The sun., 1903-12-09
ROCKS AND BOOKMAKING.

The unfortunate reviewer of books peered
YEARLY over the pile of Christmas season
fiction.
"Ive been thinking about story that
was told me last autumn by doctor who
has a Job in New England insane asylum"
he said. There's a woman patient up
there who walks up and down, up and down
the corridor Dcessantly. My friend no.
ticed her the first day he went to the in
stituion and asked her what she was doing.
oh. I'm catching up, I'm catching up,
I'm catching up she gasped, but she didn't
stop walking for a second.
well, see my finish" and ne waved his
hand despondently at the unreviewed
novels,
Mans Place in the Universe" is perhaps
the most notable among this weeks books
DIR. Alfred Russell Wallace, the author, is
the dean of English scientists and.
though so. is with this new book plunging
into one of the most vigorous OF his life
battles When, short time ago, he an
nounced that science corroborated the
theological view of the earth as the centre
OF the universe, scientists arose and smote
him hip and thigh Far from abandoning
his theory he declares that in his book he
has met every adverse argument and proved
his point.
II will be remembered that DR.. Wallace
shared with Darwin the honor OF first ad-
vencing the theory OF natural selection.
He worked out the theory while i'll in the
Malay Archipelago and sent an abstract
of his work to Darwin who had mean
while worked out the same theory and
shown the results of his work to Lyell
Darwin offered TO publish DR.. Wallace's
letter and give him first credit, but it was
finally agreed that he, too, should prepare
short abstract from his manuscript. and
the two should be published side by side
Admirers of the late Hugh Scott. whose
pen name was Henry Seton Merriman,
will be glad to know that he left two un-
published novels which will soon be given
to the public.
Much has been written of Mr. Scott's
hatred of publicity. but, according to his
intimate friends he was not SO much averse
to publicity az indifferent to it. He was a
light hearted philosopher caring little for
fame, and not at all for society and was
never to bemet in any literary gathering.
Stanley Weyrnan and he were close
of Europe II. health in early years sent
Young Scott wandering in far countries
and t. the end Of his life the wanderlust
burned in his blood.
Mark Twain who left America to spend
tie winter in Italy for his health's sake, is
now il London and reports that Italy has
already benefited him greatly.
The story of the estate which Gele;t
Hurgess has bought in Provence sounds
|e Joke, but the hunor list sweaTs that it
} sober fact.
The property is in Bauk, that picturesque
old hill town which is one Of the sights of
the Midi, and it comprises Il prolnortory Y
of pine covered gravel, hemmed in by
orchards Of olive and fir. There is a ruined
chateau on the land-a chateau destroyed
by Richelieu. and there are, moreove,
dozens Of second century Roman sarcophagi
which are to be excavated next spring
Adjacent are prehistoric caves where
were discovered the oldest human remains
Nearby is the Valley d Enfer which inspired
Dante with the stage setting for his Purga-
tory. The site commands fine view of the
Mediterranean and ground. chateau. tombs.
view and all. cost Mr.. Burgess the colossal
sum of $40
The quest of a delectable land wherein
to buy real estate seems to interest a large
number of latter day writers. One writ es
a book and buys an estate Grub Street
is but a memory.