The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24
Gossip of Books and Writers

Albert Bigelow Paine wonders and
Frederic Remington informs him
about the mosquito. He seems to me-"
writes Mr. Paine, "a creature wholly
devoid or virtue. He is a gIutton. a
poisoner. spreader of disease, a dis
penser of disturbing music That last
Is the hardest to forgive. II he would
only be still I could overlook the other
things" To this Mr.. Remington: MY
Dear Paine: Just read your speeula-
tion Of why mosquitoes were made,
etc. I know the answer They were
created to aid vilization-otherwis
no man. not an idiot. would live any
where else than in the woods"
William Dean Howells. who sailed for
Europe last MONTH VIII remain in
Carlsbad for the major part of his So
Journ. The fact that Mr.. Howells Is
only fulfilling his custom Of going
atfoad at about this period of the year
discredits the exaggerated reports of
his illness. The Howells cottage at
kittsr' Point has not been closed, and
this leads to the possibility that Mr..
Howells may go there before return
Ing to New York for the winter.
DR.. Elwood Worcester, who is en-
gagged in preparing THE Emmanuel
Movement" for publication this fall,
is at present in the New Hampshire
woods. He has entirely recovered from
the effects of a recent surgical opera
tion, and is said to be enjoying the
best OF health. DR.. McComb, his co.
adjutor in the work of the Emmanuel
movement. is at present in England.
A. t. Quiller-Couch lives on his
native Cornish coast, where he Is en-
crossed to an unusual degree in literary
activity. He is said to average from
one to two volumes year. His new
novel; True Tilda.' reviewed in these
columns, is the twenty-fifth from his
pen to be issued by his American pub
lishers and this Notwithstanding the
fact that Mr.. Quiller-Coueh still lacks
some four or five years of being so.
Meredith Nicholson, who has been in
New York for the past fortnight at
work on his novel, The Lords of High
Decision has gone to the Michigan
lakes for the rest and water sports.
Pittsburg is the subject Of his novel
just mentioned, a city which he has
chosen as being typical of American
cities in general
MISS Dl5tdHQ Lie 6IlQ LoLleIS OF
Lafeadio Hearn' have found their way
into most public and into some private
libraries. There will be readers. there
fore. who will be glad to insert the
following note on the career OF Surgeon
Major Hearn. the writer's father, be-
tween pages and Z OF the first
volume. 1t supplements Miss Bisland's
account. in certain points it makes 1t
more definite and in one point corrects
fr1f dcrfyQd Hq<rrn him
self. Charles Bush Hearn procured his
B. A. at Trinity college. Dublin. in 1889.
and became in 1912 a licentiate of the
Royal College of Surgeons. Ireland.
He was attached 10 the First foot
When he left Gibraltar for the Iohian
islands, in April. 1S45. he was staff as
sistanL surgeon. and was promoted
staff surgeon OF the second class IN
November. 1Sf9. He left those islands
tor home in February 1850. but did not,
as one might gather from Miss Bis
land. remain there. He left in Septem-
ber of the same year for the West In
dies From the West Indies he re-
turned in 1853 and served at home un-
til the following year, when he went to
the Crimea For his services there he
had the medal with clasps for Alma.
Inkernan and Sebastopol siege, and re-
ceived the order of the fedjidie, fifth
class He served at home again until
the Indian mutiny broke out, and the
rest of his service with the exception
of one year. January, 1862. to January
1863. was In India He died on his
passage home from Madras, November
q. 1865, Manchester Guardian.
Lloyd Osbourne's last novel. ~Infatu-
alton" was published in England under
the title of Harms Way and was
s ronrlar success