Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-16
In LITERARY LONDON
GOSSIP ABOUT BARRIE, HEWLETT
AND HIS GRACE OF ARGYLL.
Special Correspondence of the Star.

LONDON, February Z, 1907
What has become of j. NJ. Barrie" I
asked a friend Of mine who knows the
dramatist intimately. Poor little man."
was the answer. He is unhappy. His state
is pathetic. His wants are of the simplest,
and he is appalled, by the money that has
been rolling in on him from all sides. No
one, not even his charming wife, knows
what sums he gives away in charity, but
they are certainly big sums. He has no luck
in cultivating expensive tastes He tried
owning motor or two, but dn't care much
for it; yachts make no particular appeal to
him; society has no charm for him. What
can the publishers, editors and theater man
ayers who are always after him offer him
except more money, which he doesn't want.
He hasn't even any bad habits except his
pipe-to which he is devoted l even saw
MIN at a funeral, not long ago, in an easy
going sack coat from the bulging pocket of
which that everlasting pipe was sticking
out During the service he kept feeling in
that pocket, apparently just to fondle that
pipe and pouch.
Il think he was broken-hearted by the
utter failure of his latest play Josephine
Despite its evidence of genius in places, few
plays were ever less suited to the stage.
think he realizes that his genius is like
the wind which f1oweth wherever it listeth-
and 1t seems to be settling steadily into the
There is to be another play from Barrie,
according to present plans, but it is hardly
likely that he will write any more stories.
Hardly week goes by that he does not re-
ceive some kind of a glittering offer from
America, but his answer to all is that any
thing he may write will always go to one
New York publisher, without question or
stipulation as to terms. He knows his
friend will pay whatever ought to be paid
and more should want.
NO, the one thing in the world that j.
NJ. Barrie wants is something that is de-
MED to him-children."
In the Spirit of Dumas
Maurice Hewlett. who nearly lost his life
in Spain last summer through being poi
sOned by bad food, and who for long time
has been more or less in i'll health, has
now practically recovered. He has been
writing not only a rollicking series of adj
venture stories in the spirit of Dumas, but
is also busy with novel of the present
day, which will be interesting news to every
reader of Hewlett, for this author has never
before written modern novel. THE Stoop-
ing Lady, now running serially, has been
his nearest approach to 1t, and the scenes
of that story are laid in the times of two
generations ago. But no editor or publisher
will see the new novel until the last word
of it is written for this author does not be-
lieve in writing either to order or against
time.
Newfoundland IS 10 De the SUBJECT OF a
book by j. G. Millais, son of the late Sir
John Everett Millais, the painter. The au-
thor has spent many months in travelling
over Newfoundland, and his book is to be
enriched by a great number of drawings In
wash line and color. The book will be the
most important that has been published on
the subject. Mr.. Millais Is now busy with
the drawings.
Argyre's Memoirs.
What is perhaps the most interesting bit
of news that the publishing world will have
this spring can be made known here for
heard of it, and will not until they see it
here. King Edwards brother-in-law, the
Duke of Argyll, who undoubtedly would
have been distinguished as a man of letters
if he had not been born to another position,
has been engaged for many months in writ
ing his memoirs and these will contain the
results of personal talks with some of the
most interesting people the world over, in
Guiding a good many American statesmen,
generals and men of letters at about the
time his grace was governor general of
Canada-that is, from 1878 to 1888. He has
already written a book on The United
States After the War; and one or two
books on Canada, we'll as a Life of
Palmertson,' and the Life and Times of
Queen Victoria" He has written some good
poetry, too. His book is going to be long
and important one, and although his grace
is too experienced a writer to commit any
of the indiscretions that have made some
recent memoirs the topic of the moment.
yet there is going to be material in the book
that will cause it to be eagerly read all over
the world.