Of
| the character in various guises has only
added to the fame of the original detec-
| tive and. now that DR.. Doyle has brought
| him back to life and is recording his
further adventures, he should not object
in the least.
| Probably the most trying phase of the
fame which has come to DR.. Doyle
through Sherlock Holmes is the oft-re-
peated suggestion sent to him by solicit
| tous friends and admirers that he colab-
crate with his brother-in-law, E W.
| Hornung the creator of Rafffes, the
great criminal on a story of crime and
detection in which Holmes shall be pitted
against Raffles. DR. Doyle has received
hundreds of times this same suggestion,
land doubtless Mr.. Hornung has been Of
fered the same idea more times than he
wishes.
There will shortly begin serial publi-
cation in England and this country re-
lmarkable series of papers called THE
| Confessions of a Journalist The au-
thor of the article is unknown to any
one save his London agent. This latter
lperson explains that the author is a well
known author of books and writer for
the magazines, who. owing to the frank
ness of the confessions, deems it wise to
remain unknown
We have had many confessions, many
of them the products of fertile magma
lions. but these papers are unique. The
lauthor shows a remarkable familiarity
with affairs which interest not only Eu-
lropean readers but Americans as well
For example, one of his articles deals
with his connection with the Spanish
American War. He makes the astound-
ing claim that he brought the war on by
cabling an interview with leading
; Frcnchman on the subject to a leading
New York newspaper. In another articl,
, | he attempts to show that the election O
lCardinal Gibbons to succeed Leo XII il
the only sure way to continue the powe
: lof the Catholic Church and to satisf1
all ~ Al xr,rrfuu faptions in F,urope