The San Francisco call., 1904-06-10
London Literary Chat.
Special Correspondence.


GARDEN. LONDON, May 27.-Jules
Verne and H. G. Wells viii have to
look to their laurels if Jean Delaire
can keep on evolving plots as uncom-
mon as that Of his new novel, Around
q Distant star" Mr.. Delaire, who is
Of French extraction, has published II
one remembers rightly. three other
stories. but this is his first attempt at
fantastic fiction. Its hero has been
profoundly impressed by discovering
that the expanse which separates the
earth from the nearest Of the fixed
stars is so great that light from them
travelling at the rate of 10000 miles
a second takes over three years to
reach US; that, in fact, we do not see
a star as Il is now, but as it was three
years ago. Hence. if We happened TO
be on the planet in question and look
ing al the world with strong enough
glass we should see three-year-old
events in the act Of happening. Co
ing on, he decides that il we were
transported to one of the more distant
Of the heavenly bodies with a speed
greatly exceeding the light we should
be able TO see carried on before our
eyes scenes that occurred on the earth
hundreds Of years ago. Now it hap
pens that Mr.. Delaire's ingenious hero
doubts gravely the truth of the Gospel.
He figures. however, that could be get
on q sufficiently distant star with a
speed exceeding that of light he could,
given a telescope some million times
more powerful than existing instru-
ments. see what went on in Palestine
1900 years ago. These are pretty big
Ifs" but the hero Of Around Dis
tant Star" eventually surmounts them,
and. in company with valiant friend.
he encases himself in a projectile,
which also carries his wonderful tele-
scope. and so effectually beats light to
the planet that he arrives just in time
TO watch on earth the events of Pas
sion Week and thus convince himself,
and. later on, Christendom Of the
truth Of the Gospel stories.
American visitors to Stratford-on-
Avon during the last two years seldom
have failed 10 take a look at the house
in High street where dwells Miss
Marie Corelh. Hereafter they Will
have all the more reason TO do so, for
the authoress has just spent $1,000 in
having her residence, which dates
back TO a time before the discovery
Of America, restored to its original
condition. In 1859 the house was in
habited by one John Hannys. who held
the proud position Of master of the
Guild Of the Holy Cross, and other
illUstrious Stratford folk lived in it
afterward. For a good many years.
however, the most striking part of the
ancient architecture Of the house has
been hidden behind a modern front.
II is this which Miss Corelli has had
removed and now the original black
and white timbers can be SEEN They
form designs Of the bell, diamond and
star while the so-called story posts
are carved with grotesques and with
the York and Lancaster roses.
Max PembertOn may be able to do
some little writing, but will not be able
10 get to his editorial sanctum off Lad
gate Hill-where he guides the desti-
nies Of Casselrs Magazine-for some
time, as he has just been undergoing
serious operation. About a month
ago PembertOn, who Is great golf
player, noticed that il hurt him to
make certain strokes, and on visiting
a doctor discovered that he had an
abscess in the groin. The operation by
which il was removed took place about
fortnight ago, and was entirely sue
cessful
Mrs. Edith Wharton, who has ar
rived in London. is just in time to see
the English edition Of her new volume.
The Descent Of Man." through the
press. The American autnoress. who
is accompanied by her husband, has
come to London from France and
Spain, where the couple have been
touring in their motor car. They are
In England sooner than they had
planned, their first intention having
been TO make quite a long tour through
Italy. But the roads in Victor Emman-
uels country proved too bad for pleas
ant travelling in a car.
II seems now that the lost score
0f Wagner's Rule Britannia" over
ture, whose recent discovery has caused
great delight in the musical world. has
for long years lain hidden among a
pile Of old and supposedly worthless
music in the possession Of c. B. Gam
bic, dealer in pianos AT Leicester.
Mr.. Gamble bought the manuscripts
a trunkful OF them-at the sale
Of the effects of a Leicester hand
master named Thomas, an ac
cOmplished musician and in his
earlier years associated with Weber
SpOhr and other noted composers. but
who in his old age fell on evil davs
and ended his life in a poorhouse in
North Wales. CHANGING to look over the
pile Of music recently Mr.. Gamble was
astonished TO discover, at the end of a
long composition which he had as
sumed was one OF Thomas own, the
signature Richard Wagner" with the
date and address added, "das Is MARI.
leS1. Konigsberg in Prussen" The
piano dealer lost little time in SUBJ
mitung the score to experts, who pro-
nounced the work genuine and worthy
OF the genius Of its author. How it