The San Francisco call., 1904-12-25

Ii some time next year-nOt much De-
fore, however, I'm afraid" Mean
time his new volume of fantastic short
stories, The Club of Queer Trades,
will be published on both sides of the
Atlantic by the Harpers, probably
about the beginning of the new year.
The writer's call on Chesterton was
made in the evening, when the humOr-
ist was found engrossed in the pages
of penny-dreadful-it cost four
pence. to be exact-which rejOiced in
the title. ".Radium and the Detective"
The cover of it bore a picture of a
gigantic hand turning a key in
gigantic lock. all Of which Chesterton
declared was beautiful"
1T amuses me very much" he said.
Il like detective stories. and as 1 can't
get good ones, 1 get the best L can.
That's a point, by the way" he went
on. that is almost invariably over
looked in discussions about the public
taste in literature. They talk about
people buying bad literature instead of
good literature and don't see that
what people want is a certain kind of
literature. If they can get 1T done
we'll, they will; if not, they will get
il done as we'll as they can. It's just
like tea and coffee. If l am particu-
larly fond of the taste OF coffee and
dislike tea. 1 will drink poorly made
coffee. should there be no we'll made
coffee procurable, in preference to
well made tea. like detective stories
and that is why 1 read a bad one in
preference to a work on the history
of the universe
Chesterton declared that while in
the country recently he had found
himself unable TO get a detective story
and had been driven to seek enjoy
ment by writing one. No one who
has read his Club OF Queer Trades"
will need to be told that it had a
highly original plot. 1t was revealed
to the writer, who, however, was
asked not to disclose it, as the story
may be published sooner or later.
While telling about his literary and
other plans Chesterton amused him
self by drawing pictures similar to
those with which he OCCASIONALLY illus
trates mis- short stories on the mar
gins of his penny-dreadfuls, which.
suppose. he resumed as soon as he
was alone.
VI NOillC tA1lC past 1hNAOAAS A4ORC
has been occupied with a new novel
which is now almost finished. In spite
of the success with which the author
handled a more domestic theme in
Double Harness." readers will be
glad TO hear that this new story is in
his "Zenda" style.
1 hear on the best authority that
Ibsen, whose health has been much
better OF late. is putting the finishing
touches to a new play in which he
will exDound his views on war. He
holds opinions that are diametrically
opposed to those of Tolstoi and will
attempt to prove his belief that con-
fiicts between nations are useful and
even necessary for the human species,
because they sustain ideas OF disci-
pline, courage, will and personal
action.
The news that Sherlock Holmes,
after farewell appearance at Christ
mas time. will retire for good and all
has been received. on this side of the
water at least. with modified regret.
Had DR.. Doyle been able to give us
back the Holmes who solved the mys-
terry of the -Speckled Band" and found
the horse silver Blaze it is doubtful
if the public would have surrendered
him again without an indignant pro-
test but few English readers have
cared greatly about the last 'ad-
ventures" Dr.. Doyle says that
Holmes will hereafter devote his at
tention 10 bee keeping, but perhaps
Detective Lestrade may persuade him
TO look into little problem" now
and then. In that case, and provided
the sleuth of Baker street gives a good
account Of himself. any details by DIR.
Watson will be as welcome as ever TO
English readers. They feel. however,
that otherwise the less written about
Sherlock Holmes the better