The San Francisco call., 1903-01-11
CONDUCTED By
3. G. LATHR0P

coucefts. Il is with feeling Of sad
ness that one reads Frank r. Stock
tens last book. John Gayther's Gar
den and the Stories Told Therein,
Tor with fl goes in close attendance the
realization that this is the last work We
shall ever have from the pen Of that
clever hurnorizt- StOcktou's death last
April was certainly q great loss 10 the
literary world Although he lived TO the
ripe ace of IS and had been a prolific
writer. stilI his books. all OF them, added
50 much 10 tighten the cares Of the world
that his was a pen that might well have
been spared indefinitely 10 go on In the
good work of increasing the worlds hap
Iiness.
Francis Richard Stockton was born i'm
Philadelphia April . 1894. and after grad
mating from the Philadelphia High
School he took up journalistic career.
For some time he performed various du
ties on different Philadelphia and New
York newspapers. He began his career as
an author by contributions TO magazines
and later joined the staff of Scribner's
Monthly. u he followed by an assistant
edit0rship on ST. Nicholas He has many
fue Juvenile stories 10 his credit. but fin
ally made a name for himself by that
peculiar 'st0cEtOnian humor" so well
cXempifed in The Lady or the Tiger,
"Rudder Grange" The Casting Away of
Mrs. Lccks and Mrs. Aleshine.'' and by
his story OF last year, Kate Bonnet, the
Romance Of Pirates Daughter"
This lsst-"Kate Bonnet" published by
J.. Appleton & Co--aWakened all sorts
Of controversy among readers and critics
because il Is so difficult TO draw the fine
lille correctly as TO just where Mr. Stock
ton is in earnest or in jest. People who
worry about authors fntents and pur-
poses discovered all sorts Of subtleties on
the part OF the writer and some even went
80 far a. 20 think that possibly NJ.
Stockton. inspired by the success Of the
historical novel, had gone into serious
work Of that character ano-had not made
success, Finally the consensus Of Opin-
ion has sifteo itself down TO the same
level that IL has arrived at on other Of
Mr. StOcktOn's writings and has decided
that after al Kate Bonnet is simply
The old ''StOckt0nian humor" 10 the fore
again ard his pirate story is an admirably
written traVesry written simply TO enter
tain. which il does well.
AT the time Of Mr.. Stockton's death
Kate Bonnet' was already assured
Success. so before his last illness he at
least enjoyed the satisfaction that comes
10 an author who learns that the child OF
his brain is being welcomed by an ad-
mIriug public. just prior 10 this time he
had finished a book of short stories,
destined TO be his last, and had placed
them in the hands of the publishers.
Charles Scribner's Sons. New York. Upon
the authors death the publishers set
about 10 carry cut in every way the
wishes Mr.. Stockton had expressed re-
gard ing the pubiica ton Of this book. and
II now appears in its present form under
the title Of John Gayther's Garden and
tho Stories TOD Therein" This last book
contains eleven stories. more whimsical
in vein than the book Of short stories,
"Aheld and Afoat," that preceded Kate
Bonnet"
The book gets its title from the name
Of the gardener, John Gayther. who
works in the garden wherein assemble
from time to time THE Master of the
House" The Mistress of the House."
Y he Daughter of the House and all of
their friends. who come 10 tell a story or
u listen. This method OF presenting short
stories, though NOT entirely new If we will
bark back to the days Of Boccaccio, is
none the less effective. for in this case it
not only gives 10 the tales some degree Of .
continuity, bUt 81 affords Mr.. Stockton
Ru excellent opportunity to place in the
mouths OF tho fictitious personages Of the
garden criticisms Of the stories as their
narration prOceeds-criticisms that sound
very much like many we have already
heard from Mr.. Stocktons readers when
the afternoon tea huns merrily and fc-
ton is the topic Of conversation. For
those who worry regarding intent and
purpose here is a Stockton book that
has a guide post for every denarfllra
from the ordinary. 1t can be especially
recommended 10 those who fumed for SO
many years over the solution of the
Lady or the Tiger difficulty; but then
II may be well TO remember that possibly
this is merely another OF the authors
subtle sarcasms, for the Stocktonian
hImor IS Of the kind that laughs either
With you or at you, whichever way you
ar pleased 10 take it.
There Is no end Of variety TO the stories
told in Gayther's garden. so the reader
need not fear any dull pages. The author
runs the whole gamut OF possibilities In
the story-teller's art, and you can find
anything there, from the quaint and oddly
mysterious 10 the simple and daintjIy
charming. One, THE Conscious Aman-
"a. is probably the most unique love
story YOU have ever read. Every one Of
them is wei worth reading The only
sac part Of the reading is that realization
that must come 10 you that this is the
last work we shall ever have from a
writer who has made so many happv mo-
ments In the land as has Frank r. Stock
ton.
Below is an extract from one of the
stories, "Blackgum Ag'in' Thunder" Alb
ner Is 2 farmer who has made I'm his
mind 10 make name and money for
himself IN the WOrld-to become like thu
black gum tree. impervious TO lightning.
Bis wife does not agree with him. but
that does not at first daunt the suddenly
turned ambitious Abner, so he goes 70 the
village and as first step on the road 10
fame and wealth agrees TO guard the vii
laEe library while the Librarian takes n
vacation. Here is an account Of his In
terRiew with Joe Pearson, which ter
inmates in some very lively times for Alb
me- when he eventually explains their
scheme 10 Mrs. Abner:
Have you got any books on eggs7' -
J do1r know said Abner but I can
look MEat kind Of eegsP