Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-08-20

siderable number of works is coming
from the old hands. One of the most
important is likely to be Rudyard
kiplng's "Traffics and Discoveries,
while the titles of some of the Others
are Whoever Shall Offend, by
Marion Crawford; "HelianthuS, by
"Ouida"; THE Bell in the For" by
Gertrude Atherton; Atoms of Empire,
by Cutliffe Hyne; 'Hurricane Island,
by Marriott Watson; The Golden
Bowl" by Henry James; The Garden
Of Allah" by r. 5. Kitchens; "A Sequel
to Three Men in Boat" by jerome X.
Jerome: and Lady Penelope" by
Morley Roberts.
The title of II. G.. Wells new story,
"'rhe Food of the Gods" must be
altered 1t has been pointed out to Mr..
Wells by a writer on cocoa that the
title already has Leen appropriated by
him, 50 Mr.. Wells has decided to call
his novel THE Food Of the Gods and
How 1t Came to Earth" The final text
of the book varies much from that of
the serial issue ana it is to be published
simultaneously in French, German, and
Italian, as well as in English.
The last novel from the pen of Henry
Seton Mcrrman is to he published at
the end Of this month by Smith Elder.
1t is entitled The Last Hope" The
scene is laid partly in England, partly
in France, in the year 1870. The story
is strongly historical, its pivot being
the alleged smuggling of the Dauphin
out of the temple after the execution
! Of his father. Louis XVI.
At last novel of the RuSsO-Japanese
war, II has been written by one
Ja:lknff Prelooker and is shortly to be
published in English. 1t gives what is
declared to be an authentic account of
| the general internal condition of
| Russia. especially since the outbreak of
tie war. A Russian count turned to a
| leader Of the revolutionary party and
an English girl of independent means
| who has been trained as a nurse are the
chief figures in the romance.
F. Marion Crawford is now engaged
mt his home in Italy upon the conclud-
| ing chapters of the novel which he will
bring out in the autumn under the title
story of modern life in Rome and
Sicily, the central character being an
| Italian child who is surrounded by
adverse circumstances.
Clara Louise Rurnham the talented
author Of "Dnctnr Latimcr" and other
novels delighted a large audience re-
Gently by her reading at an entertain
IN t..
land She gave among other Splec-
tinnS scenes from The Flower Quest,
the book which is to be published this
fan Readers Of doctor l.atimcr' Will
recall the fact that some of the most
interesting events of the novel take
place on this beautiful island in Port
| land Hlrbor.
8. r. Crockett has prepared as his
| contribution to this years juvenilia Il
volume called Red Cap Tales: Stolen
from the Treasury Of the Wizard of the
| North" He makes this remark about
lit: -Four children would not read
Scott 50 told then these stories-and
| others to lure them to the printed
books. much as carrots are dangled be-
| fore the nose of tn" reluctant donkey.
| Does this mean that Mr.. Crockett has
been "cnndcnsing Scott queries the
| New York Tribune. We hope not. but
| in thes" days of bookmaking almost
anything seems to he possible.
| Joseph Conrad has formulated lit
| erary creed. and has taken the troubl"
to write it out for the benefit of his
| fellow laborrrs in the vineyard Of let
tiers. instead Of sefiShly keeping ii in
the recesses of his mind for his pri-
waite personal Use. The great danger
in thus laying before the world ones
literary beliefs is, of course. that, once
people know what these are. they are
often unComfortably ready to meas
me up ones future work by the self
imposed standards. He is a brave man
who thus frankly hands To others the
instrument of his possible destruction
Mr.. Conrad places himself on record
in this fashion:
| 1t is only through complete, I'M
swcrving devotion to the perfect blend
ing of form and substance; it is only
through an unremitting, never dis
couragel care for the shape and the
ring of sentences that an approach can
he made to Elasticity to color: and the
light Of magic suggestivencss may be
brought to play for an evanescent in
stant over the commonplace surface of
words; of the Old. old words, worn
thin, defaced by ages Of careless usage.
The sincere endeavor to accomplish
| that creative task, to go as far on that
road as his strength will carry him. to
70 undeterred by faltering, WEAKNESS
or reproach. is the only valid juStifi-
cation for the worker in prose. And if
his conscience is clear his answer to
those who. in the funess OF n wisdom
which looks for immediate profit. de-
mand specifically to be edited, con-
| Soled. amused: who demand to be
promptly improved, or encouraged. or
| frightened. or shocked or charmed
must run thus: My task which / am
trying to achieve is by the power of
the written word to make you hear. to
make you feel-it is, before all, to
Imake you see. That-and no more. and
it is everything. If | succeed, you shall
find there according to your deserts
encouragement, consolation. fear
charm-all You demand: and. perhaps