Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-28
BOOKS AND
AUTHORS

Mr. Hall Game is said to have found
the suggestion for the plot OF MS ne"
novel in a letter from stranger
Russian lady, who told him a tragic
story of how, in a remote part OF rus
STA. prodigal son, returning IN as
puise. and after many years, 10 the
home he had laid waste. was roDpeo
and murdered by his own brother.
The novelist wrote little one-act play
en- this theme, but was not able TO get
i; produced. The plot, therefore, came
in handily for the novel.
Mrs. SomervilIe, the popular scien-
tific writer, had a wonderful gilt OF
concentration. She wrote her DOCKS
dealing with the phenomena OF the u'i'
verse with the hustle OF family NE III
full swing around her. Her nuSoiiiu
once made a wager with a friend that
he would abuse her to her face wnile
she was writing. and that she "ouid
remain unconscious of it. Accordingly.
one night. as she was absorbed in COM
position, he said to his friend: "Wouid
YOU ever imagine that my wife rnuSes:
It's a fact What's more, she wears
wig and her teeth are false. Her
daughters were in roarS of laughter
but she went on placidly writing. AL
last her husband said: Mrs. SOmer-
vile" in a louder tone, and paused.
Then she looked up and asked limo
Gently. Did you speak to me. dear
Mvra Kelly authO: of Little Citi-
Zens." which ran serially in McClure's
Magazine, and has since been pub
Ished in book form, based her amusing
stories on her own experience. For
two years she was Il teacher in a school
In Fast Broadway. the center of the
foreign section Of New York. She is OF
pure Irish stock and Was born in Dub
lin.
Those nOvelists who today dwell in
obscurity. inglOrious II not mute. are
offered their chance by a London pub
Usher. He has opened First Novel
Competition" and he offers a prize OF
& 100 to the author Of the best book
submitted. Incidentally. he STIMULATES
that the successful novel shall become
his absolute property" According to
The London Daily News. the propO-
sition is not so bad. Even those who
are accounted successful seldom make.
from first novel. the half of the c 100
which Mr.. Irwin offers. The
winner who Will presumably be a very
clever writer. barters the probability Of
making c30 or Gao, plus the remote
possibility of making f1.00O. for the
certainty OF f100, plus no small credit
to his name-an exchange certainly to
the advantage of the novelist, as viewed
before the event" We wonder where
the advantage to literature comes in;
but then. perhaps. We are old fashioned
in cl1nging to the idea that even the
young novelist, just starting on his ca
Teer., ought to have some little thought
of tha interests of literature when he
gets to work with his pen. The COM
petition aforesaid may bring forth a
good book. II seems also that IL could
not but be responsible for great deal
of work done in a hOpeessly CONNER
cial spirit.-New York Tribune
THE Letters of John Ruskin to
lished next week by Hough-
ton. MifIiin & Co. will urueus-
tinnably take it's place among
the most important publications of the
year. II will be remembered that Pro-
lessor Norton was appointed by Rus
kin as one of his literary executors.
and WAS undoubtedly his closest
American friend. The Letters extend
over a period from 1855 to 1887. and
form a sort OF autobiography. for they
are the most self-revelatory of Rus
kin's letters ever printed. The VOL
umes are to be illustrated with photo
Eravure portraits. and fac simile pages
of manuscript with Ruskin's sketches
Houghton. Mifliin & Co. are prepar-.
ing for early spring publication a
autobiography of Hawthorne" by Mis-.
Nina +. Browne of the Boston Afhe-
nacum. who has been engaged upon il
for ciiny years. II will contain. 50 far
as il can possibly be discOvsaad n
reference to everything in prii,hicither
by or abeut Hawthorne. Thee..assifi.
cation and arrangement are beina
carefully considered with 4 view to
making the book as workable as posaj
bile. and there will he a double entry
magazine index which will prove esui..
cially serviceable
Thomas Hardy. in an interview with
representative of the Mancbesie O.,
Guardian. the leading English daily
newspaper outside or London. declared
that the defect i modern literature
was it's lack of a philosophic stand
point. Modern writer's. he said con.
tent themselves too much with mere
descriptions of life. Some reasoned
con'hent on life as 4 whole is essential
some sustained criticism-the out
come Of modern knowiedgt.--on the re-
lations Of man to the universe. both
now and In the past
Harper's Weekly for November q
contains. rs its most notable feature
George Harvey's brilliant editorial
comment on political affairs of inter-
est There are some remarkable pho
tographs-the first that have appeared
of scenes in and about Port Arthur
during the present siege. How q
Great Merger is Handled in Wall