The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-20

Various Items About Books That are
Attracting Attention.

Attracting Attention.
Five volumes have been issued by the
Bobbs- Merrill company in their series
of novelties and short stories known
as the Pocket Books. They are 1.-THE
Amethyst Bex'' and THE House in the
Mist" by Anna Katharine Green; The
Princess EIopes" and Entertainment p
by Harold MacGrath; and THE Motor
maniacs," by Lloyd Osbourne. It will
be interesting to see which of these lit
tie 70 cent books turns out to be the
most popular, for they all seem to start
with equally fine chances of success.
Gov. Hoch has an article on kansas
and the Standard Oil Company in the
May number of George fuckers Sun
flower Magazine.
In the opinion Of most people, the late
General Lew Wallace's fame as soldier
is somewhat oVershadOWed by his enyi-
able position as an author. That such
was not the case in the mind Of one
young lady, at least, is evidenced by
the following anecdote, which comes from
Charlottesville, Indiana, the home of
the author of ''Ben-Hur:" There ap-
peared in the little Indiana town one
day, a girl who seemed to be a wide
awake young American and who was
eager to see all the sights in CraWfOrdS-
vile. She had been told that Gen. Wal
went alone to the house and asked for
Mrs. Wallace, who received her in a
spirit of kindness and true hos oltdlity.
The girl told Mrs. Wallace that as Gen.
Wallace had served in the war she was
eager to see his home and learn more
about him. So Mrs. Wallace showed
the girl all over the house. The girl
was deeply interested in viewing Ger
tain relics of the Rebellion and even
laid her hand tenderly on Gen. Wallace's
sword Finally Mrs XWa1laRn took the
girl into a den that seemed rich in in
terest. With the greatest possible pride
Mrs. Wallace said, This room will sn-
terest you more than any other in the
house, for at this desk Gen. Wallace
wrote the greatest part of 'Bea-Hur.' p"
The girl looked up with interested, wide
open eyes. Wrote Ben Hur?' she re-
peated. why, does Gen. Wallace
write, too?"
The April Critic published as the best
six books of fiction issued during the
last half year: Mrs Humphrey Wards
1.-THE Marriage of William Ashe," Chas.
D. Stewsrt's 1.-THE Fugitive Blacksmith, "
Robert Grants The Undercurrent."
Eden PhiIlpotts' THE Secret Woman"
Henry James 1.-The Golden Bowl" May
Sinclair's THE Divine Fire" Changes
suggested in letters addressed to the
editor of The Critic, and approved in
the May issue, would substitute The
Garden of Allah" and Paths of Judg-
ment" for some of the above.
Harold MacGrath, author Of ''The
Princess Elopes.'' has had a great deal
of fun out of the account in q certain
New York newspaper of his "elope-
ment" with Miss Alma Kenyon. AS
matter of fact, the wedding was very
far from being an elopement. But once
the report had been started, the couple
determined that, if they must have the
notoriety, they would also have the ex-
citement, of an eIopement. They play
ed their parts with enthusiasm, and the
curtain did not fall until they got back
to Syracuse and Mr.. MacGrath wired
his publishers: THE princess has
ceased to elope."
William R. A. Wilson, author Of "a
Knot Of Blue" Is native of central
Illinois. a graduate of WILLIAMS college,
and the College of Physicians and Sur
geons of Columbia university. After
practicing successfully as a physician,
he abandoned his profession for literary
pursuits and travel His previous book,
"a Rose of Normandy" published two
years ago, is now in its fifth edition,
and. unlike many novels published at
that time it is still selling. A Knot
of Blue" little, Brown & Co, pup
fishers. Boston, is a story Of man s
fckleness and woman's steadfast, con-
uuering love. The knot of blue was
the bow the fair Aimee de Marsay gave
to Raou1 de Chatignae, the tickle lover
to wear in war, whittier he went to re-
gain his self-respect AFTER having Dsen
duped by an intriguing woman and a
cunning villain The story abounds in
intrigue, adventure. the joy Of living
and achieving. and it throbs with ro-
mantle tenderness. Although not an his
torical romance in any sense, the scene
Is laid in that quaint spot where the
Old World and ting New have met for
centurfes-Old Quebee-a field in which
Mr.. Wilson has shown himself q worthy
eompeer of the best writer's Of roman