The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18


 since Daisy Miller" brought it's author into popular fame. Apropos of this fam ous story of an American girl, MT. James recalled, in conversation with a we'll known literary man who met him on his arrival, the treatment which the story met at the hands of publishers. It was first offered to Lippincott's Magazine, and declined To this day, MT. James said, he has been wondering why, for of all his works Daisy Miller makes perhaps the most popular appeal. He acquiesced in a remark that An International Ep- isode,' while not so successful in a way, was a better story than Daisy Miller" MT. James was so interested in the al- tered appearance of New York, however, that he seemed to regard his own works as of less importance at .he moment by comparison, and Daisy Miller,' as a subject of conversation, gave precedence to giant buildings and other American achievements.
 Mark Twain's most recent portrait, painted by Edouard Gelli, the leading portrait painter of Italy, is now on ex- hibition at the St. Louis exposition. The pictured is reproduced in Harper's Week. ly of September 3. It is a fine piece of work, and as a portrait 1t had the ap- proyal of Mrs Clemens. Two or three weeks before her death in Florence it was taken to her room and left there while she studied it throughout the after noon as her failing strength permitted. She so thoroughly approved it that after Its exhibition in America she wished to have 1t returned to her, to be hung in the villa at Florence, where her health compelled her to remain. Her death was fpd hxr har fof, +h warning came only few hours before it occurred Mrs. Clemenss judgment of the picture has been confirmed by art critics. The artist, Professor Gelli of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts at Florence, is portrait painter to the court of Italy. and has numbered many other royal personages among his subjects includ- ing the German emperor, the emperor of Austria, and the king of Siam. He re- ceived the Grand Prix at Dresden last year for triptych of the Passion of Christ"
 Sir Gilbert Parker, whose new novel "A Ladder of Swords" is just unfinished by Harper & Brothers. Is the author of thirteen other books of fiction. of wbicb ''The Right of Way" achieved the ereat. est success. Among his other novels and stories perhaps the best known are When Valmond Came to Pontiac', ",rhe Seats of the Mighty" and "The Battle of the Strong. Besides fiction, he has written volume of poems entitled "A Lovers Diary" several plays. and a book of travels known as Round the Compass in Australia" Sir Gilbert was born In Canada on November 23 1862 His father was Captain Parker and Sir Gill; bert himself is honorary colonel of the First Kent Volunteer Artillery He was educated in Toronto, at Trinity college. and at twenty-four became associate ed- itor of the Sydney Morning Herald, at Sydney, Australia. After extensive tray el he settled in England, where he has passed many years, entering parliament as member for Gravesend. He lives in London in the season, and is a member of the Carlton and Garrick clubs. He was created knight by King Edward in 1902. Like so many other distinguished Eng lishmen, Sir Gilbert married a young American woman, Miss vantyne of New York
 The only book Mark Twain expects to publish this autumn will be his much talkej-of story of "A Dogs Tale" to be issued by the Harpers on the 18th of Sep tember. The illustrations, which will be in color. were drawn by w. T. Smedley. and the story will be bound as a gift book, with special view to the holi- days.
 Joseph Conrad's new novel, Nostromo. was published September 15. The book is said to be the most remarkable work thus far produced by this writer It transports the reader to a South Amer ican republic, where the Genoese sailor Nostromo has drifted by the chances of rate and been drawn into drama of deep significance. Nostromo swaggers through scenes of love-making or earn age or intrigue with equal sang-froid. MT Conrad. who has sailed over every wave of the Seven Seas, thorouehlv knows the region he describes in Nos