Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-11

9saBOOkS and AuthOrS.E {.

pointed to the Naval Academy at
Annapolis by Isaac n. Arnold. He
graduated there with high hOnorS in
1861, cruiscu the Mediterranean, made
a trip around the world with FarraSut
and then resigned TO go into business.
Mr.. StiCkney was a close student at the
academy, ana was q star man; that
is, among the first five of his class, and
gave promise Of making a line officer.
His business enterprise proving unsat-
isfactory, he adopted journalism as a
profession. In Chicago he was Joe"
Stickney, Il reporter for the News and
Tribune, and afteiWard became editor
Of the Milwaukee Sentinel. In 1887 he
went to the New York Herald and was
placed in charge of the naval depart
ment. A few years afterward he was
making q name Tor his work in foreign
countries. He happened TO be in Monte
Carlo when the famous bomb explosion
occurred in the Casino.
charles u. Stewart wanted to be q
writer when he was only q boy; and he
held steadily to his ideal of authorship
through several years of Wanderings.
lie is 40 now: and Partners Of PrOvi-
dence" is his second book, though he
has contributed largely to the maya
zines. As he himself says: Literary
adventure has been the constant under
current of my thought-started when l
was fourteen by reading q little book
called The Seven American Classics
For many years | thought literature
was made out of WOrdS-but now l
have come to know that it comes from
experience and q gift of sympathy.
I have practiced more in word use and
written more fine stuff than would
fill house; but editors have not re-
ceiVCd it for examination. Luckily L
had sense enough to know that it fell
q little short one more slight effort OF
ingenious sentence and apt word and
the crystal would form. But after
long, long time | discovered that this
was not literature. Were / to write
my literary theories. their names would
be legion; but they are merely the
tools man works with. and the i'm
portant thing is the product. One need
not the0riZe about fiction, for, unlike
new PHILOSOPHERS and supposed poetry
(Which may succeed on the fact that
no one can understand them). it has
got to be put 10 the test Here, hap
PLY. the proof Of the pudding is in the
eating. This is why as practical man
would practice fiction. for it is put to
the tcst that a machine is. You TRY
it and see if it works"
Departing from their themes formerly
employed, tie WillIamSons give us an
other novel. The Princess Virginia..
McClure). 1t is a romantic love story
from that well-known but undiscovered
region, somewhere in Central Europe,
that ahounGs in small Kingdoms and
principalities. The present heroine is an
Anglo-German princess VINO rebels
against the Plan made for he" to marry
tie young emperor Of Rnaetia, whom she
has not even seen. But the two, While
going about IN disguise. meet and fall in
love. Advance orders for this book have
necessitated tie printing of a second cdi
ton before publication.
New authors first books have been very
prominent among tire best selling novels
of the spring. Three Men AMI a Maid"
4 mystery story by Robert Fraser, new
author. has probably sold faster since its
publication than any other book in that
time. Another authors first story. w 4.
EldridGe's "llilma, an Anth"ny Hore
sort Of romance is among T." best sellers
while The Nipcr Of Milan, hy Marjorie
Bowen has sold TcrS we'll for such SOM
brc story. Then there i. q course.
Thomas ". IHWSCn'S tain Of frcnEiCu
finance. FRIDAY. the Eth" also = best
seller
Jean Webster the Young writer whose
first hook. when Patty Went to Col
leIe. brought her name ut once into
prominence. has proved nv her latest
Jerry Junior" that she has continuous
freshness of impression and humor. lust
now Miss Webster is in India. on her way
around the world. and her letters home
indicate that she is having as interesting
n time rs AZ, enthusiastic traveller can.
The fanilv's early home was in Fradonia
n. ". where the daughter was educated
quietly until she vert to Vassa:, which il
supposed 10 have furnished much of the
material for 'Wker Patty Went to Col
lcge." Later the Webstera removed TO
New York. which is still their residence
| returning to the early home during the
| time Of Mr.. Wehster's failing health and
death. Miss Webster is. ii is worth not
| ing. a GrandnieCe of Mark Twain.
1t is interesting to know that Norman
Duncan came very near to missing his
career as q novelist For ne was brought
| up. in his native home in Canada under
| such strict and narrow Influences as To
| believe all novel readinC-and, of course
| novel wrtinE-to be vitality wrong! For
some time after he realized that the Gre
alive literary instinct was strong within
| him. he could only hope to achieve liter
AIRY distlnrtlcn in sorne field other than
| the imaginative. Gradually, however. as
| he grew into manhood. he came to view
| the subject ir broader ami kindlier light
| and to Know that u novelist who write
| titC bt'>t anu lildl Is IN nm mas IN
| his pen the possibilities Of COOL That
| Duncan writes so sincerely. so straight
| forwardly. ard with such il strain ot
| manly religic usness. is doubtless due tC
the mental stress and conflict Of those
! early years.
After a motor tour through France
| Mrs. II. l.. Stevenson and her son. Mr.
| Lloyd Osbourne, have reached England
| where they are in consultation with Mr.
Edmund Gosse over the intrductions he
| is preparing for the Portland Stevenson
| AS result the Forthcoming volumes
| dealing mainly with poSthumous work:
| composed Mt Vailima towards the end O.
SteVenson's life--will be rich in biograph
| fcal and personal matter
| Another novel is booked for the stage
II Is 'Radiana,' written Nv Edward. II
| crosby. dramatic editor of the BostoI
/ Foat, and Sutton Nane Is now at ,rnrl