The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-17
hooks AND AUTHORS.

Those who find the Henry James sentence
puzzling should take advantage Of the var
ious opportunities now offered to hear II
interpreted by Mr.. James himself. The
Anglo American author Ii the literary lion
OF the hour and is reading his lecture on
balzac in various places to the chosen few
who sit adoringly at the feet Of this apostle
OF the complex. Once hearing suffices to
reveal the intention Of the sentence
those who demand more are not true James
IAN disciples. The sentence Is not de.
signed to be understood, IL Is not constructed
to be parsed. Its significance lies 10 its
purely lyrical qrality-a quality which may
not be adequately asoertained until one has
heard Mr.. James read 1t himself. As his
! voice slips and slurs from one detached
phrase to the next,in gently rising crescendo
to the climax, and slurs and slips back
again, descending to the finale it Is as restful
and soothing as the soft, slow drip OF slug
gish water upon the worn and NOISY basin
OF marble fountain. 1t produces a gentle
intellectual amortization which Is 30 agree
able that one ceases to wonder what 1t
means or to care II it doesn't mean any
thing at all. Another gratifying thing
about Mr.. James's rendering Of his sentence
Is that he occasionally loses bis breath or
his place and founders helplessly around
his dashes and divisions like a layman,
with the difference that he always RECEIVERS
himself finally and finishes gracefully.
Bliss Carman has been renewing old
associations and making new ones on the
California coast during the last few months.
The California journals complain whim-
sically that although the people would
gladly dine and wine this poet OF nature.
he is a lion who refuses 10 roar ana is 40
cessble only to his friends. This may be
accounted for partly by the fact that Mr..
Carman has an aversion to posing as a
celebrity, and partly that he is engaged in
the preparation Of new volume Of verse,
to be entitled From the Book Of Valen-
tines" which will be the fifth volume in
the pipes Of Pan" series. He is also pre-
pairing a new volume of prose essays, to be
entitled 'The Poetry Of Life
William Dean Howells has written a new
story, which will appear under the title
OF Miss Bellard's Inspiration II is
tale OF a summer episode in New Hamp-
shire. in which the course Of true love takes
an unexpected turn, and in which the author
is at the best Of his subtle humor
Edith Wharton has sailed for Europe
for an absence OF several months. having
just read the last proofs Of her novel Of
American society, which is appearing
serially in Scribner's. The June install
ment brings this remarkable story to
crisis, which is the turning point in the
coroar NJ the herone Lily Part
Mr.. Kiplings letter TO The Complete
Motorist," written in praise OF motoring
and its benefit to mankind spiritually,
physically and mentally, presents one side
OF the medal OF which the reverse is pre-
scented by S. I.ewes Dickinson, author OF
"Religion-a Criticism and a Forecast
| Mr.. Dickinson regards motoring as per-
nicio,ls, and manifestation in sport OF
the modern vice OF endless rush and hurry,
so detrimental to concentration and TO
steady calm mental progress.
Miss Kate Stephens, author Of American
Thumbprints. is an American OF good old
stock and a college woman Of wide study.
Forebears of Miss Stephens Differed two
famous expeditions Of the English oolonists
and fought on the patriotic side OF the
War OF Independence. Miss Stephens herself
held the chair of Greek language and litera-
ture at the University Of Kansas six years
after graduate study at Cambridge, Mass,
and in Berlin and other European centers.
Later she entered upon the constructive
editing Of books in New York, where she
now lives on the West Side-in a Bohemia
where trees grow and birds sing. Her
sympathies are with the worlds less fortu-
nate ones. and she endea vors to lend hand
to the helpful work Of the day. she has
arranged. and ests blshed successful lecture
courses by college women for women whose
lives are warped by narrow, unceasing and
joyless drudgery
A not able feat ne Of the seasons literary
market s the unusual output Of volumes
made up Of short stories. The Harpers
alone have since the first OF the year
issued eight such books. made up Of short
stories suitable for reading aloud Mr..
Hovells, remarking on the growing popu-
larity OF the short story recently said:
There is a great mass OF good stun being
written from all over the country just now.
I consider the short story just ly an Ameri-
can growth. and therefore Il develops
many originalities. The dramatic instinct
is no doubt most evident in the short story,
and a great deal Of the present material,
il at times crude In style, Is dramat ically
very strong
Frederick Trevor Hill. author OF the
at ory Of the court room led "The Ac-
complete has many interesting anecdotes
to tell OF his sixteen years experience at the
New York har, The most severe arraign-
mept he ever heard in the court room
HANDS 0MEST. LIGHTEST.