Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-08-09
THE REALM OF BOOKS AND AUTHORS

"a Spirit in Prison. had been pub
lished by the Harpers, was entitled
1.-The Real Woman" Mr.. James pro-
auctions were previously familiar as
sketches, although new to the stage:
The High Bid" and "Disengaged.
George II. Brennan. the author of
"Rill Truetell," is New York theatre
cal man Of long experience. He was
formerly newspaper man and maya
zine writer, many of his the
atrical sketches appearing in Ainslee's
Monthly. Intimately acquainted as he
is with the people and the life por-
trayed in Pill Truetelf' it is altogether
probable that other aspects and incl
dents of theatrical life will appeal to
Mr.. Brennan as material for other
stories and that this, his first novel,
will be followed by many equally true
studies of these little-known people
OF the making of books there is no end
During the century or more Of the making
of novels how many precious hours have
been spent in hunting for just the right
title? The title that the author knows
should reward his search, but which
persistently escapes and eludes him. AS
one reads the book catalogues and adver-
tisements 1t seems incredible that an I'M
used title can be found for each new
publication. The naming of book
is more important than christen-
Ing of the first baby. The name
must appeal to the class of readers
that the book is intended to reach. Few
authors can afford to bestow such names
upon their offspring as Bret Harte gave
to his. One wonders that before he was
known and appreciated his books with
such titles as THE Outcast of Poker
Flat" THE Idyl of Red Gulch," 1.-The
Luck of Roaring Camp" should have
reached any class but the readers of the
dime novel, They would seem to appeal
to the street gamin only. The fertility
of the novel writer of the present day in
finding attractive titles is wonderful. In
looking over the list of books one soon
sees that many authors have selected
each an individual source from which to
draw their titles. Edith Wharton has Sc
lected the Bible, and especially Ecclesias-
ties, the preacher, though she would hard
ly care to be thought to wish to preach.
of Mirth," 1.-THE Valley of Decision" THE
Fruit of the Tree" Sanctuary" etc. w.
d. Howells goes to Shakespeare for his
inspiration. Equally happy, and both
|scurces would seem to be inexhaustible.
"A Counterfeit Presentment," "A Modern
Instance" Undiscovered Country"
Quality of Mercy" Questionable
Shapes" and many others. Winston
Churchill has preempted the letter as
belonging peculiarly to him, per-
haps because his own name begins
with that letter: 1.-The Celebrity"
"Conston,' 1.-The Crisis 1.-The Cros-
sing Richard Carvel." Mr.. Crewe's
Career. Eden Phillpots goes to ma
ture for his titles. and most aluring
they are: Children of the Mist" Good
Red Earth" Sons of the Morning."
Some Every Day Folks" etc. The la
mented John Oliver Hobbies was unique
in her titles. Their individuality aroused
curiosity and made them most attractive.
One wondered before reading what bear
ing the name of her first book, Some
Emotions and a Moral" had on the Story.
And was there any one who read that
story who did not ever after, until death
stopped the working of her clever brain,
watch for those almost bizarre titles that
adorned the books that so quickly fol-
lowed: Bundle of Life" "A Study in
Temptations. School for Saints" Love
and the Soul Hunters" Dream and the
Business etc. Proper names have pro-
badly furnished more titles than any
other class. pis aller it would seem
Among them all Elizabeth seems to have
been one to conjure with. Evidently
many authors agree with the writer of
the ancient rhyme that
Elizabeth is a royal name,
Fit for a queen to wear
In cottage, castle, hut, or hall
A name beyond compare.