Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-13
Books and Authors.

one who has seen so much, known On
much, met so many famous neonia
ana VINO, by a word or phrase. can
make the past live and laugh. or crv
againT' he asks. "The years since he
left politics have been kind to Mr.
Mccarthy; they have touched hi,a
lightly and graciously. as became
them. His outlook Is the bright our
look Of youth, and his health Is admir-
able, as his bronZed face tells He
single burden Is a weakened eyesigh,
which does not permit him to ROAD
because he has to husband II for a.
tual literary work. But, as he s.ia
very beautifully, this merely mears
the pleasure of being read to by othsre y
His daughter, Miss Charlotte Mccar.
thy, is his constant companion and
the chatelaine of "Herdholt."
Beulah Marie Dix, the author n,
THE Fair Maid of Graystones
THE Making of christopher Ferrinp-
ham," etc, was born in Kings
ton. Mass. December 25, 1876. and
grew up in the neighborinp
town Of Plymouth. Her ancestors nm
both sides were English Puritans. who
settled in New England about 1850.
At Radcliffe Miss Dix wrote NAV.
for her college mates, and in 1897 she
received the degree Of A. B.. summa
cum laude with highest honors in Emp.
fish. The following year she took her
degree Of A. M. at Radcliffe. Sinca
then she has lived at Cambridge with
her parents and her only sister Her
first published story came out in Lin
pincotts in 1895, a seventeenth cen.
fury story, like most Of her succeed.
ing work. Her first book, Hugh
Gwyeth," was published in 1899; later
came Soldier Rigdale,r THE Making
Of Christopher Ferringham." "Blount
OF RreckenhOw," and now "The Fair
Maid Of Graystones."
In an article in the. National Re-
view, Mr.. A. c. Benson calls atten-
ton to the present chaotic state Of
literary taste. Never was there a
period" he says, when there were
more readers, never an era when more
people conceived themselves to have
right to an opinion on literary mat
tiers. Literature is in a sense fashion
able, and, to put the matter to rough
test, there was never a time in Eng
lish history when so much money, even
in proportion to population, was
earned by the pen. But there is, in
spite of the popularity of literature, a
singular absence of respect for it,
The universal honor research and
beStOw red gowns on eminent states
men and generals. They but reflect
the ordinary contempt for mere liter
ature." In Mr.. Benson's view, what
is wanted is a central literary council.
There is nothing to be said for found
ing an academy of literature for the
sake of the individual prestige that
would come TO the = members. But
there is much to be said for literature
itself, and garrisoning a
in the land of the Phil
istines, even if the members of such
company were merely to be hidden.
like the so profits, in a cave, and fed
upon bread and water. When the
times of confusion and violence We're
over they might emerge, in an aus
tere condition of training, to spread
abroad the truth" One function which
a British academy of letters might
dicharge is that of artistic criticism
of literature. Such an academy might
have strong Subcommittee, of crit
les, and attach to itself sound
school of literary specialists, who
could review books with a certain au
much needed to be drawn-between
work which has high literary
qualities and work that has only pop
ular qualities. The best work will.
of course, probably have both, but We
are not a very critical nation, and the
most useful function that an academy
might perform would be the strength
ening and educating of literary taste
The actual academy could not concern
itself with literary judgments, for the
simple reason that it would be form
ed of eminent writer's, who would not
have the time to devote to the sitting
and reviewing of literature: and. in
deed, it would not be desirable that
they should, but it would perhaps be
possible, as l have said, to organize
a subcommittee in connection with
such a body, which could concern it
self with current literature, have
books reviewed by specialists. and
publish a gazette which would be
guide to modern letters. What one
wants in a review is not an abstract
of a book, and still less list OF It's
errors, but rather an impression form
ed by a competent and appreciative
person which would indicate what
books were worth attention and what
books had the literary quality. What
one desires is that there should De
something central and authoritative.
There are certain newspapers whicn
to some extent perform the desired
function, but the best newspapers leho
to reflect private mannerisms anu
prejudices; it would be great COM
fort to people whose taste for htera-
ture is good and whose time for READ
ing is limited to have some such au-
thoritative gazette upon which they
could really depend"
The will was proved in London sep
tember % of Baron Nathaniei vo"
potbcobild nf Vienna a mariner IN tHe