Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-02
Books and Authors.

OOOAO Q1lu AuCllO1 D.
Taking advantage of the fact that
under the patronage of some we'll
known London ladies, Mrs. Mary Ann
Cooper the original of Dickens Little
Dorrit," was conducting a bazaar in
aid Of some poor boys, a representa-
tive Oc the London Daily Chronicle
called on the old lady, several weeks
ago, and had very interesting talk
with h"r concerning her personal rem
inisCenccs Of Dickens. Mrs. Cooper
who is now in her nienty-fifth year
was once a famous beauty. Her por-
trait was painted by famous portrait
painter, and her bust cut in marble by
a wcll-known sculptor of the past gen
Grafton, both works of art being eX-
hibited at the Royal Academy. The
work of the sculptor was purchased by
the present duke of Dcvunshire. Mrs
Cooper. whose maiden name was Nit
ton, lived with her parents in Clarendon
Square in 1872, opposite house occu-
plea by the Dickens family. A boy
and-girl friendship sprang up between
Charles and Mary Ann, which lasted
for many years, and some memories of
which were given in these columns
last sDring. 1t should be added that
Dickens heroine merely took her name
from the nickname bestowed on Mary
Ann in her youth, and that the ad-
ventures of Little Dorrit' as child
of the MarShalsea had no foundation III
fact as regards Mrs. Cooper. At "a
Mrs. Cooper is slightly deaf and suffers
from rheumatism, and although her
memories of "PhiZ." Dickens first il
illustrator. are growing dim, those con-
corning my Charles" as she calls
Dickens. are retained and possibly EN-
bellished through much repeating.
A public meeting was recently held in
Portsmouth, n. H., to consider the
p,lrchase of the house in which
Thomas Bailey Aldrich was born and
VIII. re he lived great part of his boy
hod. This is the home described in
the "Story of Bad Boy" and the plan
is to use it for n Thomas Bailey AL
drich museum.
Two new books by George Cary ES-
gleston are to be published-one en-
titled Glove Is the Sum of 1t AL q
plantation romance. the scene of which
is laid in Virginia in the time of re-
construction. and the other called
Long Knives" graphic narrative OF
adventure based upon the story of
George Rogers Clark's conquest of the
region north of the Ohio for the
American republic.
In her new book, "Eversley Gardens
and Others" Miss Rose G. Kingsley
will write chiefly as lover of garden
craft. but she will also touch upon
some personalities. OF the summer
life of her father, Charles Kingsley, she
will give some intimate giimpses.
The current list of Harper & Pros. in
cludes Il new edition of Drl Franz Won
Reber's "IIiStory of Mediaeval Art" II
will be ahundantly illustrated. The
same publishers will presently import
a new book by Mrs. IIumphry Ward
1t is In. biography she has written OF
her brother. William Thomas Arnold
TIE journalist. who was also in his
hours OF ease an historian.
A novel by Edith Macvane, daughter
of Professor S. NJ. Macvane of Iiar-
ward. is to appear in an early issue ol
Lippincott's Magazine. It's title Is
THE Duchess of Dreams
SO many contradictory reports are ir
circulation as to "who's who" in 'Fe-
licity" that the author. Miss Laugh
lin, has put an end to the guessing
by frankly stating that nobody in the
book is anybody out Of It,"
The Ronkman gives the following
list of the hest selling works for May
1.-THE Port of Missing Men," Nicholson
(Robbs- MerrilD, 229: Running Wa
ter" Mason Century. 1872; "Nev
Chronicles Of Rehecca." Wiggir
Notwithstanding 113; 1.-THE Lady q
the Decoration" Little Century,. 100
1.-The Brass Bowl" Vance Bobbs
Merril). "a: "The Flyers" McCutch'
con Dodd- MeaO. sc.
ut is wonderful" said Charles
Reade. chow genius can borrow" "AlI
literature" remarked Oliver Wendell
Holmes. Lives by borrowing and lend
ing" and he adds, "A good image is
like diamond which may be set a
hundred times in as many generations
change" This is not a question of
originality. THE lighting a candle at
a neighbor's fire" observes Dean Swift,