Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-18
BOOKS AND
: AUTHORS

VIII Mrs. Thurston yield to the pres
sure and write sequels to her two sue
cessfnl novels? asks curious reader Of
fiction. The many persons who dis
cussed the future CT John Loder, and
wrote last chapters to THE
Masquerader." are now asking each
other what was the final development
Of the undisciplined nature of Mrs.
Thurston's new heroine. Was love the
master passion to the end Of Clodagn's
life, or did she revert to her hereditary
passion? The questions left unsettled
in both books appeal very strongly to
the imagination, and one cannot lay
down either story without being con-
scious of a great curiosity to know
what happened next" Both THE
Masquerader" and THE Gambler" al
most demand sequels. and the question
whether Mrs. Thurston will crafty the
public taste adds a certain piquancy to
the anticipation of her next novel.
1.-THE Debtor" recently published by
the Harpers, presents a marked con-
trast to former novels and stories by
the same author, inasmuch as Mary Z.
Wilkins Freeman has temporarily
abandoned her chosen New England
field, to place her scene in Ne"
Jersey village. The cambridge of the
novel Is presumably modelled upon Me-
tuchen, New Jersey, where the author
has made her home since her marriage
to DR.. Freeman in 1902. Il ma I've"
Jersey a very unusual and Interesting
field" she said recently. Il nave NOW
lived here for four years. ana nave
learned a little about it. 1t is curious
state. 1t is neither North nor South.
but partakes of the nature OF both. II
does not seem to me as exactly neing OF
the Union, but as having an odd, lnde-
pendent character of it's own, a free
lance Of a State. The question OF caste
is much more vital here than in New
England; that is, caste exists to
greater extent, and Is much more clear
Nv defined. Caste in its fullest signifi-
canoe hardly exists at all in many New
England towns. That interests me
greatly. New Jersey is also field that
has not been worked to any extent. for
with the exception of New York City,
the Middle States have had very little
attention from the novelist"
The latest book by Charles Wagner is
The Gospel of Life" which Mcclure
Phillips are just bringing out. 1t con-
taiils half-a dozen sermons on famous
thoughts from the Bible. The Widows
MRe. etc ! Mr.. Wagner's main idea is
best indicated by the following quota
ton from his Preface: III public wor-
ship, If preaching has any aim it is to
blerid into one all prayer and toll. 1t is
to help us to live by casting light upon
our way, by Interpreting our expert
enccsy by teaching us to unravel the di-
vine wool in the rude stuff of the way
of this world. For this. it is enough to
bring together these two things, the
Gospel and life. Life would be very
obscure without the Gospel; and how
f1fe Gospel grows in strength and sta
t1ire in contact with life!"
tti-a NiiIt.AE ----4
Scotland Yard would no doubt scorn
to take Sir Conan Doyle into its coun-
aels after the manner Of an American
detective. Who once consulted r. L.
Sttvensor.' hr. Arthur Johnstone. in
htst stevenson in the Pacific" tells the
striking tale. AS they sat together
one tvening in the veranda of an inn
At Waikiki, the detective confided to
Sievensoh'a case Of extreme difficulty
he had in hand, and also his theory of
its solution. AS Stevenson hardly
seemed to attend, for he sat looking
dreamily at the sea, the detective left
him to have a chat with the more re-
sponsive landlord. On his return to
the veranda. however. Stevenson sud-
denly reused himself to say: Il think
I have solved that riddle of yours. You
see it's just like writing a story. IT
YOU go at it right. il will work out
right. Now, your theory does not do
at all. because it will never work out.
Let me give you my theory of the
case. and then tell me what you think
Of it." The detective did not at first
think anything of Stevenson's theory
Of the case. 1t was daring even for
theory, and dangerous to work if it
did not happen to come off. But on
thinking it well over with Stevenson $
shining eyes fixed intently on his
face. the professional began to believe
there was something in it. When
Stevenson at last asked triumphantly,
"Well'" he replied. "Well. sir 1 shall
try your theory; but If it don't win you
and will lose between us the thou
sand-dollar fec I am to be paid for a
conviction" AT this Stevenson laughed
and said, "Sir if it doesn't win l will
pay you the thousand dollalS and
throw the theory in for nothing" But
It won.
Mrs. Pearl May Theresa Craigic, bet
ter known 10 Americans as John Oil
YER Hobbs, distinguished author and
lecturer on topics relating to the adj
vancement of Women, arrived Monday
on the Cunard liner Campagnia, after
rough passage. Mrs. Craigie, who
had been absent from this country
nearly ten years. talked interestingly
on the subject nearest her heart.
which Is the material advancement of
the condition of working women.
women are better understood in
England tOday" said Nrc Cra;uia