The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-19
from abroad few weeks ago, and Is now at her Virginia home.

from abroad few weeks ago. and Is now at her Virginia home.
 Mrs. Virginia Frazer Boyle. whose first novel, Serena" is soon to be pub lished, has been spending the winter In New York engaged in literary work.Mrs Boyle's negro dialect stories are we'll known, and throughout the South she Is one of the best loved poets. A verse from her Commemoration ode. The Wizard of the Saddle" which was read at the laying of the cornerstone of the Forrest Memorial. is to be inscribed on the bronze tablet at the base of the statue to be unveiled in March, in Memphis, Tenn.
 c. B. Galbreath Is publishing a sketch written by himself of the life of Daniel Decatur Emmett, author of Dixie" It is the first sketch of Elm melt to be published in book form. and is said to be the most extended and most nearly complete that has yet ap- peared. The author. 1t is stated. has had exceptional opportunities for col lecting facts on the subject. which he has presented with many references to sources. He has also given an exten- sive chapter on the authorship Of Dixie" Copies of the book may be obtained from MT. Galbreath. who is the Secretary and State Librarian of the Ohio Library, in Columbus.
 Andrew Carnegie is to have pub Iished the end of next month by Dou- bleday, Page & Go. a new book con- taining an account of the life of James Watt, the Scotchman who first discov- cred the use of steam by watching the lid of tea kettle bob up and down. MT. Carnegie, 1t Is said, had determined number of years ago to write "up' his countryman, and at last he began the biography at Skibo Castle during his usual visit there last summer. He has gathered a lot of information con- corning Watt in Scotland. England, and elsewhere. The biography will not appear in serial form either before or after its publication In a book.
 Messrs. A. S. Barnes & Go. announce another edition of Mrs. Cynthia Vest over Alden's "Women's Ways of Earn ing Money" in Mrs. M E. Sangster's popular Woman's Home Library.
 A discussion has arisen among cor responsible of The New York Times Saturday Review as to whether pr. Charles A. Eastman's animal stories in his Red Hunters and the Animal Peo- pie (Harpers) are based upon genuine Indian lore, or whether Dr. Eastman has merely invented another kind of natural-history story to add to the other species now so famous and so often a matter of controversy as to their truth. Some have even gone so far as to doubt Dr. Eastman's Indian heredity. This. of course. is easily es- tabiished by a glance at Dr. Eastman himself or at his photograph. But as to his stories of animals. the question as to their truth is only an evidence of the prevailing ignorance and disrc- gard of the American Indian. Too little is known of his nobler spiritual traits, his wonderful interpretations Of nature and animal life, and too much is made fh.s degenerate days on In dian reservations in contact with white men. The London Academy exclaims over Dr. Eastman's volume as "one of the most original and delightful books about animal life that have ap- peared for a long time." And from the Indian standpoint. on which the book is based. 1t Is one of the truest.
 How "Ben-Hur'' Came to the 'Harpers.
 The death of General Lew Wallace recalls the circumstances of his first visit to Franklin Square, with the MS. of Ben-Hur under. his arm. He was personally unknown to the Harpers at that time, and after introducing him. self he explained to MT. J. Henry Har- per that he had written a book which dealt with the life of Christ. MT. liar per asked him if Christ actually ap- peared in the story, and General Wal lace rephed that He did. MT. Harper then remarked that this subject was delicate one to treat in a novel, and General Wallace answered. that if there were anything in the story which could offend & fellow Christian, he would rather cut off his right hand than pub fish it. He then explained to MT. liar per that the book had resulted from a spirited controversy he had held with Robert G. Ingersoll on tho subject of religion, In which 1ngersoll had de- feated him in argument. General Wal lace went away from the discussion with a troubled mind. For some time he contemplated writing a theological work which would strengthen religious raith at the point of Ingersolrs bril- liant attack. But he decided that the ologians could do that work much bet ter than he, and, b1tdes, his desire was to reach and help the masses. He lay awake by night pondering the question which had taken possession of his mind, and eventually decided to write a religious novel in which he could embody his understanding of re- ligious truth. Ben-Hur was the result. When General Wallace had told these interesting facts to MT. Harper he left the MS, expressing the hope that his own estimate of the work would be en- dorsed by the house. The MS. was read in the usual way by the readers of the firm, and was promptly accepted. General Wallace told Mr. Harper later on that he had written the book in all sorts of ut-of-the-way pIaces-on hoats railroads. in carriages. wherever