Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-15
BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Mrs. Clara Louise Durham is now at
| Bailey Island, Me. This island is the
scene OF three of her books-"Thc
| Opened Shutters Miss Archer
Archer and "Dr. Latimer''
DIR. s. Weir Mitchell, after his usual
early summer holidays in Canada, has
taken up his residence at his villa,
Ear Niente," at Bar Harbor. His
new novel, which Arthur l. Keller is
| illustrating. will begin to appear in the
Century in the autumn.
"Lisbeth LOngfrock" is a translation
from the Norwegian. of Hans Aanrud
! just published by CHM, & Co. The
story centres about the Fife of a little
peasant girl on n Norwegian farm. The
illustrations by a Norwegian artist
were made in Norway.
FOrsaking the writing of fiction for
the time being. Ralph Connor is now
buSily engaged in preparing "The Life
of James Robertson, D. d." fellow
worker and predecessor of his in the
theological upbuilding of the Canadian
Northwest. He was a distinct moral
power in his time, and his career
should form an inspiring theme for the
biographer.
Mary r. Wilkins Freeman finds it
pleasant to look back over her literary
career, for she is one of the few writ
ers who have had unbrOken success
from the beginning. She began, as a
girl, writing short stories and poems
for juvenile publications. Her first
'grown-up' story, as she calls it. was
entitled 1.-THE Old Lovers" and she sent
it to Harper's Bazaar. The editor no.
ticed that the writing was uniformed
and apparently that of one who was
still but a girl. and began reading the
| manuscript with small hopes of finding
it worth while. But it's humor and
pathos We're so effective that her
doubts changed to enthusiasm, and
the story was at once accepted. Other
stories were then written and sent to
| the BaZar. and before long the name of
Mrs. Freenlan-or, rather, Miss Will
| llins. as she then was-began to APP
pear in 'Harper's Magazine" also.
Since then her success has been cen
that her most recent book. by the
Light of the Soul" marks another dis
| tinct step forward.
New volumes in the Thumb-nail
series to be published by the Century
Company this fall will be Longfel-
lows "Tales of 4 Wayside Inn."
| Dickens "Seven Poor Travellers and
| ''The Holly Tree and Stevenson's
| Gravel with a Donkey" The designs
| for the stamped leather covers will be,
as before, the work of Mrs Blanche
McManus Mansfield. The same house
also announces for fall publication
Frances Hodgson Burnett's fairy
story, "Thc Cozy Lion; new story
Of school life. "Tom. Dick and Har-
riet." by Ralph Henry Barbour; cap
tain June" by Alice Hogan Rice. and
"Abbie Ann" by the author Of the
| emma Lou" stories, George Madden
Martin, and n book of play pictures
and ryhmes, Father and Baby" by
| Emile Pousson
| The author of 1.-THE Cruise of the
| Shining Light" is slow and careful
writer during the early stages of Il
story. During the opening chapters
progress is difficult and many changes
are made and many passages entirely
rewritten. Toward the end, however
he always finds that there is Il marked
| difference, for then both words and
ideas come readily, and he writes rap
idly and with very few changes.
| The rocnptly pnhliS ba1 ray,,i n;
Of Dick Donovan are filled with
anecdotes of literary men. and one of
the best is the following incident of
which Anthony Trollope was the hero
and victim. A clever Irish barrister
appeared for the defendant. who was
Il poor letter carrier guilty of some
irregularity. Among the witnesses
was Anthony Trollope what are
you?' asked the Irish barrister in a
severe and commanding tone, sonorous
with rich brogue. IAN official in the
post office" answered Trollope, some
what astonished by the Irish gentle
mans brusqueness. "Anything else?''
said the counsel, with n snap. Yes;
an author" This a little proudly.
What is the name of your last book?'
Manchester Towers" Now, tell
me. is there a word of truth in that
book?' We'll, it is what is generally
called work of fiction" "Ffction!'
with scornful curl of the lip. "Fic-
tom" Che pronounced it Ficshion.)
THAT is to say, there isn't a word OF
truth in it from beginning to end?" 81
= am afraid. if you put it that way
there isn't" stammered Trollope in ar
embarrassed way. With a trumphan,
chuckle the counsel turned to the jury
and exclaimed, Gentlemen, how car
you possibly convict a man on the
evidence Of a witness like this, who
here in this court of justice unblush.
ingly confesses that he has written ;
, book in which there is not a word OF
truth"