The San Francisco call., 1904-02-28
BREVITIES
About tbe Authors.

- OJLOWERS OF Izaak Walton viii
welcome a book on Putnam's new
4 list. entitled THE Anglers Secret
The author is Charles Bradford, who Is
already known for his earlier volumes,
THE Wild Flower" and The Deter
mined Angler" The latter work,
which was called by Grover Cleveland
The most pleasant and practical and
sensible volume I have ever seen of its
kind" was devoted to brook trout only.
This new book, which is fully illus
trated. treats OF the sporting species or
both fresh and salt water f1sh-from the
tinv mountain trout to the mighty
striped bass of the ocean. 1t contains
= f1u description of various tackles and
the methods of catching these fish, TO-
gether with notes OF their habits and
habitats.
The latter part of the book considers,
rot so much the methods Of actual
fsh-killing as the glory of the chase
the lovely scenery, pure air. the natural
exercise and the general exhilaration.
All these things are appreciated by the
true and chivalrous angler more than
the actual filling of the creel.
Nav if be taken for good proof of
a gracious Providence watching over
literary persons that none OF the three
men of letters who were shot at In
1903 was even hurt? The lady who was
cruelty said to stand for the heroines OF
"I,ettres de Femme" IA very arduous
pcst-missed NJ. Marcel Provost; Mr.
Kenneth Grahame's erTGtic assailant
suecumbed to the influence OF the Bank
of Fngland's water hose, and Dr. Max
Nordau. the fearless champion of our
own poor country, was equally for
tunate in his escape. None the less.
tbis shooting at literary persons is
rev and discuieting sign. In the case
of ROYALTIES. we have it on the au-
thority of one of themselves that as
sessination is one of the perquisites OF
rhe position. Perhaps literary persons
begin to pay the penalty of the popular
fame bestowed by paragraphs and IL
lustrated interviews.
Edgar stanton Maclay, author OF
"-rhe History of the American Navy
is preparing a unique series Tor the
Raker & Taylor Company. which prom
ises to be of great popular and histor-
teal interest. The first volume OF this
saries will be Moses Brown, Captain.
II s N" Not even Mr.. Maclay, who
has written the most authoritative
ard comprehensive history Of the
limited States navy, knew OF Captain
browns two sensational victories over
Rritish ships in the war of the Revo-
lution. The record Of these seems to
have been lest save in England. al
though Captain Brown has thousands
of descendants who have radiated from
his Newburyport home. He was one
of the stern old privateer captains Of
the Revolution, who afterward entered
the regular service, commanding the
Merrimac and conducting himself for
.nany years with great valor. The gen.
eral title OF this series will be I'm
known Heroes Of the Navy" and Mr..
Maclay promises enough Of them to
startle the average student who feels
that he knows the history Of the navy.
At least one of Frederick Palmer's
friends takes issue with the reviewers
who say that the idea of THE Vaga-
bond" is too romantic to have occurred
in real life. Certainly if any one knows
real life either at home, where the
scene of his novel is laid. or abroad, it
is Mr.. Palmer himself, who. at 80, has
been in five wars. has encircled the
world both by India and Siberia and
has roamed the length and breadth of
his own country as correspondent.