The Newtown bee., 1908-01-17

 HOME NEWS. ANGL0 0.AMERlcAN
 COMPETITION International Contest in Which Two We'll Known Authors
 Are Principals. PUBLIC TO BE THE REFEREE Question Up for Decision Is, Which Has Written the Better Novele- Votes to Determine.
PUBLIC TO BE THE REFEREE

NEW YORK, January 8.-Great interest has been aroused both in this country and England by the New York Herald's an- nouncement of an Anglo-American Com petition to determine the comparative popularity of two famous novellsts.
 The opposing candidates are Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, of America, and Max Pemberton, of England, and the referee who will decide upon whose head shall rest the laurels of victory h the public.
 The New York Herald has purchased from the authors mentioned two brand new novels, upon which they are willing to stake their regulations and their chances of success in this contest.
 Mrs. Mary D. Wilkins Freeman's pro. duction is entitled "The Shoulders of Atlas" It is said to be one of the best things this typical American novelist has written, replete with wit, pathos, tragedy and romance. Mrs. Freeman has long enjoyed great popularity as a novelist, her tales of New England life being reckoned among the best of American works of fiction.
 Mir. Pemberton has called his story "Sir Richard Escombe." It is described as fascinating romance of the Thames coun- try in the middle of the eighteenth century, when fighting was plentiful and there were damsels in distress to be rescued. MT. Pemberton is vivid word painter, and is at his best in depicting thrilling scenes and describing heroic exploits. He is one of the best known of English authors.
 These two novels will appear simultane. ,usly in the New York Sunday Heralds Magazine Section on facing pages, full page instalments being published every Sunday for eighteen weeks. The stories will be finely illustrated, the American by the foremost artists of this country, and the English by the leading illustrators of England. .. .+.
 To determine which is the more popular readers will be asked toSvote on each in- stalment, and the story that has received the greatest number of votes at the end of the contest will be adjudged the winner.
 Nor will it be an empty victory, for to the writer of the winning novel the Herald will pay large cash prize in addition to the $10,000 already paid for exclusive publication rights.
 The public also will be duly rewarded for its services as referee, seven weekly cash prizes being offered by the Herald for the best criticisms for each instalment while the very best of all the criticisms sent in will be awarded large additional cash prize at the close.
 This Anglo-American Competition is one of the most remarkable contests of recent years. The fame of the competing authors, the merits of their stories and the wide circulation of the New York Sunday Herald, all combine to emphasize its i'm portance and to make it of international interest.
 Certainly it is a notable test of popu- larity, and already there is much specu- lation in the literary world as to whether the palm and the authors cash prize will remain in America or cross the water for the glory and enrichment of the Britisher.
 The first instalment of the novels will appear in the Herald of Sunday, Janu' ary 19,