The San Francisco call., 1907-02-03
Gossip of Books and People
Who Make Them

"The Marriage OF William Ashe."
Mrs. Humphry Wards novel. publish
ed in this country by the Harpers. has
been translated into French by Mile.
de Mestral Combremont and issued un-
der the suggestive title OF "LErreur
dAimer." The translation. according
to the Revue des Deux Mondes, has
been admirably done
Many OF the Eastern reviewers hsvs
shifted at the purported genuineness OF
the DIARY OF a 49er." They say 1t
holds together entirely too well and
the love story throughout has too mod
ern a tone. Be that as 1t may. IL Is
an exceedingly interesting book and
has already gained many friends In
California, where some 49ers still dwell.
For many years the palm OF literary
supremacy in America has been given
to Poe and Hawthorne. But Arthur
Ransome Of London has just given It
to Poe and whitman In thoughtful
and scholarly critique on Edgar Allan
Poe he says among other words OF
praise that Poe is one Of the two Amer
leans who have had a considerable In
f1uence on European literature II is
shock to find Hawthorne, with his
nawless diction. deposed for Whitman
Mr.. Ransome's statement is sure TO
cause much controversy between tia
admirers OF the two men,
Time has stood still for Thomas
Wentworth Higginson. who celebrated
his eighty-third birthday last month IN
Boston. He is still vital force in lit
erature very recently having published
Part of a Mans Life" composed OF
bits of his own recollections and full
of interest to all Americans. He knew
Longfellow we'll. also Emerson and
VTyI, hA
In the past entirely, but takes keen
interest in the young writers Of the
day.
The young aspirant for literary hon.
ors may be comforted somewhat BY
hearing about the early days OF Charles.
Batten Loomis. He started life as q
cIerk-in fact. for thirteen years that
was his occupation. though he began to-
write before he won emancipation from
the counter. He had great difhculty
getting anything accepted. but after
six years of patient waiting Puck
bought his Lines on Baby. Loomis
says that "the funny part OF IL Is that
at the time 1 wrote the verses was
bachelor. but before it was printed I
was father with a son year old
After giving up his clerkship and de-
voting himself to literary career he
wrote squibs and jokes for the various
comic weeklies in New York and earn
ed about $40 a week. All that must
seem to him far cry from his present
condition. for he now employs an agent
to sell his STUFF and has no wolf at
the door to worry him.
Maxim Gorky's real name Is Pesch-
koff. A curious story is told of how
he dropped It, When he took his firs>
story to a newspaper editor and had IL
accepted on the spot his attention wa.
called 10 the fact that ne had nor
signed It, In response to the editors
request for a name he replied, Sign
1t 'Gorky. which means bitter.
Those who have followed closely ths
novels OF Phillips Oppenhsim as they
come from the press wonder at the
ability Of this Eng1ishman to maintain
the pace which he has set for himself
without lowering the quality ef his
work Mr. Oppenhetm Is under con-
tract to produce two novels . year.
These first appear serially, and htA
English publishers are several months
ahead OF his American publishers in
bringing out his successive stories in
book FORM
Probably not one In a thousand OF
the present generation has read line
of Felicia Hemans verses In her
day. however. Mrs. Hemans was
counted a great poet and numbered
Lewis Carroll among her admirers. Her
grandchildren and great -grandchildren
perpetuated in London. and are trying
to collect $1,000 to endow permanently
"Felicia Hemans" cot IN one - khs
hoSnftnla