The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03

OF the publishers grind exceed
ing fast and. seemingly. by day
and night for all the year. there
Sc q recognized dropping or in produc-
ton after the holiday rush. Then it
IS that one begins to peer for the
books ot the spring" Naturally, in
forecasting the new book crop. State
pride turns the thoughts OF Califor-
mans TO their own nterati. wondering
what they viii have 10 contribute to
the coming yield. one interesting fact
in this connection has already had un-
oniciaI announcement. Paul Elder is
70 bring out within a short time a book
for which the Spinners viii stand
sponsor. t is 10 be a compilation OF
short stories by California authors. men
and women. and viii be sold for the
benent OF the Ina Coolbrith fund which
IS 70 be Increased through the years
50 that the interest on it may be a
help 70 some author or artist in need.
The project was born or a desire TO
assist Ina Coolbrith. q great sufferer
sArrough the fire. Several contributors
CO the Spinners' book of fiction are
ssther honorary or acts members OF
this small organization o. workers.
The opening story is by Gertrude
Atherton, and her heroine is the motif
for the cover illustration. which has
been made by Lille Y. O'Ryan. who
painted the famous miniature Of Janice
Meredith. A rarely beautiful society
girl CT San Francisco has posed for the
picture. Miss O'Ryan is one OF the
artist members OF the Spinners. for
rer book gotten out by the Spinners,
seProsit," is still one OF the best sellers
ef ifs kind IN the book marts.
Peering into the near future to divine
The place in 1t OF California's writers
sends ones thoughts to the recent past
for a possible measuring stick That
brings the realization that 1906, which
spelled material disaster for so many
San Francisco authors, did not affect
either the number or quality of their
books. On the contrary, the record of
work done in the year of woe is surpris-
inglv good. In any review of the lit
erary- accomplishments of Californians
IN recent years there is a promising
augury for the future.
Lloyd Osbourne is building himself
4 7
Crawford for literary productivity.
Thus far he has found the path of the
short storyist agreeable treading and
remuneratiVe in degree that explains
hls intimacy with the ways OF the ex-
sive automobile. Now and then Os-
9ourne gathers up a sheaf OF his mag
szine tales and binds them into an
other book. Already he makes a re-
spectacle shelf showing. Californians
should be pleased to know that Os-
bourne's stories are as popular abroad
ss. 1T home
Miriam Nicholson is smother Cali
fornian winning name and fame. Her
story. In the Bishops Carriage was
wonderful success. and the drama
tizstion of it has been a source of even
greater revenue than the book. While
none of her later books has been as
instantly successful and popular as
that she is by no means "one-book'
writer. Although Miss Nicholson has
gone TO New York TO live. she may still
be claimed as one of the Californian
writer's
Alice Prescott Smith. whose stories
are exquisitely polished. has added to
her laurels this year. Geraldine Bon
ner is an indefatigable worker. Her
last book. Rich Mems Children" was
her most ambitious effort Reviewers
an across the country busted them
selves about il and were about equally
divided in praise and dispraise. 1t was
certainly not a pleasant picture she
drew for Caiifornians. and the book left
rather a bad taste in the mouth. per-
hsps because she came too close to
some Of the truths that are admitted,
but not talked about. Whether she
has shown the best OF taste in some
OF. her anecdotes of the early history
Of: our pioneers is also question It
Sc a bit OF history too recent and
too easily fitted TO the living family
10 be pslatable Whose mind does
not run about for the inspiration that
made Miss Bonner tell how one mil
e .l+onaire's wife washed shirts in her
struggling days, and another was the
.prettiest waitress in the Yuoa Hotel
- Marysville7
NJ In a class by herself is Agnes Tobin,
who has rendered into English all OF
Petrarch's sonnets and canzoni In
-sfrsnslations that have won her much
more recognition abroad than at home
Il Ia serious, dignifed work Miss Tobin
set for herself.
Charles Keeler stands far to the front
9or his versatility. To his credit are
volumes OF good poetry and essays
and a few readable, playable dramas
San Francisco has reason TO be IN
debted 70 him for his books on the
IRE and earthquake and his story OF
San Francisco that was. They are
fnterestfnK. but at the same time faith
ful enough TO have historic value.
George Sterling, Louis Robertson and
Herman Scheffauer must not be for
rotten in mentioning poets Of Cali
fornia- George Sterling, particularly
IS doing eorne rarely fine work
Gertrude Atherton, CALIFORNIA; most
brilliant. II somewhat uneven. writer.
siwavs finds enthusiastic readers as
well as energetic critics. The admir-
ers OF her earlier work as against her
latest never cease to be enthusiastic
about The Doomswoman- To my
mind. she has never equaled II The
exquisite delicacy and skill with wnich
sAs handled this story is absent In
hi recent books.
Mrs. Fremont Older has done enough
70 Justify watching for moro from her
pen. Eer first book. The Socialist.
appeared two or three years ago. The
Prince" her second, created mucn taik-
1t was a bold dash Mrs. Older mad for
fame. but most of her critics were very
complimentary TO her, and she wen
nerited their consideration.
EfeTcH Ia