The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-21

tinctly understood in literary centers. Every man Is his own Boswell. l feel inclined to cry. for note how care fully the literary people Keep watch over their own bon-mots-and those of other folks. One of the most bril-. liant editors of the city is said to sleep with a graphaphone, with ready cylin- der to talk into 1t every thought that strikes him In the night He winds up the machine in the morning and lo' the most brilliant editorials of the day I was in a studio several days ago with n most noted young author. While We talked she kept begging pardon and scrIbbling in a great book. What are you doing in that book?' l asked .'Oh, you are so Southern, you know, she said, 'T am bringing Southern woman to New York in my next novel. and the things you are saying are 50 delightfully Southern, don't you know. that I want her to say them" Well could worship of utility farther go?
 All this. too, has good reason for its foundation. surprising as 1t Is to us Southerners who talk all our expert- ence, culture. and inspiration into thin air. We are all gifted with gab. I smile to think now how in old garden hooks, over cups ol ttds dlObhN- piS blazing open fires, in long drives over bad roads have heard literally thrown to the winds enough good stuff" to fill the current magazines with short stories, funny columns, and matter for verse and anecdote without end. I had a good lesson from an edi- tor yesterday. He is the most delight fully witty writer I know. l have long rejoiced over his verses sparkling through all the magazines since. oh. many years. He was reading some little scraps of mine, which, happily. met his approval when he gave me this advice which I fin turn hand over to the many still down South" who can do as well. You see," he said, "when a little quaint, humorous turn Of thought, or a phrase, or an anecdote, like this comes to you, you want to write 1t down at once. That's easy. If you don't do it just then. why you've got to walk the floor. and pull your hair, and cudgel your brains to get 1t again." Do you think that Is true, dear scribblng Southern sisters? Try It. Jot down on backs of letters, clothes lists, recipe books and house hold accounts the ideas as they flash. Look at your scrawls on the morrow and see if you haven't some good stuff"
 A genuine love-story is this tale of '"The Rose of old St. Louis" told with much literary skill and charm. and full of dramatic incident. The hero and heroine are both winning personalities; and the various characters impress the reader with their truth to history and to their own individualities.
 The novel deals with the time of the Louisiana Purchase, just one hundred years ago; and the negotiation of that treaty figures largely in the narrative. The hero is a young American of fine family, and the heroine. pr. Saugrain's ward, Is n bewtching. high spirited daughter of the old noblesse of France. Distinguished historical characters abound in the story. President Thom- as Jefferson. Lewis and Clarke, the most prominent families of old St. Louis, and the imposing figure of Black Hawk, the famous chief of the Sacs, are among the personages introduced; while across the ocean, Napoleon Tal- leyrand, Marbois, and the leading men of the days of the First Consul play a notable part in the plot. Then there is the Chevalier Le Moyne, who sup plies much of the excitement of the narrative. He is determined to win the charming Pelagie for himself. and, to
 
 does not hesitate to use Indian allies fin America, and his influence with Bo- uaparte in France. But the true lover and the dainty lady of his heart come to their own at last after many perils, and the romance ends happily. as all TO- mances should. The rushing incident of the story carries these dramatts personae from St Louis to France. then back again to St. Louis, where life hundred years ago seems to have been full of merriment and adventure.
 The book Is attractively illustrated by Relyea, and appropriately and hand somely bound.
 A tablet and window has been plac- ed in Exeter Cathedral as memorial to R. D. Blackmore. author of Lorna Doone" At the unveiling last month Mir Eden Phillpots said that Mir. Black more did not simply give the world many good books and one great one. but he enriched the language with many great ones"
 Miss DasISRm'S Baby Memoirs.
 New York Times Book Review.
 I am lover of Elizabeth of the Ger man Garden" and the letters in your Review concerning her have afforded me much entertainment; but I was un- | able to understand the feelings of those | who dislike Elizabeth until I came across a book by Miss Daskam, "The Memoirs of a Babv,p After reading il half through laid 1t down in disgust at the wearisome tirade against those