Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-20
BOOKS AND AUTHORS

Miss Edith Siche is preparing an
other work on the French court of the
late Nalois period which Will
deal with the later career of
Catherine di Dedici and her
circle The book will be ready for
publication in the near future. Miss
Sichel. although Of German parentage
and English birth. is devoted TO writing
studies in French social and artistic
history and has among her publications
The Two Salons" The Household of
the Lafayettes.'' Women and Men of
the French Renaissance" and Gather
| ire di Medici." She was educated at
nome by private teacher and has al
ways been a lover of books. She COM
menced writing and publishing n mag
azines at the carly age Of IS years.
/ Miss Sichel is distinctly unusual in one
matter-she counts among her recrea-
tons. which include reading. hearing
music and seeing pictures, playing
with Children"
/ Bahama Bill is the title Of the new
sea story by r.. Jenkins Hams. which
! l.. G.. Page & Co announce for Dublica-
ton late in January. Captain Hams IS
a veteran scafarcr. and is well equipped
TO write of the life OF sailors. His
earlier books The Windiammers,"
The SLACK I.arquc," and The Voyage
Of the Arrow" have had wide popular
ity both in this country and in England.
| The following rather indeterminate
news is sent out by the Macmillan
! Company: "a new book by Mr.. Win
ston Churchill is always event Of
prime Importance in the years literary
! affairs. Ever since the publication Of
| 'Coniston' nearly two years ago, Nj.
Churchill has been At work on q novel,
the title and subject Of which have not
vet been divulgcd, and MS publishers.
The Macmillan Company. now an
rounca that it viii appear iii the coul Sc
of the first half of the year
Hougnton, Mifjiin & Co report that
there has been such a demand FOR Mrs.
| Kate Douglas Virgins new story,
The Old Peabody Pew" during the
| holiday season that the book has been
kept on the presses almost constantly
since the day OF its publication. 1t is
now III its sixth impression, making Il
total Of over $1,000 copies. This house
also announces third printings of
Human Bullets" by Lieutenant Tad
ayoshi Sakurai, and Sin and Society"
by Professor Edward A. Ross: and q
second printing of Mother Goose in
Silhouettes,' by Katherine q. Buffum.
Mr. and Mrs. William Dean Iowells
who pass their summers at kittery
Point, Me. recently sailed from New
York On tho White Star liner Cedric
for Naples and Genoa via the Azores,
and will PISS the remainder Of The WIN
ter in Italy.
Professor David Eugene Smith Of
Columbia I-niversityt mathematician
Of wide fame, and author Of Smiths
Arithmetics ard other mathematical
texts published by CHM & Company, is
meeting many pleasurable and profit
able experiences through the Orient
He reports that the Buddhist priests
have displayed much interest in his
search for mathematical material
among the burmese, and that he has
succeeded in obtaining from them &
considerable number of Interesting
manuscripts, Some valuable casts ot
old numerical Inscriptions secured from
the Calcutta Museum will make a wor-
thy addition to Professor Smiths al
ready large and unique collection.
!, Miss Lafayette McLaws says thai
the description of President Buchanan
Inauguration ball, printed in 'The
Welding" was given her by Mrs. JET
fcrson Davis. and she notes that Mr.
Bucharan'S dancing ON this occasion
was against AL precedent, and that in
spite Of his siAty-five years he was the
; most graceful man on the floor. A sec
ond printing of Miss McLaws' ''bie
story OF great reriod," as one critic
, has termed The Welding" is announc-
cd by her publishers. Little, Brown {
90. Boston.
In his Memoirs published this season
, by The Baker d Taylor Co, Frederic
Mistral, the Provincial poet, tells why
he was christeued by the name he
beaIS. The reason IS whimsical enough
in all conscience. II appears that the
! youthful Mercury who bore the tende!
love messages natU cen the elder Mis-.
trails, and who, by the way, was no
related to his employers, was named
Frederic and The grateful parents ex.
pressed their undying gratitude to thC
, messenger who enWrappcd their live,
: in mutual flame by naming their sor
| after him. 50 it is Frederic who. be
: ginning so romantically has attained
: to the leadership OF the latter da,
S romanticistS.
David Belasco is quoted in the cur.
/ rent Ha~per's Weekly as being the au
thor OF the following anecdote illustrat {.
> ing le>precariousness Of playwriting
3 from the point of view of popular sue
cess: Writing plays is risky bust
ness" said Mr.. Belasco. Past fri
~ -pppbs don't count. He who has writ