The San Francisco call., 1904-04-07
MEN andlMAaTERS IN
THE F0R@Z he WORLD
MONIES


apotheosis of the multi-millionaire-a
strange, uncouth. but masterful figure,
who still survives, with all the shop
worn properties. in the gossip of yell
low journals. On a higher plane the
professions found their Interpreters
and there were novels Of lawyers, doc
tors, clergymenN and gentleman bur-
glars.
THE college man and woman re-
sented the monopoly of the center of
the stage by the old graduates and
soon every college of Importance had
fits own particular brand of story with
the college colors on the cover, and
the time-honored local traditions,
heretofore told to freshmen by word of
mouth, embodied in heroes and hero
ines clad in gorgeous contemporary
raiment.
When the present was exhausted
the past began to yield up its stores
The historical novel ran like wildfire
through the studies of ambitious au-
thors The critics could not
say anything. because when they
hurled historic accuracy at the author
he or she replied with new and out
landish country that never was on
sea or land. The trick was too easy
10 learn and that killed it."
Having exhausted all countries,
races and times, says Mr.. Bridges,
there was a lull, during which Amer
lean authors sought in vain for new
fields of activity. Then Kipling made
the animals talk and straightway
animal books" became the fashion
and We're turned out by the hundred.
The writer concludes:
The animal kingdom having ceased
to be of supreme interest, the vege-
table kingdom has succeeded it. We
are now in the full swing and stir of
the vegetable era of fiction. Wheat
found its interpreter in Frank Nor
ris hemp in James Lane Allen, cab
bage in Miss Hogan. Tobacco has just
been exploited in Miss Glagow's novel,
The Deliverance. 1t is related by di-
rect descent with several other fash
ions in fiction; il is a Virginia novel,
Of the reconstruction era, of the cava-
lier race. with a dash of negro and
poor white. But these are all sub
sidiary TO the tobacco motif-not plug
or fine cut. or Wheeling stogie, but
growing tobacco in the field, before
the hail has perforated it or frost has
nipped it.
Hamlet of Denmark and Don
Quixote of Spain ought to have been
born in the tobacco belt"
A book of unusual interest is prom
Used in the near future by the Put
mans, devoted to the philosophy of
Matthew Arnold. The title is Mat
thew Arnold, an Exposition and a
Criticism The author is William
Harbutt Dawson. who has already
made name for himself, especially in
England for his previous works, which
include German Life in Town and
Country" in the popular European
Neighbors" series.
A new generation has arisen since
Matthew Arnold was as a voice crying
in the wilderness. Already the censure
which divided the praise bestowed
upon him during his lifetime has been
forgotten. with the more acute of the
controversies which he provoked, and
the issues involved can, therefore. now
for the first time be weighed dispas-
sionately.
The purpose Of Mr.. Dawsons book is
/ to show that there is a strong cult of
/ Matthew Arnold, and why this cult
must prevail Briefly, this cult stands
/ for idealism. Matthew Arnold was a
man who combined with poetic insight
/ the judgment of the thinker and the
! practical sense of the world Of affairs.
Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on
the 4th day of July, 1904 This year,
/ therefore, marks the hundredth anni-
versary Of his birth. To commemorate
this event of worldwide Importance
! Dodd, Mead & Co. are to issue Haw-
thorne's best work, THE Scarlet Let
ter" certainly the greatest novel writ
ten by an American. in an edition lin
tied to 125 copies on Japan paper and
one copy on vellum. The letter press
will be an exact reimpression of the
original edition. There will be fifteen
original colored illustrations, all full
page. by A Romandi and c. Graham.
The volume will be in a special bind
| ing. Altogether a most appropriate
and worthy memorial of Americas rep
resentative man of letters.
Mark Twain is not studying Italian;
] tlt uOtc mVl CODSlQtf IL ntCtSSdTN. even
] though he is domiciled in Florence for
some time to come. Il cannot speak
the language" he recently explained.
Il am too old now to learn how, also
too busy when / am busy, and too in
/ dolent when ! am not; wherefore some
will imagine that / am having a dull
time of it. But ii is not so. The help
are all natives: they talk Italian to
me, I answer in English. / do not un-
derstand them, they do not understand
me; consequently no harm is done and
everybody is satisfied. In order to be
! just and fair Ithrow in an italian word
when / have one" Mark Twain re-
Gently gave a half-hour's humorous
! lecture on Italian grammar in the
Rinuccini Theater at Florence for the
benefit of the British relief fund.
Mrs. Humphry Ward. author of
4 Lady Roses Daughter is so en-
thusiastic over the success of the va
cation school she has established in
London that she wants to see the idea
carried still further. What we hope
to see some time" said Mrs. Ward