The sun., 1903-12-16
ROCKS AND BOOKMAKING.

In the many "reminiscences VI hcTperI
Spencer the humorous element is generally
conspicuous by its absence. One OF the
anecdotes, however, has distinctly humor-
OILS side and suggests a valuable expedient
for social sufferers.
I'pon the occasion OF a visit to literary
friend Mr.. Spencer appeared with certain
oueer contrivances adjusted just above
his ears The curiosity OF the assembled
company was fired, but soon satisfied, for
Mr.. Spencer calmly announced that the
objects were ear clips, and, the moment
the conversation became uninteresting to
him he pulled the clips over his ears In order
that he might think in quiet.
]. j. Bell Of "Wee Macgreegor" fame has
ready for publication another book Of the
Scotch genre type. 1t is to be called Mrs.
McI,erie" and is a collection OF comic epi-
sodes grouped round central personality
quite amusing enough to hold the sketches
together.
Since the publication OF "Dr. Lavendar's 3
People Margaret Deland has had many
letters from folk who apparently have
accepted DR.. Lavendar as real person
and who write to protest against the pipe
and the occasional drink which Mrs. Deland
has allowed her delightful dominic, and
which her correspondents regard as perni-
cious blots upon the fair fame Of an other
wise admirable old gentleman.
These correspondents OF Mrs. Deland
will doubtless turn from Joseph Conrad
and all his works in shuddering horror, II
they hear that authors explanation OF his
mastery Of English.
Mr.. Conrad is Pole by birth and lin
gust by requirement. At 10 he went to
Marseiles and shipped upon a French
vessel During a long cruise he perfected
his French. When the ship returned to
France tho Alien law had gone into effect,
and being foreigner, young Conrad was
not eligible longer for service in the French
Navy.
An English merchant vessel happened
along Just then and he Joined her crew
Then his education in English began, but
il was not from his fellow seamen that he
gained his marvellous command of vigorous
Anglo-Saxon.
At every port missionaries connect ed
with the seamen's missions offered the
sailors Bibles. Mr.. Conrad invariably ac-
cepted the gift with enthusiasm, not because
Of inherent religious tendencies but because
the thin Japanese paper OF the volumes
made excellent cigarette papers. However,
before using each leaf, he conscientiously
read every word on it and thereby not only
obtained much food for thought, but also
acquired an English vocabulary and an
English style that have made 4Falk" and
his earlier books masterpieces OF English
prose fiction.
Still another story Of tho writer and the
fragrant weed:
VIII Irwin has within the last few
years done some clever writing. He is
modest concerning his literary feats, but
as q smoker he fancies himself All the
length and breadth Of the Pacific Slope
resounds with his fame as blower Of smoke
rings.
So far as is known, he holds the worlds
record, and when a noted visitor is enter
tained at the Bohemian Club of San Francisco
conversation is hushed and @all the air
. solemn stiffness holds" while Mr.. Irwin
blows seven smoke rings through each other
and follows the exhibit by blowing seven
smoke rings linked together like links OF
q chain.
As Humpty Dumpty might remark,
There's glory for you
Owen Wister threatens to make himself
with the members Of the COM
pany playing the dramatization Of "The
He has accompanied the play
upon its travels and has. so far, rewritten
it three times. Moreover, he says he'll
ha haa Il ~,
version that he likes.
This same @virginian" has inspired an
other book, which is almost ready for pub
lication. o. Henry, who is in real life
Sydney Porter, and appears under variety
Of pen names, has made himself the desired
Of many editors and publishers through
certain amusing tales of Texas, Mexico
and Arkansas. He has now welded num-
Der Of these stories into continuous novel
a la 'Virginian." and we shall doubtless
have other fiction made according to Mr..
Wister's successful recipe
The Austrian Emperor has his troubles,
and among them might be reckoned the
and unsparing author of
The Martyrdom of an Empress and "The
Of a Princess" This writer,
who appears to have an exhaustive knowl-
edge of all things pertaining to the Austrian
royal family and the Austrian court, and who
has not hesitated to tell all she knows, has
now published sn intimate biography of
the Emperor F,- 'ris Joseph under the
title of "A Keystone of Empire
Senator Albert j. Beveridge tells an
story of his experiences while COL
Letting material for his new book. 4The
Russian Advance"
Mr.. Beveridge is given over to conjuga-