The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-06

Frederic S. Isham, author of "Half
a Chance" is not superstitious, but he
has had. through mere coincidence,
he alleges, odd difficulties with Chap
ter 8 in all his various novels That
chapter in 1.-THE Lady of the Mount"
cost him more than thirteen writings;
he determined not to build his fires in
the chill fall atmosphere of Japan
with discarded chapters 3 of Half
a Chance" So he did away with
Chapter 10 altogether labeled it
Chapter 10 until it was ready for the
printer, when some one surreptitious-
ly changed it. In so far as the novel
ist is concerned with his own work,
Chapter 10 has ceased to exist; it
masquerades for him under any other
old number.
William E. Connelley's "Quantrelr'
will be out next week. It is the first
authentic book on the border ruffian
| leader ever written.
1.-THE Winning Lady" Mary E. Will
| kinss new book, which will shortly
| be forthcoming through the Harpers,
will contain several stories which are
| in lighter vein than her longer nov
els. or even some of the earlier tales
that made her famous, but the sem
timent and humanity that have given
her work it's popular appeal are said
| to control the comedy. THE Winning
Lady, who gives the title to the book
| is one who cheated at bridge, to bit
| terly repent and also to find that the
| woman who ought to have won
cheated, too; moreover, that the prize
punch bowl might also be said to have
cheated, since it turns out not to be
real cut glass, after all.
Helen Mackay's little book of Paris
ian sketches and stories, called
Houses of Glass; is being translated
into German by a baroness and by a
countess into French. AS Mrs. Mack
avs first book, another volume OF
short stories, was first published not
in English, but in Italian, the color
of her literary accomplishments is
rather po1yglot. Mrs. Mackay's new
book will appear probably in the
spring with the imprint of Duffield &
Co.
A new Kansas edition of William
Allen Whites "a Certain Rich Man
been published. 1t bears the seal OF
the state stamped in gold on the
cover. It is printed on thin papel
and is handsomely bound.
Doubleday, Page & Co., have pur
chased from the Outing Publishing
company two books by Stewart Ed
ward White, 1.-THE Pass and "Caml
and Trail
The popularity of 1.-THE Girl of tn
Limberlost" by Gene Stratton-Po
the author of "Freckles,' lends inter
est to the purchase by Doubleday
Page & Co., also from the Outing Pub
fishing company, Of the plates an
stock of another of Mrs. Porter
books, cat the Foot of the Rain
| bow"
The first Of series of readings fror
American dramatists to be given a
the MacDowell club, New York CITY
8, will take place on November 15tf
when Josephine Preston Peabody wi
read her new play, The Piper,
which will be published by Houghto
Miff1in company on November g.
this is the first play from Miss Pea
body since the appearance of he
"Marlowe," it is awaited with con
siderable interest. 1.-The Piper"
none other than the Pied Piper c
IHamelin here boldly recreated.
"a Hunters Camp Fires" furthe
designated by the subtitle From tn
iArctic to the Equator" is forth
coming book on big game huntin
which the Harpers are bringing OF
at a season when, by coincidenc
both the African and the Arctic hum
Ter are to the front in the public ey
1.-The author. Edward J. House. is
hunter of seasoned experience VIII
has written his book for sheer 10y
of the sport. The many photograph
which will illustrate it were take
by the author and g companion