Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-18
Books and Authors

Now that we are preparing to OBJ
serve the 200th anniversary of the birth
of Franklin, il is AN Opportunc an
nOuncement that the Century will pub
lish in January an estimate of Frank
lin in France" by John Hay-a study
prepared some years ago for delivery
in Chicago, and then laid aside because
of i'll health. This scholarly review of
Franklin'S service abroad Will be illus
trated with the Cochin portrait made
in France in 1777. Speaking of Frank
Inns appearance ut this time Mr.. Hay
says: His fur cap and spectaclcs be-
came as familiar as the face Of the
king on the louis dor
The many thousand buyers of Pro-
fessor Charles F.. Richardson's "The
Choice of Books of which a new and
revised edition has just been published
by g. p. Putnam's Sons. include pur
chasers of the Russian translation is
sued in Moscow. The accomplished
Russian translator appears to have
been puzzled by only two of the many
quotations in the volume. one Of
these was from Chauccr'S "PrOloguc,"
and the other was a phonetic indica-
t'rcnchman in his cndcHvors to read
aloud Tennyson's "Claribcl." Even the
extensive Russian alphabet obviouly
has its limitations.
Running Water is The title Of MI.
A. f. w. Mason's new novel. There is
said to be Il possibility that it may be
printed us d serial i'll 'Scribner'S."
Mr.. Henry james has not entirely
pleased the English critics III his book,
English Hours "Pcrhaps,' says
THE Academy" his manner is some
times a little too obviously that of Il
guest writing of his hosts. There are
moments when we feel in reading him
that We should prefer a clcar-cut opin-
ion even if unfavorablc to Il courteous
rcticence."
The recent biography Of Kate Green
away contains many interesting ancc-
dOtes. Among them is the following:
Once a French bookseller was display
ing ii number Of English picture books
for children to an English customer.
How charming they are" he said. I'VE
have nothing like them in France All,
w
trut artiStS-thcy are two of your great
est men," This story was reported to
Miss Greenaway and she capped ii with
Il better. only the other day" she
said. IAN unknown correspondent sent
me photograph of myself which he
said he had procured. asking me to
write my autograph on il. 1t was the
portrait of 4 good-looking young man
- /,
planned he wrote back that he feared 1
WAS laughing at him, as Kate is mans
name-in Holland
A sequel 10 the Baroness Won Hut
tens Pam will be published next
year by d. Appleton < Co.
a. c. McClurg 4 Co.. who have had
in preparation for some time Il new
edition Of George Eliot's 'Romola."
edited aid Illustrated from the MIS-
torical standpoint by the distinguished
Italian scholar. DR.. Guido Biagi. have
just received the following note from
him: The work is more important than
| imagined. | have Unexpectedly SUM-
blcd upon valuable material which
throws great light upon k.liot's sources
Of information. | have found the oligi-
nal cards Of al the books studied by
George Eliot here in the National Lii
brary. for 'R"mola.' These books
with their ancient views Of Flor
ence. gave to her the first idea Of
the scenes Of the novel | have
reproduced the cards signed by
LeWes studying with her. | can now
furnish more than l20 Illustrations and
give documentary evidence of the his
tOrical materials utilized by the great
novelist for her book" These new dis
CuvcricS are of great Importance. and
should prove a distinctive feature for
this new edition of this faNoritc classic
The work is to be issued uniform with
Mrs. MCMdhun'S successful "FlOrenrc
in the Poetry of the BrowninSs'' and
With Shelley in Italy"
|. Miss May Sinclair, the author Of that
much discussed novel. The Divine
Fire" was born at Rock Ferry i'll
Cheshire. aud has lived. as her books
SHOW. in various parts of England
The county of Devon she knows DIR