The San Francisco call., 1904-03-20
PASSING
Notes and Gossip.

IN the March number OF The Critic
i Yone Noguchl. Joaquin Miller's pro-
teSe, writes OF the rise OF the novel
In Japan. He says:
up to 1895 novel-writing was not
looked upon as respectable profession.
The public would not permit 1t to be
called gentleman's work. 1t was re-
garded as an objectionable diversion
Of unworthy prodigies. The authors
were accused OF being a demoralizing
influence. However, the fault may be
with them, since they INDUCED. often
provokingly, in the depletion Of the
lower class Of women. The geisha was
their favorite heroine. am told that
Ogai Mori was often warned by his
surgeon general (Ogai was a higher
army doctor) that he would shorten his
dignity by his novel-publication. There
is no place like the Japanese army
where even an ill-fitting dignity Is
necessary. Once for some years Ogai
stopped writing, seeing himself IN dan
ger of losing his place. What a preju-
dice! But happily such thing couldn't
happen to-day when the invasion Of
Western thought has cleared 1t off.
Authors have come to command re-
speGt. They couldn't make a living by
writing only twenty years ago. but to-
day they are on the fair road to pros
perity, the public demand for litera-
ture of any sort having tremendously
increased"
The methods of work OF Miss Ellen
Glasgow, the author Of THE Deliver
ance," are extremely interesting. I'm
like most successful authors, she has
two periods OF work during the day.
She begins at IL o'clock in the morning,
and works until .. and then she rests.
or walks during the afternoon. After
dinner. In the evening. she resumes her
work, and works three or four hours.
4 always lock my door when 1 work, ."
she says II can't work when I realize
that l can be interrupted"
The London Academy bewails the
dearth Of fine illustrated magazines in
England. points with generous envy
to the fine art and remarkable talents"
of our American Sarah Stilwell, Eliza
beth Shipper Green. and Jessie WILCOX
Smith, and asks why it is that England
seems unable to produce editors who
can gather the best illustrators into a
band and produce a great magazine.
1t cites Harper's Magazine. the Cen
tlry. and Scribne-'s as examples OF
what can be done in America. 1t was
the American magazine, continues the
Academy. with a certain mournfulness.
that, "stecred in the artistic spirit Of
the great -Englishmen of the eighteenth
century gave US Howard Pyle and Ed
win Abbey" This magazine. as every
reader remembers, was Harpers Abb
bev's drawings for Shakespeare's come
dies. which enriched the pages OF Har-
per's" goes on the Academy, gave an
impetus to artistic endeavor in the
pages of magazines both in America
and here that It is almost impossible
to exaggerate."
The A. Vessels Company have in ao-
tive preparation for publication in the
early spring a book by Rufus Wilson
entitled New England in Letters Mr..
Wilson, who is widely and favOrably
known through his "Rambles in Col
oniai Byways" and similar works. de-
the noteworthy literary landmarks Of
the New England States, dealing with
the work OF each author in association
with it's background or environment
This method makes his book both a
guide for the pilgrim and an illuninat-
ing review for the student The result
is said TO be a delightful mingling Of
historic fact and intimate personal i'm
preston which will give New England
in Letters a distinctive and welcome
place among works of it's kind. 1t will
be profusely illustrated with photo
graphs and pen-and-ink sketches.
Bran Stoker, author of THE Jewel
of Seven Stars" which was reviewed in
these columns last week, is not in ap-
pearance the popular conception Of the
literary man." He Is both large and
ruddy, and his looks do not belle his
reputation as an athlete; for Mr.. Stoker
was once athletic champion OF the Uni
versity of Dublin, where he received
his education. Unlike some students.
his interest in university life was not
monopolized by athletics. He was also
president of the Philosophical Society
and auditor of the Historical Society,
history and composition. Mr.. Stoker is
by profession a barrister.
Professor Edward a. Steiner, who
spent much Of last year with Count
Tolstoy on his estate at Yasnaya Poly
ana, has written ''Tolstoy the Man"
which is to bear the imprint Of the Out
look Company. Writing of the doctrine
OF non-resistance to evil followed SO
consistently by Tolstoy. he says:
1T is providential that Tolstoy had
the power OF fame and the harmless
ness of the non-resistant, for these two
facts have saved him from the exile
into which have been sent countless
numbers who have provoked the au-
thorities far less than has he He lives
in open enmity against the Govern
ment. whose power over him he does
not acknowledge. whose corruption.
cruelty and hypocrisy he has sxnoso5