The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1907-05-21
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1
The two most popular English books
In Russia at the present day, according
to the Daily Mail, are Milton's para
disc Lost" and sThe Adventures of
Sherlock Holmes"
Interesting data gathered by the Pub
lishers' Circular show that during the
last year seven new works of fiction
have on an average appeared every
weekday and two new editions. There
has been a decrease in biography, his
tory, belles-lettres, theology, books on
dramatic works. Fiction is the literary
food demanded by the public and fiction
In all forms Is being abundantly sup
Iplied.
An amusing commentary on Pierre
Lofts languishing romance "Les Desen-
chantees" is presented by reviewer
in Putnam's Monthly. 1t appears that
Lott as matter of fact had number
Of interviews with three young Turkish
women in a Constantinople harem,
though his acquaintance was carried on
without any of the mystery or adven-
ture so elaborated In the novel. Lott
discussed his projected LES Desenchan-
tees" with these young ladies, but their
sentiments prove to be scarcely as deli
cate as he might wish. They regard
themselves as real collaborators, and
because M. Lott has not forwarded
them share Of the royalties there has
been talk Of lawsuit
The new subscription edition Of the
works of George Eliot has aroused
r fresh interest in the personality Of the
t woman whose first fiction appeared
4 when she was nearly 40 years of age.
) Dickens wrote to her praising her
: truth, delicacy and pathos," and
a knowing her only from the George
: Eliot" on the title page he declared
' that "lf these moving ictions origin
=, ated with no woman / believe that no
2 man ever before had the art of max
v ing himself mentally SO like woman
. since the world began" Froude wrote
to her, II do not know whether am
q addressing young man or an old,
! but In his delight and admiration he
d urged George Eliot" to come and &C
Icept his hospitality.
e In writing Of James Whitcomb Riley
It in the Books News Monthly Hewitt
t Hanson Rowland says: "As maker
It and teller of stories Mr.. Riley is incom
b parable. He was born with the gift
Ie Never too many, never too long, always
81 suited to the moment and fitted to thu
It scene, his story-punctuated conversa
4. tion Is ever delight. His method O
In introduction is original and artistic
T. There are never any that remind
ot me- or you remember beginnings, bu
,e with full appreciation Of the valu
,e of good opening sentence he will say
q When Bony Meak' CHATS a typica
Riley name) was first assistant post
master at Idaville he used to tell etc
Al Bony gets the credit you see, and Rile.
t. heartier laugh for having given it t.
10 him."
s. Mrs George McCracken, under til,
/ pseudonymn L. A. M. Priestley, In 9Th,
Ie Love Stories of Some Famous Won
I. en-" has selected eight women Of strong
u character and told how and with wha
s effect they have fallen in love. Eliza
" beth Barrett Browning and Isabel
d Lady Burton, are quoted as women O.
D. strong personality, who welded men O
u equal or greater callber and found hap
e piness in marriage. George Eliot, IL
II her irregular alliance with George Hen
= ry Lewes found domestic bliss marre<
It by social disapproval, Mrs. Siddon
e overshadowed her husband, Nine Ro
n land married a great man, to find hin
r to be emotionally her antithesis; Char
o. lotte Bronte, after amazing the worl'
II with Jane Eyre, married countr.
'e curate of blameless life, who, the au
II thor claims, disapproved of her llterar,
e habits.