The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-19
hooks AND THEIR MAKERS.

inc american MIS-. lrcllope. her reHl-
niscenees embrace the social and political
life In the capital from 1858 to 1885, and
reveal state secrets with naive frankness
that give them unique charm and interest.
Her life was closely identified with the
destinies Of the .Confederacy and she was
regarded as one Of the most eloquent women
OF the South. Her memoirs are full Of
"Reminiscences Of Lincoln and Davis, Jenny
Lind, Charlotte Cushman, Thackeray and
host OF others, and, after a career which
has covered nearly eighty years, she has
written them out with all the brightness
and enthusiasm Of girl.
The facts concerning the publicat Ion
Of "Brewster's Millions" form interesting
food for reflection to those who believe
that books rely only on the fame Of the
au thor for their 81 ccess with the public.
The story was exploited as the work OF
an unknown writer, whose photographs
were published in the literary columns
Of the newspapers. Details Of the career
OF this inconnu were also printed until
81 public began to grow interested in
the new celebrity. But "Brewster's Mil
lions" was really written b George Barr
McCutoheon In six weeks time and printed
anonymously because Mr.. McCutcheon
had another new novel announced and
advertised at the time. The success OF
the work has been notable enough to con-
vince the most eosptical that literary value
is recognized and appreciated, even II 1t
does not bear the hall mark Of a popular
authors signature.
Busy persons who have no time to wander
around among the tombs OF Old Trinity
to find Charlotte Temples or ave, or to read
Mr.. Peter Simes's book Of poems, The
Muse in Town." of which many persons are
talking just now, need not feel discon-
certed at admitting the fact. For Charlotte
Temple isn't buried under the tablet which
bears her name, for the simple reason
that she never existed outside novel
written at the end of the eighteenth century.
And as for Mr.. Shines, like the famous Mrs.
Harris, there never was no such person,
except in the imagination OF Mr.. Rupert
Hughes, who credits the choice bit which
appears on the title page of "The Real
New York." and is just now 30 frequently
quoted, to the author who never lived and
his book which was never written. 1t might
be we'll to bury Peter In the same grave
with Charlotte, with Mrs. Harris for chap
eron, just to save time and trouble for
everybody In world where there is too
much to do and too little time to do it in.
King Victor Emmanuel OF Italy has just
bestowed upon William lie Quex, author OF
the new romance The Closed BOOK,
the Cross of the Order of the Crown OF
Italy, which is the highest distinction in
the gift of the Italian monarch.
Helen Keer's autobiography, THE Story
of My Life" has been transl ated into seven
languages and is being done into others.
1t has been justly called the most unique
human document ever written. Tuesday
was set apart at the St. Louis fair as
HELEN Keller Day, and an unusual demon
stration was made in honor Of this remark
able young woman. whom all nations
regard with sympathetic interest. The
story Of her emancipation from physical
misfortune reads like bit OF fiction, in
deed, too good to be true.
James Branch Cabell, whose Virginia
novel, .The Eagles Shadow is now at
tracing attention. Is a descendant Of two
Of the Oldest and proudest families OF the
Old Dominion. He is a great-grandson OF
William II. Cabell, Governor OF Virginia,
a grandson Of Col. James Branch Of the
Confederate Army, and counts among
his connections the family OF Thomas
Jefferson Mr.. Cabell Is a young man,
about rs, graduate OF William and Mary
College, where six generations Of his
ancestors have been educated, and has
served his apprenticeship, like most writers,
In the field OF journalism. The scene Of
his new novel is laid in stately old man
sion and, although fresh and ingenious
as to plot, has glamour of the old regime
to give it picturesqueness.
Critics agree that Sudermann's Fires
OF St. John" takes a higher place In dra-
matte literature than his earlier play,
@Magda," which has furnished leading
roles to so many famous artistes. Nance
O'Neil played the first version Of the drama
that has appeared on any English stage
last winter in Boston, and now the play is
to appear in book form as translated and
adapted by Charles Swiokard.
Miss Mary Johnston, author OF ITO Have
and to Hold has returned to her home
in Richmond, Va. much improved In health.
She has spent the entire summer in the
Mediterranean on the island OF Sicily,
where she went for complete rest Ger
tainly there are no people in the world
who understand the art OF leisurey living
better than the Italians, to whom hurry
is unknown and sleep is positively sacred.
So It would seem that Sicily might be an
ideal resting place if one doesn't mind the
heat of tropical summer.
The fortieth thousand OF 'The Foolish
Dictionary" has just been issued by its
publishers, and an edition has been sold
to a London firm, and will presently ap-
pear MIR. Charles w. Thorne Gideon
Wurdz), who is the author Of this clever
volume OF humor. has taken camp in
New Hampshire, where he is dividing his
time between hunting and preparing ar
other foolish book. Steadily Steve-The
Six-Eyed Sleuth," which belongs to the
same series and has been having as much
fun with the detective literature Of the day
as Mr.. Thorne did with his parody Of the
dictionary, appears too, in book form with
a remarkable illustration for each chapter
drawn by the author himself.
When Harry Leon Wilson, whose daring