Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-07-14
THE REALM OF BOOKS AND AUTHORS

one of the very. successful books of the
forthcoming season. Mr.. Pinkham was
married to Miss Mary Robinson of
Biddeford in 1901
Clara Z. Laughlin is the author of
story in the current number of the
Red Book entitled 1.-THE House of
Peace" IT is a pictorial presentation
of the drama of Lees surrender.
1t is seldom that a title selected by
an author is retained by the publisher
The latter is in quest of a name that
will prove attractive; the former mere
ly selects a title that is appropriate
for the tale. Occasionally author and
publisher are served by the same Sc
lection, but generally the author must
give way before the publishers choice.
The following account of the trials of
an Indianapolis author, Mrs. Walter
Hale, known on the stage and in her
literary work as Louise Closer, her
maiden name, is illustrative. Accor-
ding to New York paper. for years
Miss Closser-or Prossie, the type
writer, as the public learned to
know her in Candida days
has been treasuring away down
in the depths of her inner conscious
ness title for a novel, During the
last year, while she has been playing
in Mrs. Wigs of the Cabbage Patcn."
in England, the novel has gradually
evolved itself.
month or so ago the manuscript
arrived at the dignity of being typed
and week later, with the long treas
ured title, THE Calcium Moon,' print
ed on it's title page, it was forwarded to
the editor Of a famous woman's maya
zine for perusal. Contrary to all prece-
dent, the story was accepted as soon as
read. The Philadelphia at once cabled
Miss Closer that he would give Miss
Closer round sum, which reached
four figures, for the serial rights to her
story on one condition! All. me! This
was where the fly slipped into the act
ress-novelists pomade! All this money
and the fame which would accrue to
her from having her novel read by
over a million subscribers should be
hers, declared the publisher if only she
would change the books title from
THE Calcium Moon" to THE Actress"
When this ultimatum reached Miss
Closer. in London. the young woman,
being just as allegorical as she is ex-
travagant. cabled back: "Wouldst rob
the tigress of her cub?" OF course,
such very fine point of righteousness
as this was entirely lost upon the un-
imaginative, hard skuled mind of the
producer of many of the worlds best
sellers So in course of time he cabled
back: Don't want your cub. Have no
menagerie this year. Call your book
The Actress and you'll make a hit.
Call 1t The Calcium Moon and my
readers won't know what you're writ
ing about" So, Of course, Miss Clos
ser was obliged to give in. But, like the
recently remarked DR.. Munyon, she
can still say, There is hope for last
week Harper Brothers purchased the
rights of publishing her novel in book
form, and Miss Closer made it con-
dition of the contract that unless the
novel made such a big hit in serial
form as "The Actress" that it would be
suicidal to rechristen it the story
when it appears in covers shall once
| more be known as THE Calcium
Moon"
The current number of the American
Boy contains the first instalment of
Under the Great White Canvas" des-
oribing the experiences sofg Hugh G..
Weir with the Rinplinp Bros Circ,rs