The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-07
BOOK NOTES.
Various Items About Books That Are
Attracting Attention.

Mcclure, Phillips & Co. have reopened
the old question about cut and uncut
books They say gentleman from
Kansas, having sent to McClure-Phil-
lips for a copy of Wagners "The Sim
pie Life" wrote back that he was not
pleased with it because the book was
not finished, the pages not having been
cut. He went on to argue Would you
like to have your shoemaker send you
pair Of shoes with nails sticking up
in them, or your tailor send you coat
without sleeves. Let US try to practice
a little Christianity. The Macmillan
Publishing company has played me the
same trick, and hereafter I win have
to specify that want a finished book,
comes from Kansas, 1t is ripe with sug-
gestion; and this voice from the plains
of the west is heard with pleasure on
the question of machine-made closely
cropped book VS.. the uncut book with
its pleasantly irregular edges.
In the nomination of George R. Hor-
ton of Illinois for the United States
consulship at Athens, Greece, President
Roosevelt has honored another literary
man. Mr.. Horton is well known in the
Chicago and Washington newspaper
worlds. His popular novel Like An
other Helen,' attracted the presidents
attention and it is doubtless TO this
that his appointment is due. AS its til
tie indicates, the scene of the story is
laid in Greece. Mr.. Horton got the ma
years ago, when he served there as con-
sui under President Cleveland. A new
romance from his pen is promised for
early spring publication, with the scene
again in Greece.
The Housekeeper begins the new
year well with an unusually attractive
number. The interesting fiction is by
Leigh Gordon Giltner, Robert Mac
kay, William H. Handy, Robert Bas-
com and R. Hallett. The many prac-
4rarD ra-4r-, ~ 70 r~rr
Taylor-ROss. Elizabeth W. Morrison,
Mrs. A. E. Arnstrutter, Marjorie
March, Mary Foster Snider and other
authorities treat Of such varied sub
1ects as the Winter Laundry, Hints for
the January Hostess, Helps for Home
Dressmakers, Delicious Holiday Cakes,
Hand-Knit Articles for the Boy, The
Housekeeper's Tools, New Ways with
oysters, Hygiene in the Home and
Dainty Trifies in Fancy Needlework.
Trine's I'm Tune with the Infinite
is now published in translation in
eight different countries The English
editions-both New York and London
have reached sale of considerably
over Toe, O00 copies. and the present
demand for it is much greater than
during the first two or three years of
its publication To show the manner
in which the general reader sometimes
grasps the essence of a title with
which he is yet unfamiliar, though not
the publishers of I'm Tune with the
Infinite" received a call a few days
ago from a customer for copy of
their Getting Square with the Crea-
tor, indicating a possible pugilistic
conception of the book and quite in
distinction from the call the London
publishers received some time ago
from the English lady asking that she
be sent a copy Of their late work
The Tune of the Infants
OF all cities in the world New York
has the reputation Of being the least
satisfactory for real literary labor A
canvass of the writers of the day re-
vealed the fact that not more than
half dozen, and those by no means
leaders. did their work in New York
The case of Mrs. Frances HodRson
Burnett, author of TN the Closed
Room" is a typical one. Mrs. Burnett
has q country home in Kent. England,
but three years ago returned to Ameri-
ca and tried to take up her residence
in New York The rush and hurry. the
noise and clatter, and the thousand de-
mands, social and otherwise, made upon
her by the city rendered it impossible
for her to work; and it was only when
she took a summer cottage on Long
Island that she was able to get any
thing done. The second year ner at