Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-09-24
Gossip from the World of
Books-Review Of New
Books Authors Plans
for the Season-Notes.

| lence. IL L SnOulu say or DO any
thing out of character in a sequel, or
anything not in accordance with the
wishes of my readers, l really think
| they would rise in body and rebel.
| Rebecca has so unexpectedly raised
up friends for herself, that 1 am in
a delicate position, not having quite
the courage, thus far, to extricate
| myself"
The authors recognition of the
| fact that never is long hard
word suggests the hope that the
courage TO eXtricate herself will. be
| forthcoming.
The readers of the Philadelphia
Public Ledger have finally determined
which are the ten best short storie.;
eXtant in all literature. That nine of
the ten We're written by American
authors would be a matter of intense
national pride if it We're not for the
fear that possibly the Philadelphia
judges verdict will not be generally
| accepted. A very eminent publishing
house has recently issued Il volume
bearing this title, Journalism and
Literature" The author does not
cOncede for 4 moment that the words
are in any manner Synonymous. While
it may be admitted. therefore, that
the readers of the Phila delphia Public
Ledger know a good paper when they
read it. and are judges of jOurnn liSnl.
there still remains ground for debate
as to whether they are well qualified
ard impartial judges Of literature.
The I.edcer'S contest WAS deter
mined by popular vote cast by the
papers readers. The ten stories
| ceivinG the highest number of votes
were declared the tnn best stories in
| all literature. The fact that Marie
Cornell. Laura Jean Libboy, Mrs. T..
| D. f.. y. Southworth, Hall Game. Mary
J. Holmes and other writer's of similar
! ilk. are not included in the decamernn
of Immortality shows that the con-
| test did not appeal to school girls ANA
| milliners apprentices. The Ledger is
| Il staid. sedate PAGER, and that if K
| clientele is distinctly American in
taste is shown by the list as deter
mined Here it is:
l. RIP Van Wrinkle" by Washing
ton irving.
. "A Christmas Carol" by Charles
Dickens.
3. "Tho Luck of Roaring Camp" by
Bret Harte.
4. THE Lady of the Tiger" BY
Frank +. Stockton.
;. The Gold Bug" by Edgar Allan
Poe.
G. "Thc Nan Without Country"
by f. f. Hale.
!. THE Murders in the Ru,
Morgue." by Edgar Allan Poe
Usher" by Edgar Allan Poe.
O. THE Outcasts of Poker Flat" BY
Bret Harte.
10. 1.-THE Great Stone Face" by
Nathaniel Hawthorne.
| With the exception of Charles Dickens
"A Christmas Carol" every story is the
work OF AN American author. But one OF
the ten is the work of d living author:
The Man Without Country" by Ed
ward Everett Hale. Edgar Allan Poe was
an easy favorite, three of his stories APP
pearing in the list: The Gold Bug"
The Murders in the Rue MorSue" and
The Fan OF the House OF Usher" Bret
stores appearing. The other i've authors
| were represented by but one story each.
II the list We're to be finally accepted as
the Judgment of poStclity the fact that
two American authors wrote half OF the
ten best short stories IN the world would
indeed be matter of national pride
II II iIlltitSilHS u lptt, however, tndt
even the winner of the Ltdger'S prize does
not have faith in Lis own list. The VIII
ner Is professor of English language and
literature III a Philadelphia college. He
submitted two lists. In one he named
seven OF the ten winners. In the othr:,
and the one which he admits expresses hi.
honest choice. he named but one, The
Luck OF Roaring Camp" The list is as
follows:
L. La Morte Amoureuse''-Gautier
"A Lodging for the Night'-Stcven-
.. la Grandc Bdcteche'-Balzac.
T. Wandering Willes Tale from
"RrdEaurtlet D-Scott.
), The Cask Of Amonillado" Poe.
6 The Man Who Would be King
Kiping.
II :. Though one Rose from the Dead
iInwclls.
y The Man With the Dogs
Maupa Ssant.
. "L'ArrlhIiata''-
H. The Luck of Roaring Camp
IIartc.
Tn winner frankly admits that one
list WAS prepared with view to winning,
the prize. The "ritcI with view to git ing
an honest opinion. 1t was foreg"ne cou-
CluSlun that to the average newspaper
reader Poe and iIarte ana Stockton wu;.Id
h. more familiar than Gaulier. steven
son. li"Yse and MaupaSsaut. If this were
NOT go. Journalism ana Ii'"ratUr"'
would never have been published and the
lucky philadtl phian would hayc had to
submit but one list.