Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-12


| I'm circulation. Miss wilkins publishers,
| the Harpers, vouch for the truth of the
story as follows: The two authors
met at q crowded reception, but, in
spite OF the efforts OF the lady who
failed TO realize Miss wilkins identity,
The lady repeated Miss wilkins name,
first simply as Miss wilkins, then Miss
Mary Wilkins. then Miss Mary T.. Will
klns, then Miss Mary Il. wilkins, the
writer Of New England stories, but all
10 no purpose. Miss wilkins, who Is
the most modest Of authors. was only
very much amused. The incident was
often repeated and garbled. Mr.. Craw-
ford afterward explained that, despite
all the repetitions. he had failed to
catch her name In the chatter Of the
crowded drawing-rooms.
An American who was In Berlin the
other day asked at one Of the largest
took-shops In the city, partly from
curiosity, partly from interest, who
was the most popular English writer
with German readers, The answer was
given without hestatlon--"Conan
Doyle" Not only did the book seller
state that the TRANSACTIONS Of Conan
Doyle's works sold by the thousands,
but that there was almost as large
demand for the books In English. His
books have such swing -such dash" he
explained. Conan Doyle's popularity
was later confirmed when the same
question was asked at the other most
prominent book-shops.
-
Houghton. Miffln & Co., report that
Mrs. Virgins most popular new story,
"Rebecca." reached It's Tooth thousand
In the first two months. Out Of more
than i7b reviews Of this book there has
hardly been single unfavorable notice.
They also announce the 10Th thousand
of Mrs. Burnham's Christian Science
story, Jewel" the eighth edition OF
Andy Adams Log OF Cowboy" and
the second edition OF Daphne" by
Margaret Sherwood.
Mark Twain Is quoted, In Punch. as
having said he fled to Italy to escape
one OF Punchs contributors, Mr. II. w,
Lucy, Toby, NJ. P.," who has been In
America recently Mr., Lucy thus ex-
plains the cause Of Mark Twains al
legged flight to Europe, He and Twain
once decided to collaborate In maga-
zine to be called "The Obituary" Each
was to write scurrllous obituaries OF
any Of his personal friends who CHANGED
10 be famous, making all sorts Of ac-
ousatlons against them, They were
then TO submit proofs to the victims, In
tImatng that unless large sums were
paid TO the writer's the obituaries would
be published after the death OF the sub
jects. So Mr.. Lucy, when lie arranged
20 visit America, wrote Mark Twain,
complaining that he had never received
any profits from "The Obituary" to
which his friend replied that In It's
earning capacity "The Obituary Ia bet
ter for Twain than for two" and that
he intended to escape his dissatisfied
partner by trip to Italy
The occasional anonymous novel, with
the resultant surinises as TO the identi-
ty OF its author will he with us again
this spring, Messrs. d. Appleton & Co,
announce that zone OF our best known
writer's OF novels is going into the
anonymous field. This Is the author
Of story having for it's title the per-
sona pronoun H. The explanation for
the anonymous authorship ls given by
the author In the single sentence, ANY
woman who reads the novel will under.
stand why | do not attach my name 10
H. The largest offer, In the point OF
monetary compensation, probably made
by magazine for the serial publca.
ton Of an anonymous novel was made
10 the author when the manuscript was
read by an editor. But the author re-
fused the oyerturcs. preferrng that the
novel should receive its initial publca.
tlon IN book form, Il has for It's sub.
title the words, Wherein woman tells
the truth about herself. II viii be Is.
sued In March" IL will be observed
that this announcement furnishes no
clew TO even the sex OF the author OF
the story.
The editor OF Golfers Weekly, with A
view 10 securing brief fiction, announces
three prizes for short stories The first
prize win be $1,000, the second 81, 600, the
third $1,000. The author must be an
American, and may send In as many
stories as he or she likes. The stories
may be pathetic or humorous; OF love,
adventure. or business success. Those
dealing with the various phases OF
American life are preferred, The manu-.
scripts must hc typewriter and un-
signed, accompanied by sealed en-
velope containing the writer's name and
the title Of his tale. The manuscripts
must be at Golfers by June next The
judges viii be Henry Cabot Lodge, VIII.
liam Allen White and Walter Page.
o