The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-15
7N Iss JARRETT MONROE of \VH Chicago has compiled a list of
 recent books which have

recent books which have reached a circulation of 100000 copies The list appears In the February num- Der of The Critic. and from it some facts very flattering to the south may be de- duced. Of the twenty-eight best selling books in America twenty-one were writ ten by Americans. Of this number the north and east produced seven, the west three, and the south nine. Although David Harum," written by an eastern man. leads the entire list, with a sale of 727, 900 copies, with this exception the sale of books by southern authors Is greater than the sales of either north and east or west The list shows that 2,273, 900 books by southern writers have been sold, against 1,S02,oOO of northern and eastern authors and 1.250,0O0 books by western authors Such a fattering state of af- fairs would lead one to believe that In the course of time the south will rank first in the literary production of this country Considering the difficulties that have been surmounted already, there Is every reason to predict that the south will some day supplant the east in this respect
 Unfortunately, perhaps, not one of the twenty-eight books named in the list is destined to live. Indeed most of them have already ceased to Iftract attention, and although they are familiar to every one just now, they are no longer read so eagerly and will soon be forgotten. Yet every one of these books has been xryffbf in, Ia Hya of them have enjoyed reign of popular ity which lasted for a few months or year and then ended. When these books first came out they were devoured by thousands of readers who did nothing but talk. write and dream about them, but when the fever had passed the quondam favorites were cast aside for something new. A book that makes such an impression is seldom destined to sur vive for any length of time.
 In the list compiled by Miss Monroe are to be found David Harum," 'Lovey Mary" "The Leopards Spots" "Black Rock" "The Choir Invisible" 'gThe Reign of Law" Richard Carvel," "The Crisis "The Eternal City, Dorothy Vernon" ''rhe Manxman,p When Knighthood Was in Flower" "To Have and to Hold" and Audrey" by Mary Johnston. Bertha Runxle's Helmet of Navarro" Kiplings Jungle Book" "Eben Holden.' Cables "Chevalier," Pages "Gordon Keith" Hugh Wynne," by S. wier Mitchell and several other works that have been read in every part of the United States. Among the south ern authors Miss Johnston's "To Have and to Hold" leads the list with 300,00O copies, the others averaging from 1OO 900 to 250,000 copies
 Yet critical review of these books shows 8 few of that class which leave a lasting impression. In twenty-five years probably not one will be remembered by the general public, in spite of the enthu- siastic assertions of publishing houses. Kipling's Jungle Book" may servive and one or two of Hall Gaines works may be read in after years by students of the problems of life which apparently give the Manxman so much trouble, buc some of them have passed out of public notice even now, when the ink has scarcely dried on their pages.
 certain gentleman who was formerly governor of Idaho has had the courage to abandon the bothersome necktie and has created furore by appearing In Chicago without this article of dress. This gen tleman very sensibly concludes that neckties are nuisances and has determ- ined that they shall make his life mis- erable no longer, regardless of what the public may say. When one comes to think of it a necktie is about the most useless thing that man wears. No one denies the utility and comfort of shoes and socks to keep our feet warm, hats to keep off the sun and the rain, collars to protect the neck from cold. and cuffs to perform a similar office for the wrists, as well as nearly every other article of dress to be found on the average man, but for neckties there Is no excuse from