The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-15
nooKs AND AuTnoRs.

DR.. s. Weir Mitchell celebrates his
seventy-ffth birthday to-day. He is still
active in literary work, his latest and per-
haps his strongest book being now in press
for publication in March. Past 40 years
Of age before he began writing for pub
LEGATION. DR.. Mitchell during the past thirty
years has produced a series OF books re-
markabe in its range OF subjects as well
as quality OF excellence. Beginning with
strictly medical treatises, writing as one
| always should about the thing best known
| and most familiar, the author evidently
recognized his gift OF expression and save
il rein In poetry, historical sketches and
| fiction, eliminating finally in that curious
combination OF fact and fancy incorpor-
| ated in The Youth OF Washington" Be-
tween the authors first two books there
Is an interval Of some seven years. For
the past decade every year has been marked
| by tho publication of q book OF fiction or
a volume of poems, besides large number
OF medical papers on various themes. And
the remarkable thing about 1t all Is that
| DR.. Mitchell was educated for the medical
profession has been president OF the Col
lege OF Physicians in Philadelphia and still
Is an honorary member Of the British Medi-
cal Association and an honorary Fellow OF
the Royal Medico-Chirurgic Society.
President Roosevet's strenuous Life
has just been printed for the eleventh time
His Hero Tales written with Senator
Lodge has been printed thirteen times,
and since Ranch Life was put into less
expensive edition seven Impressions have
been called for to I'll the demand. Evil
IDENTIFY the President-author's name stands
high in the list Of p pular American writers.
Katherine Cecil Thurston's husband has
dramatized his wife's successful novel "The
Masquerader, and the dramatizltion will be
produced at the st. James's Theatre. Lon
don, by George Alexander. There has been
much difficulty in finding double OF
Mr.. Alexander to assume the part Of John
Loder One Of the leading London papers,
knowing that the search was in progress
suggested that a certain editor who lad
formerly been an actor bore pronounced
resemblance TO Mr.. Alxander and would
make good Loder. Mr. j. W Thorold
editor and managing director Of The Smart
SET, is the person suggested. and it is said
that he has agreed TO play the part.
Mrs. Humphry Ward delivered the
annual address at the meeting OF the Bronte
Society. which convened few weeks ago
at Bailey. Mrs. Wards subject was Emily
Broate's "Wuthering Heights" which she
pronounces more completely work of
genius than any Of the more popular novels
OF Charlotte Bronte Mrs Ward has long
been interested in the Drontes and some
body remarked that her address alone
more than justified the existence of the
Bronte Society.
A unique dinner was given recently for
Arthur Henry Vesey in celebration Of the
publication Of his new book, The Clock
and the Key The scene OF the story Is
laid in Venice. and the musicians we're
dressed as gondoliers and played Venetian
songs The table was arranged in the
form OF miniature Venice and souvenir
clocks and keys were given to t;e guests
The hostess who arranged the pleasant
surprise for Mrs. Vesey was Mrs John
" B. Lewis, daughter OF Mr. Brakeman.
who was president OF the American Book
Company.
There Is an interesting coincidence Of
deas embodied in almost identical terms
in Sidney Gulick's new book entitled The |
White Peril in the Far East and Okakura-
Rakuzo's Awakening Of Japan What !
Mr.. Gulick, the American author. calls |
-The White Peril the Japanese writer
describes as Tho White Disaster and
both authors agree that the intrusion Of the |
West has been by no means an u1mixed
blessing TO the nations Of the East. Think
ing to welcome the benefits Of increased !
commerce writes Mr. Kaktzo, "they Rave |
become the victims Of foreign Imperialism,
believing in the philanthropio aims Of !
Christian missionaries. they have bowed |
before the messeng gers OF military aggres- |
sion. Fer them tie earth is no longer
filed with that peace which pilowed their |
contentment. II the guilty conscience of |
some European nations has conjured up the |
spectre OF yellow peril, may not the suffer- !
ing soul of Asia wall over the realities Of /
the White Disaster. To the down |
trodden Oriental tho glory Of Europe is
but the humiliation Of Asia
Every tourist who has been to Venice |
knows the bookshop of Ferdinand Organic /
at the corner Of Piazza San Marco II is
not an ordinary bookshop and the proprietor (
is not an ordinary bookseller He knows
his Venice and loves It and he Is the guide
counsellor and friend Of tho literary and !
artistic coterie who seek Inspiration in Tat
enchanted city, It was from him that
Arthur Henry Yesey obtained the bnsio
idea OF bis new book, -The Clock and the
Key published last week by Appletons.
People write books about the beauty Of
Venice the bookseller eai1 to the book
writer. Why don't they write Of its mys-
terry? It Is the mystery Of Venice after
all. that ia cinates the world Venice. was
once the veritable museum Of rare and |
beautiful things. Where are those treasures |
OF the Renaissance now? I never hear
of building being torn down but expect /.
some Of them to come 10 light. Why don't |
the novelists write q stirring story of love !
and adventure in modern Venice on those
linear
Since Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler has /
confessed to the world that Kate of Kate !
Hall was really a joint production com
posed by her husband and herself, share
and share alike, in the early days Of their |