The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-05
KS AND THEIR MAKERS.
Douglas Wiggin (Mrs. Riggs) has

Maine. Her publishers arc ANNOUNCING
twelfth edition Of -Rebecca,' bringing that
popular story up to a total of 10000 copies,
while her new book, THE Affair at the
Inn" is already in its twenty eighth
thousand. The book is, indeed, unique
product in that it is a quadruple COL
alteration, written during her recent
visit to Scotland, when she and her
sister. Miss Nora Smith, stayed with the
noted Scottish sister authors, Mary and
Jane Findlater. Each Of tho four writer's
assumed the part of one character in the
story, and the collaboration under these
circumstances must have been as fascinat-
ing to the writer's as it is interesting to the
readers. Mrs. Virgins herself possesses so
keen but kindly a sense Of humor that she
never offends, but is able to make even an
Engishman see that he is absurd and enjoy
laughing at himself for it.
1t ia interesting to learn from the London
publisher Mr.. j. NJ. Dent that quarter OF
q million copies of THE Temple Shakes
peare" are sold annually. and that Of this
total 100000 are sent to America. The
comedies sell far more abundantly than tho
tragedies. Dante is more popular than
Byron, and of all the Temple classics 'The
ESSAYS of Ella" are most frequently in
demand.
Mr.. Dent himself, off duty, is the most
delightful of companions, quite the reverse
Of the ogre one always fancies behind
publishers desk. THE little man in gray"
he was called in Florence, where he delights
in spending his holidays, and where with
his gray clothes and gray hair, cheeks like
winter apples, eyes merry as a child's
and genial smile he has quite won the heart
10 ,In
morning to greet him as he passes from the
villa on the hills where he stays down to the
CITY where he talks great deal about work.
ing, but never seems to be doing it. His
dearest fad is photography, and he has
charming groups of the picturesque chill
dren for which England is famous, which
quite exceed in artistic beauty anything
the professional photographer can pro-
duce.
Mr. Mark Twain has left his Italian villa
for permanent residence in America. to
the great regret of the large English speak
Ing colony in Florence. Mr.. Twain insisted
upon learning Italian only by proxy, his
wife and daughters wrestling with the
vagaries of Italian verbs while he went on
placidy speaking English to the Italians who
eagerly sought his acquaintance and listen
ing courteously to their remarks in Italian
But as he whimsically explained 'as nobody
understood anybody, everybody was salts
fed" The striking figure crowned with
snow white hair was often seen in the fash
ionable drive along the Arno and pointed
out with keen interest by Americans and
Italians alike to visitors in the city.
The sudden death OF Samuel Ives Curtiss
in London will be deeply regretted by all
readers interested in the study Of the relig
ious beliefs and customs of the East His
most important work, primitive Semitic
Religion of To-day" is deservedly valued
on both sides of the Atlantic on account
OF its originality and accuracy resulting
from the writer's personal and intimate
acquaintance among the wandering tribes
OF Syrians and Arabs. Such an intimacy
is not lightly proffered by nor easily acquired
from these dignifed jewellers in tents.
The main topics in e1-Preeident Cleve-
lands book. which will come out this au-
tumn, are the Venezuelan Boundary ques-
ton, the Chicago riots, the bond issue and
the independence Of the Executive. These
topics, all treated from the point Of view
OF the Executive will form at once an
exposition and defence of the principal
ndtlOT''l anu eNeuts vi tHe
ex-President's second term.
One Of -the features OF the season." as
one says of fashions in dress, is fad for
color books. 1t first manifested itself in
London and quickly crossed the Atlantic
to make the booksellers windows as fasci-
mating to the eye as they have always been
tempting to the mind. One of the most
attractive of these new books is Mrs. A.
Murray-Smiths Westminster Abbey" with
paintings by Mr.. John Fulleylove repro
duced in their original tints. Mrs. Smith
is the daughter of tho late Dean of West
minister who will be remembered by her
Roll Call of Westminster Abbey" and
Mr.. Fulleylove's pictures in The Holy
Land" enttle him to high rank as an illus
traitor of the new school of color.
The American Monsieur Beaucaire has
been discovered and will no doubt ulti-
mately find his way to the stage to thrill
the soul OF the matinee girl between boxes
of bonbons and drinks Of soda water. His
name is Louis lie Debonnaire,' and it goes
without saying that as the story is American
the hero is relative of the King of France.
Royalty itself has no such reverence for
royalty as is found in democratic America,
where men have died to be Tree from 1t,
but woman will sell her birthright for the
sake of a crest on her note paper. Now this
Louis lie Debonnaire, who is a creation Of
William Farquhar Payson, made a wager
that he would win the hand OF the belle of
New Amsterdam, the betrothed of Mynheer
Van Bruch, Governor of the old Dutch city;
and by his blythe spirit, ready wit and skill
ful sword play he won his wager and the
maiden with it. 1t is just the sort Of ro-
nance the young person will revel in il she
hasn't been spoiled, and that the old person
who hasn't forgotten all that is worth re-
membering will rejoice in as we'll.
Will Irwin, Mr.. BURGESS co-author OF
The Reign of Queen Isyl" and The Plea
ROOM has just met with serious affection
In the loss of his dearest animal chum
Pcaroon, which loss, he says, has for the
time robbed him Of all desire to write.
Picaroon' was a somewhat unprincipled
black cat who acquired the name she later
gave to the last Burgess Irwin book from
certain providing, thievish habits she had,
IL.