Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06

are practically common property. There is
no copyright on them as they are passed
about On social circles. and III in the course
of time man hears o1o and by arusuc
telling stamps 1t with his own personality
and makes 1t his own. he IS entitled To me
telling of 1t without protest. He knowingly
runs the risk of being caIla1 to account,
not for his borrowing. but for MS DTavaoo
in venturing upon familiar ground. mo
this privilege extends even TO the pleasant
little fiction of the narrator giving the Sti,ry
that peculiar personal twist which causes
1t to appear though al individual eX-
perience. That is part of the risk, ana II IL
makes for entertainment. none should op-
ject.
Maurice MaeterIinck greatly surprised his
American admirers. VINO knew little OF
the man. although familiar with the au-
thor. when he published his semi-scient,ilc
work on the bee. Amusement was Freely ex-
pressed that he should have found tt';is 20
make so exhaustive study OF the insects,
and to have moved aside from his chase1
literary path to embody his discoveries 'ad
impressions in book. From the eNnltna,
tions of Maeterlincks life which followed
ample evidence was obtained that the
dranatist is an ardent lover OF nature IN
all her FORMS and further proof Is recently
at hand in a delicate article on Oid-Fash-
Toned Flowers" in the Outlook, Whlcn
breathes the spirit of the botanist as vel.
as of the poet.
Robert Herrick is regarded ny many
readers as one of the coming noveilses OF
rare power. Thus far he is chiefly known
by his short stories. which have dealt with
minor domestic questions, the trfais Oh
childhood and the Ike, displaying hEniy
sympathetic temperament long mover
from his pen is now running IN the Atm
tic and is attracting considerable attention
for it's strength. 1t is intfmated that MI.
Herrick's plot, which is not yet fully re-
vealed, in a remarkable manner foresnad-
owed the Iroquois Theater horror III mi
cago, of recent dreadful memory. The hero
of the story is young architect who runs
counter to the commercial requirements OF
his patrons.
Where was Henry Harland born? That
question may become in time as interesting
as the historic query as to Homer's birth
place. Only with this difference, that there
was rivalry over Homer's place OF be-
ginning until long after his death, whereas
Mr.. Harland in the flesh is considerably
worried by the conflicting statements as TO
his natal city. who Who?" for instance,
asserts that he was born In st Peters
burg. Certain legal records give his birth
place as Brooklyn, while Mr.. Harland him
self declares that he first saw the light in
Norwich Conn. OF course, Mr.. Harland
is not an infallible witness, acquiring his
own knowledge solely by hearsay, but In
aSmuch as he has expressed a preference
in the matter it is likely to be honored not
withstanding the conflict with the law.
There is no end to the Louisiana purchase
publications. Despite all the books which
have appeared. during these last few years
of American expansion, by force of his
toric suggestion. there is yet fresh material.
and, remarkable to relate, some of 1t is in
the hand of Thomas JEFFERSON himself Of
such nature is portion of a forthcoming
Houghton- Miff1in volume, under the title
Louisiana Purchase Papers" one of
which, it is announced. is by the first ex-
pansionist President on THE Boundaries
of Louisiana" which has never been pub
lished heretofore This is to be accom-
panied by the famous journal Of William
Dunbar, recounting his journey up the
Red and Washita rivers which will like
wise now see light in book form for the
first time.
From this same press will next week ap-
pear Mayor George B. McClellans essay on
Venice. concerning which much keen inter-
est has been aroused by reason of the re-
cent political success of the author. 1t is
said that it will afford a surprise to those
who have ignored or never, heard of the
literary side of Mr.. McClellan's tempera-
ment.
Marmaduke Piekthall, whose clever story,
said, the F'isherman''-pronoun Sab
eed' reviewed in these columns
last week. acquired his knowledge of the
Arabian character at first hand by living
in the SumS of Damascus and other east
ern cities and talking and eating with the
scourngs of the earth there congregated.
He is a remarkably accomplished lguist,
and is especially fond of attacking strange
and difficult dialects. 1t is related of him
that his Italian lingual studies have result
ed in such blend of speech that the Nea-
politans invariably suppose him to be
Tuscan, and the Tuscans accredit him TO
Venice. but that no Italian has ever suS-
pected him to have been born outside of
Italy.
It is unusual in these days to learn that
an author is ayerse to the publication of
his portrait But this is true of Eden PHIL
potts, author of 1.-THE American Prisoner"
recently noted by The Star. He is rare
exception among writers. and stands thus
in class with Marie Corelli, whose dislike
for this particular sort of publicity has
amounted to a veritable passion Miss
Coreli, in addition. will not tell her age,
which differentiates her from Mr.. PHIL
potts. who acknowledges nearly forty-two
years. During a recent trial of libel suit
brought by Miss Corelli against a news
paper publisher enterprising artist
cured a sketch portrait of her, which upon
publication revived the authors ire against
the newspaper press in general and came
near to causing an additional suit at law.
1t threw light not only on her personal ap
pearance-not altogether to the delectation
of her worshpful admirers-but upon her
probable or at least her possible age indi-
eating that she has been rather longer In
this place of existence than Mr.. Phillpotts.
The latter, it is interesting to note, was
born in India, his father being an army Of
flcer. He studied for the stage after serv-
ing some time in a fire insurance Office.
His success as an actor seemed extremely
doubtful, and he took to literature as
profession, in which he has scored a dis
tinct success